How to Differentiate Instruction Using Student Groups

Student Groups let you apply a separate set of settings to different classes or reading levels. Each group can have its own quiz requirements, book goal, vocabulary and spelling modules practiced with the book's word lists, writing prompts, and graphic organizer modules. Once a student belongs to a group, the group settings take precedence over your global Customize Program settings.

Step 1: Go to Student Groups

• In the left sidebar, click Student Groups.
• The page shows a card for each group you have created, displaying the group name, the number of students in it, and action buttons.
• If you have no groups yet, the page will be empty — use the Create Group button in the top-right corner to get started.

Step 2: Create a new group

• Click Create Group. A two-step form opens.
• You must complete and save both steps before the group is created.

Save button required. Unlike global Customize Program settings, the group form does not auto-save. You must click Save at the end of Step 2 to apply your changes.

Step 3: Name the group and add students

• Enter a Group Name.
• Below the name field, a student table lets you select who belongs to this group. The table is divided into three sections:
  • Students without a group — students not currently assigned to any group.
  • Students in this group — visible when editing an existing group; these are pre-checked.
  • Students in other groups — students already assigned elsewhere. Selecting them will move them to this group.
• When you are done selecting students, click Next to proceed to Step 2 of the form.

Moving students between groups. If you select a student who already belongs to another group, they will be removed from that group and added to this one. Double-check your selection before saving.

Step 4: Configure group settings

• Step 2 of the form has four sub-tabs. You can switch between them freely before saving.

Settings

• English Quiz — always enabled; cannot be turned off.
• Spanish Quiz — toggle on or off for this group.
• Book Quiz Required — whether students in this group must complete a quiz after reading.
• Passing Grade — minimum score to pass a quiz (default: 70%).
• Quiz Allowed Days — how many days after reading a quiz remains available (default: 0 = no limit).
• Quiz Allowed Tries — maximum number of quiz attempts (default: 2).
• Book Goal — reading target for students in this group (default: 30 books).
• Games Allowed Days — limits game access to a set number of days (default: 0 = no limit).

Word Lists

• Enable or disable the modules practiced with each book's word lists. The tab is divided into two sections:
  • Vocabulary Modules — activities that build word meaning and comprehension using the book's vocabulary.
  • Spelling Modules — activities that reinforce spelling using the same word list.
• Each module can be toggled on or off independently for this group.

Writing Prompts

• Toggle whether writing prompt assignments are available to students in this group (enabled by default).

Graphic Organizers

• Enable or disable individual graphic organizer modules for students in this group.
• When all tabs are configured, click Save. The group will appear on the Student Groups page.

Group settings are independent. Each group runs on its own configuration. Changes you make to your global Customize Program settings will not override what you set at the group level.

Step 5: Manage existing groups

• Each group card on the Student Groups page shows four action buttons:
  • Edit Group — reopens the two-step form so you can rename the group, change its members, or update any setting.
  • View Settings — opens a read-only summary of all current settings for the group: Book Goal, Writing Prompts status, Games Allowed Days, and full quiz configuration (English, Spanish, Required, Passing Grade, Allowed Days, Allowed Tries), plus the active Graphic Organizer, Vocabulary, and Spelling modules practiced with the book's word lists.
  • View Students — opens a modal listing every student currently in the group.
  • Delete — removes the group. Students are not deleted; they return to an ungrouped state and fall back to your global Customize Program settings.

Q: What happens to a student's settings after I delete their group?
A: They revert to your global Customize Program settings immediately.

Q: Can a student belong to more than one group?
A: No. Each student can only be in one group at a time. Assigning them to a new group removes them from their current one automatically.

Q: Can I set a different Override Pin per group?
A: No. The Override Pin is a teacher-level setting configured in Customize Program and applies to all students regardless of group.

Q: Do group settings apply retroactively?
A: No. Like global quiz settings, group setting changes only affect quizzes and activities that happen after the change is saved.