What stage of instruction matches the content to a student's individual ability?

The instructional level is the stage of teaching that aligns content with a student's individual ability. At this level, the materials and tasks are designed to be appropriately challenging, allowing students to engage with the content successfully while still providing opportunities for growth and development. Instructional level content is neither too difficult, which can lead to frustration, nor too easy, which can result in boredom. This targeted approach fosters a productive learning environment, encouraging students to build confidence as they progress in their reading skills.

In contrast, the standard level typically refers to a broad and often generic set of expectations that may not account for individual differences in ability. The assessment level generally focuses on measuring a student's existing skills rather than providing suitable instructional content. The proficient level indicates a level of mastery but does not address the stage of instruction needed to support students who are still developing their skills.