A longitudinal study is reported aiming at analyzing niche characteristics in the classroom of skilled readers and children with reading and writing disabilities. Thirteen children are studied during their first and fourth years at school. The result is described using the concepts capacity, opportunity and interest. Capacity means the children ́s abilities, opportunity means the environment ́s inclination to support the children and interest means the children ́s will to engage in school activities. Each child is appointed/acquires a specific niche in the classroom: some children are in niches with the same characteristics both during their first and their fourth year, and some children move between niches with different characteristics from the first to the fourth year. The result is discussed in relation to the two goals in Swedish schools: ‘goals to attain’ and ‘goals to aim for’.