Differentiated Pacing Calendars for Use with
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units Based on
Houghton Mifflin Reading Themes
Grades 4 – 6

Developed by classroom teachers in PVUSD,
under the auspices of PVUSD GATE: Gifted and Talented Education

<<< Introductory paragraph here >>>

Here is a brief summary of the PVUSD pacing calendar and the three alternative calendars:

• PVUSD Pacing Calendar:

  • 21– 34 days per theme; 2 days to launch the theme; 1 day for final theme assessment
• 7 – 10 days per selection; 3 – 4 selections per theme

Complete 2007 - 2008 PVUSD HM Pacing Calendars will be found here:

(As soon as the District posts them, we will link to them)

• Accelerated Calendar:

• 18 - 23 days per theme; 2 days to launch the theme; 1 day for final theme assessment
• 5 days per selection; 3 – 4 selections per theme
• 2 - 5 days saved per theme add up to 6 - 20 extra school days for differentiated extension activities. In this calendar, students and teachers read all 3 or 4 selections and complete the accompanying tasks, and then have 2 - 3 weeks for extension activities.

 

• Alternating Calendar:

• 18 - 23 days per theme; 2 days to launch the theme; 1 day for final theme assessment
• 5 days per selection; 3 – 4 selections per theme
• In this calendar, students read 1 selection and complete the accompanying tasks, then have 2 - 3 days for extension activities immediately following the selection. They then read the next selection, followed by "extension time," and so on.

 

• Differentiated Groups Calendar:

  • The timing of this calendar follows the district calendar: 21– 34 days per theme; 2 days to launch the theme; 1 day for final theme assessment; and 7 – 10 days per selection.
  • However, this calendar involves dividing the class into differentiated groups for approximately 2/3 of the reading hour, and the teacher will spend approximately 20 minutes each working with the smaller groups.

Sample comparisons of the PVUSD and alternate pacing calendars can be found here: