PARCC LITERACY PROGRESS CALENDAR
Ongoing Best Practices:
 Students read, then write short responses to texts each week in literature, science,
social science, and other subjects.
 Teacher includes a variety of genres in reading activities.
February-May:
 Teachers use PARCC samples in reading lessons so that students become used
to the levels of text complexity.
 Principal organizes parent newsletters and workshops to inform parents about
the tests and ways they can help their children learn more by reading and writing
at home.
 Computer/technology teacher and/or AP guide students through the logistics of
using online PARCC for students in grades 6-8 and ELA1.
Week-to-Week PARCC Connections
Principals lead the school’s PARCC integration, guiding teachers to integrate PARCCbased activities and assessments. Instruction continues, enriched by PARCC-based
activities and assessments.
Week of
23
February
Integrate PARCC-Based Activities and Assessments
Teacher previews PARCC with students. Ideally uses a projector to show students
how the tests are organized, pointing out how the questions are sequential, guiding
the students to analyze the story or nonfiction passage and noticing that the
questions start at a more basic level such as “what does this word mean as used
in this sentence” through more challenging tasks.
Grades 6-8 and ELA 1 and write short response using computer/chromebook.
2 March
3/3 ACT
 Teacher uses PARCC samples as readings.
 Students answer the sample questions, then pair to compare--discuss the
reasons for their responses.
 Students outline/list response to sample constructed response.
 Grades 6-8, ELA1 write short response using computer/chromebook.
9 March
PARCC
3/9-4/2
 Teacher uses PARCC samples as reading.
 Students list or outline, then write short constructed responses.
 Grades 6-8, ELA1 write response using computer/chromebook.
16 March
PARCC
 Students in grades ___ take PARCC.
 Grades 6-8, ELA1 continue writing with computer/chromebook.
23 March
PARCC
 Students complete PARCC.
 Teachers emphasize analyzing the author’s craft, including grammar.
30 March
PARCC
 Make-up PARCC testing
 Teachers emphasize analyzing craft.
 Teachers assign spring break activities that include watching science and
history programs on TV and identifying the ideas they show and the examples
they use to support them.
Spring Break!
Teachers continue to integrate reading and writing across the curriculum.
Week of
13 April
Integrate PARCC-Based Activities and Assessments
20 April
 Students clarify how to read poetry—what are the techniques of the poet; what
formats do poets use?
 Science and social science emphasize analyzing nonfiction texts—how do
readers use text features to analyze the contents and structure of the texts and
identify important concepts?
 Students make their own test-taking guide.
27 April
PARC
4/27-5/22
 Students make grammar guides.
 Students make fiction glossary—terms about literature such as irony,
dialogue…
4 May
PARCC
 Students make root word and affix guides.
 Students make nonfiction glossary—terms that explain the features of
nonfiction and techniques nonfiction writers us.
11 May
PARCC
NWEA
5/11-6/12
18 May
PARCC
NWEA
 Students model how to respond to a question by revisiting the text then
comparing multiple choice options.
25 May
5/26-6/5
NWEA
EXPLORE
and PLAN
1 June
NWEA
 Students compare and contrast different kinds of questions—inference,
analytic, evaluative.
8 June
NWEA
 Teachers identify priorities to raise rigor in the 2015-16 school year.
 Students clarify how to read different fiction genres—what are the techniques
the writers use, and how do those techniques help readers understand the
tone, mood, and relationships in a story?
 Science and social science emphasize analyzing nonfiction texts—how do
readers use text features to analyze the contents and structure of the texts and
identify important concepts?
 Students debrief from tests and identify effective ways to respond to
questions.
 Students make up and exchange their own questions.
June 2015-June 2016:
 Increase use of computers and chromebooks in research, reading, and writing.
 Continue to integrate reading and writing across the curriculum, particularly in
research in the content areas.