ELEMENTARY GUIDELINES REGARDING THE
ALLOCATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
A reference for school administrators planning and scheduling
reportable subjects in the Ontario curriculum.
GUIDING STATEMENT
The purpose of this document is to provide a reference for school administrators as to the planning
and scheduling of reportable subjects in the Ontario curriculum. This guide is intended to honour
the integrity of educators’ commitment to purposeful and integrated educational practices. The next
several pages will provide a graphic capturing the rudimentary elements of the key subjects, a list of
considerations to support the ideals represented in the graphic, and samples that illustrate how a
comprehensive timetable may be fashioned considering a balanced approach to integrated
educational planning and decision-making.
The principal’s successful creation of a balanced timetable supports the whole child in that it allows for
students to have a multitude of ways to demonstrate their learning. Asking school administrators to
reconsider the ways that subjects and groups of subjects are prioritized within a timetable encourages a
creative way to realize Ministry of Education expectations, the teacher’s vision for subject integration,
and the specific ways students can show what they have learned. A close monitoring of the allocated
minutes permits administrators to accommodate for specific needs within the building and allows for
student interest to be captured.
SUPPORTING SUBJECT-SPECIFIC MINISTRY OF EDUCATION STATEMENTS
Below are selected statements from various educational documents that reflect how a balanced
timetable in school supports the priorities within the curriculum such as critical-thinking and problemsolving, individual choice in learning strategies, and suiting an individual’s strengths and needs.
“Critical-literacy skills give students the tools they need to think more deeply about the texts they
meet and the texts they create. They challenge the learner to look beyond the literal message, to read
between the lines, to observe what is present and what is missing, and to reflect on the context and
the way the author constructed the text to influence the reader. Critical literacy goes beyond
conventional critical thinking, because it focuses on questions about fairness, equity, and social
justice.” (Literacy for Learning, Expert Panel Grades 4-6, p. 9)
“Mathematics is a fundamental human activity – a way of making sense of the world. Children
possess a natural curiosity and interest in mathematics, and come to school with an understanding of
mathematical concepts and problem-solving strategies that they have discovered through
explorations of the world around them.” (Ginsburg, 2002, Little children, big mathematics: Learning
and teaching in the pre-school...from Teaching and Learning Mathematics, Expert panel Grades 4-6)
“The arts can play a key role in shaping students’ views about life and learning. Since the arts exist in a
broad social and historical context, teachers can show students that all of the arts are affected by the
values and choices of individuals, and in turn have a significant impact on society… To support student
learning, principals ensure that the Ontario curriculum is being properly implemented in all classrooms
through the use of a variety of instructional approaches, and that appropriate time, facilities, and
resources are made available for teachers to allow all students to participate in all four strands of the
arts program.” (Ministry of Education, The Arts, p.8)
A school for the twenty-first century “recognizes that, today and in the future, students need to be
critically literate in order to synthesize information, make informed decisions, communicate effectively,
and thrive in an ever-changing global community. It is important that students be connected to the
curriculum, that they see themselves in what is taught, how it is taught, and how it applies to the world
ELEMENTARY GUIDELINES REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
PAGE 2
at large. The curriculum recognizes that the needs of learners are diverse and helps all learners develop
the knowledge, skills, and perspectives they need to become informed, productive, caring, responsible,
and active citizens in their own communities and in the world.” (Ministry of Education, Social Studies
1-6 & History and Geography, p.3)
SUBJECT AREAS AND TIME ALLOCATIONS
The illustration below includes each of the reportable subject areas and indicates the span of minutes
that allow for a complete and yet integrated school timetable. Principals should be mindful that th
e eventual goal is an integrated and flexible timetable that allows for subject connectedness and
innovation resulting in a total of 1,500 instructional minutes each five-day cycle.
ELEMENTARY GUIDELINES REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
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LIST OF CONSIDERATIONS/EXPECTATIONS
The integration of subjects is essential to the successful implementation of curriculum in the elementary
panel. The graphic on the previous page and the corresponding percentages provides a current and
flexible method to assist in the expectation-based planning of the overall and specific Ministry
expectations in schools. Below are several ideas that will assist administrators in crafting a balanced
timetable that is intended to meet the needs of all students in a comprehensive and meaningful way.
UNINTERRUPTED LITERACY & NUMERACY BLOCKS



Literacy learning blocks are 100-120 minutes in length and should reflect a comprehensive
approach including modeled, shared, guided and independent instruction on a consistent basis.
From grades 4 to 8, the 200 minutes of French can be considered part of instructional time towards
fulfilling the Language standard number of minutes.
Numeracy/Mathematics Blocks are to be no less than 300 minutes per five-day cycle.
TIMETABLE GAP ANALYSIS
Consideration of a Gap Analysis by school administrators allows for a more comprehensive approach. A
Gap Analysis might include some of the following:
 Are the required blocks of time allocated to daily literacy and numeracy?
 Are the non-reportable subjects (e.g. Computers, Library) integrated into reportable subject areas?
 Are the arts not only taught as specific disciplines, but also integrated into other subjects to
ensure full student engagement is achieved?
 Are the mandatory French Languages requirements being met and recorded in OSRs?
 Is the teacher-librarian involved meaningfully in supporting key subject concepts? How is
Library preparation time being used to support specific subject content or big ideas?
[Source: Many of the timetable materials above are from Thames Valley District School Board Time Allocation document.]
CONSIDERATIONS OF TIMETABLING PREPARATION PERIODS


Reduce the amount of energy that goes to computer preparation as our new vision for 21st
Century Learning is to have the technology enhance student learning in the place where teacher
and students are interacting.
Number of minutes in a period (e.g., 30, 40, 50)
“As instructional leaders, principals…embed direct involvement in instruction in their daily work
through teamwork with all staff focused on improved school and classroom practices. As leaders who
are committed to equity of outcome, they help to create inclusive and instructionally effective learning
environments that increase the likelihood that all students will be successful learners.” (The Ontario
Leadership Framework 2012: A school and system leader’s guide to putting Ontario’s leadership
framework into action, p.7)
ELEMENTARY GUIDELINES REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
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Considerations for Literacy
 Integration of all literacy strands should occur in all subject areas.
 Content area resources should be used for teaching in various subjects (e.g. Analysis of nonfiction texts in Social Studies and History/Geography).
 Drama is encouraged to be used in the Literacy Block as a vehicle to introduce, scaffold and /or
solidify important literacy concepts.
Considerations for Mathematics
 Students should have a minimum of one scheduled math period each in a five-day cycle. In order
to fulfill the required 300 minutes for each five-day cycle, other days will require at least one period
more. It is encouraged that longer math periods provide for enhanced conceptual development and
retention. Math occurring each day is preferable, but four days a week for longer periods is also
beneficial.
 If timetabling occurs in which there is a grouping of subjects (Math, Science, etc.), increased
flexibility will allow for a teacher’s discretion during times where students show they are struggling
with particular concepts.
Considerations for Science and Technology and Social Studies, History and Geography
 The use of technology should be incorporated into content areas, making for more engaging,
relevant and rich tasks.
 Key Literacy and Numeracy concepts should be taught in a comprehensive Science classroom.
 Social Studies and History/Geography should be given ample time to cover subject-specific
content material, but integration into Literacy Blocks will allow for a more connected learning
situation for students.
Consideration for the Arts
 “The Arts” refers to four subjects: Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts. Timetables need to
reflect that all four strands are being taught in the school year.
 300 minutes allows for the following 50-minute periods (see templates at the end of this document
for other timetabling scenarios): two 50-minute periods for Visual Arts, two 50-minute periods for
Music, and one 50-minute period for Dance, one 50-minute period for Drama.
(Source: Artseco instructional practice and time allocation document)
Considerations for Health & Physical Education and DPA
 30 per cent of instructional time should be allocated for Health Education.
 Incorporate Literacy and Numeracy skills into Physical Education and Health programs to allow for
a more hands-on approach to these two main core subject areas.
 On the days that students do not have Physical Education, 20 minutes of DPA must be on the
timetable. If the students have Dance, this is an appropriate way to incorporate another 20-minute
block for DPA.
[Source: Many of the notes above are extracted from text in timetabling materials of the District School Board of Niagara and Thames Valley
District School Board.]
ELEMENTARY GUIDELINES REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
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PRIMARY TIMETABLE SAMPLES
Primary Timetable 1 – Balanced Day; Three Instructional blocks of 100 minutes each
MINUTES
100 min.
DAY ONE
DAY TWO
DAY THREE
DAY FOUR
DAY FIVE
Daily Literacy Block – addresses literacy-based curriculum expectations in Language, Social Studies, Science and Health,
and integrates those subjects with Dance , Drama, Music , and Visual Arts
Break
60 min.
Math
Math
Math
Math
Math
40 min.
Science & Tech
Social Studies
Science & Tech
Social Studies
Sci.&Tech / Soc . St.
(alternative cycles)
Break
50 min.
Phys Ed
Arts
Arts
Literacy
Arts
50 min.
Literacy
Arts
FLEX
Phys Ed
FLEX
Primary Timetable – Traditional Day 150 minutes (am) and 150 minutes (pm) w. recess
100 min.
Daily Literacy Block – addresses literacy-based curr iculum expectations in Language, Social Studies, Science and
Health, and integr ates those subjects with Dance , Dr ama, Music , and Visual Ar ts
Recess
50 min.
Math
Math
Math
Math
Math
Arts 40
Social Studies 40
Lunch
Phys Ed 30
100 min.
Arts 40
FLEX 30
Social Studies 60
Arts 60
FLEX 40
Phys Ed 40
FLEX 30
Phys Ed 30
Arts 60
Recess
50 min.
Science & Tech
Literacy/Language
Science & Tech
Math
ELEMENTARY GUIDELINES REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
Literacy/Language
PAGE 6
JUNIOR TIMETABLE SAMPLES
Junior Timetable 1 – Balanced Day; Three instr uctional blocks of 100 minutes each
MINUTES
100 min.
DAY ONE
DAY TWO
DAY THREE
DAY FOUR
DAY FIVE
Daily Literacy Block – addresses literacy-based cur r iculum expectations in Language, Social Studies, Science and Health,
and integr ates those subjects with Dance , Dr ama, Music, and Visual Ar ts
Break
60 min.
Math
Math
Math
Math
Math
40 min.
French
French
French
French
French
Break
50 min.
Science & Tech
Phys Ed
Arts
Arts
Social Studies
50 min.
Arts
Social Studies
Arts
Science & Tech
Phys Ed
Junior Timetable – Tr aditional Day; 150 minutes (am) and 150 minutes (pm) w. recess
100 min.
Daily Literacy Block – addresses literacy-based curr iculum expectations in Language, Social Studies, Science and
Health, and integr ates those subjects with Dance , Dr ama, Music , and Visual Ar ts
Recess
50 min.
Math
Math
Math
Math
Math
French 40
Arts 30
Arts 30
Phys Ed 30
Phys Ed 30
French 40
Math
Social Studies
Lunch
French 30
100 min.
Arts 60
French 40
Phys Ed 40
Arts 30
Arts 50
French 50
Recess
50 min.
Science & Tech
Social Studies
Science & Tech
ELEMENTARY GUIDELINES REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
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INTERMEDIATE TIMETABLE SAMPLES
Inter mediate Timetable 1 – Balanced Day; Three instr uctional blocks of 100 minutes each
MINUTES
100 min.
DAY ONE
DAY TWO
DAY THREE
DAY FOUR
DAY FIVE
Daily Literacy Block – addresses literacy-based cur riculum expectations in Language , Social Studies, Science, Health
and Guidance , and integr ates those subjects with Dance , Drama, Music, Visual Ar ts
Break
60 min.
Math
Math
Math
Math
Math
40 min.
French
French
French
French
French
Break
50 min.
Science & Tech
50 min.
Arts
Phys Ed
Arts
Arts
History or
Geography
Arts
Science & Tech
History or Geography
Phys Ed
Grade 7-8 Timetable – Traditional Day; 150 minutes (am) and 150 minutes (pm) w. recess
100 min.
Daily Literacy Block – addresses literacy-based curriculum expectations in Language, Social Studies, Science , Health
and Guidance , and integrates those subjects with Dance , Drama, Music , Visual Arts
Recess
50 min.
Math
Social Studies
Math
Math
Math
French 40
Arts 30
Arts 30
Phys Ed 30
Phys Ed 30
French 40
Math
Social Studies
Lunch
French 30
100 min.
Arts 60
French 40
Phys Ed 40
Arts 30
Science & Tech 50
French 50
Recess
50 min.
Science & Tech
Math
Arts
ELEMENTARY GUIDELINES REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
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