Ms. Chambers’ First Grade Syllabus 

2026-27 School Year

Taylors Elementary School

tchambers@greenville.k12.sc.us

864-355-2577

Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year! I am very excited about having your child in my class this year. Below you will find important information about our classroom, school procedures and expectations, and areas of study.  

Behavioral Expectations  

All students are expected to behave and show respect toward people and property. I understand that your child comes to me with unique experiences, interests, and learning styles. My goal is to truly know your child well and use this knowledge to guide, support, and motivate him/her. Disruptive behavior interrupts important instructional time and deprives students of their right to learn. Classroom rules and consequences will be implemented. Taylors Elementary has adopted a school wide behavior plan in which students will earn or lose points based on behavior. More information is available on the Taylors Website.

Classroom Rules

1. Listen and follow directions.

2. Use hand signals and stay on task.

3. Keep hands and feet to yourself.

4. Respect your classmates, teacher, and school.

Students are expected to adhere to all school rules in the classroom and in all shared school spaces. 

Consequences

Per the school-wide behavior plan, all students will begin their day on a

level 3 of the point system. Based on behavior, students may move up to a 4 or down to a 2, 1, or 0 depending on severity and/or frequency of the behavior. **Most behaviors can be addressed through natural consequences or loss of privilege in the classroom. I appreciate your willingness to work with me and your child through any issues that may arise.** 

Leader in Me

Taylors Elementary is a Leader in Me Lighthouse school. Students are taught the 7 Habits of Happy Kids

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

Habit 6: Synergize

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Homework 

Children are encouraged to read at least 15 minutes daily but can certainly read more! I may send home skill sheets or other forms of practice as needed. 

Missed Work 

Work missed during a child’s absence will be completed in class. Extensive work missed will be completed at home and returned within five days of the last absence. 

Materials

Students will need the following materials to be prepared for class. The school supply list is located on the Taylors webpage for reference.

• 2-pocket folder (qty 1)

• Crayola Crayons: 24 count (qty 4)

• Elmer’s All-Purpose Glue Sticks (qty 12)

• Plastic Pencil Box (qty 1)

• Primary Story Journal (qty 1)

• Flat Pink Erasers (qty 2)

• Wood Ticonderoga #2 Pencils (qty 24)

• Thin Expo Black Dry Erase Markers (qty 4)

• Kleenex (qty 2)

• Headphones or Earbuds (corded) with microphone

Grading Policy 

First grade student report cards are based on the South Carolina College-and-Career-Ready State Standards. Students are assessed based on performance tasks, teacher observation, and teacher-created and district-created assessments. Students are assigned a score of N (Not met), B (Beginning to progress), P (Progressing), and M (Mastered) for each standard that is assessed each quarter.

Communication Folders

A blue folder will be provided and used as a communication folder. The  inside pockets identify papers that need to be returned to school and papers for you to keep at home. Please check and return the communication folder in your child’s backpack daily.

Parent Communication 

∙ Dojo

∙ Weekly Newsletter 

∙ Website 

∙ Emails 

∙ Parent Notes 

∙ Parent Teacher Conferences  

∙ Phone Calls 

∙ Open House 

Attendance and Tardy Policy 

Parents are to send a note signed by a legal guardian or a healthcare professional within three days of the student’s return to school. Taylors Elementary follows Greenville County’s policy which is available in the Student Handbook and on the district website at www.greenville.k12.sc.us 

Changes in Transportation 

If you plan to change your child’s way home, you must send a written note, email, or Dojo message. Please do not contact me DURING or right before dismissal, as I may not see your message.

Curriculum at a Glance

Link to Reading Power Standards Document

1st 9 Weeks 

Reading (HMH Into Reading Curriculum) 

∙ Story Structure          ∙ Ask and Answer Questions

∙ Elements of Poetry     ∙ Topic and Central Idea

∙ Author’s Purpose       ∙Retelling and Text Features

Writing (HMH Into Reading Curriculum)

∙ Oral Stories

∙ Descriptive Essay

∙ Research Essay

Math (Reveal Math)

∙ Math Is…

∙ Number Patterns

∙ Place Value

∙ Addition to 20: Facts and Strategies

Science

∙ Introduction to school and science/ scientific method/ engineering  practices 

∙Shadows, Light, and Motion

Social Studies

∙ Our School Community

2nd 9 Weeks 

Reading (HMH Into Reading Curriculum)

∙ Ideas and Supporting Details     ∙Theme

∙ Point of View                         ∙ Making Connections

∙Synthesize

Writing (HMH Into Reading Curriculum)

∙ Procedural Texts

∙ Imaginative Story

∙ Personal Narrative

Math (Reveal Math)

∙ Addition within 20: Facts and Strategies

∙ Subtraction within 20: Facts and Strategies

∙ Shapes and solids

Science 

∙ Animals Communicate

Social Studies  

∙ We are Citizens of South Carolina

3rd 9 Weeks 

Reading (HMH Into Reading Curriculum)

∙ Text Organization     ∙Summarizing

∙ Content Area Words  ∙ Topic and Central Idea

∙ Chronological Order

Writing (HMH Into Reading Curriculum)

∙ Poetry

∙ Personal Narrative

∙ Descriptive Essay 

Math (Reveal Math)

∙ Meanings of Addition

∙ Adding multiples of 10 

∙ Composing and drawing shapes 

∙ Understanding the equal sign 

Science 

∙ Animals Communicate (continued)

Social Studies 

∙ Asking questions about history: Then and Now

4th 9 Weeks 

Reading (HMH Into Reading Curriculum)

∙ Retell     ∙Setting

∙ Creating Mental Images

∙ Characters

Writing (HMH Into Reading Curriculum) 

∙ Biographical Essays

∙ Opinion Letter

Math (Big Ideas)

∙ Understanding place value to add and subtract 

∙ Adding 3 addends 

∙ Finding equal shares 

∙ Identifying coins 

∙ Demonstrating proficiency in addition and subtraction 

Science 

∙ Plant Shapes

Social Studies 

∙ South Carolina: Our Unique State 

∙ Economic Impacts