Welcome to my virtual classroom!
My name is Sandy Branch and I am proud to say that I have been teaching for the Austin Independent School District since 1991. I came to Joslin in 1990 as a student teacher. I taught 1st Grade at Joslin for 6 years before transferring to Gullett Elementary. I taught 1st Grade at Gullett for 2 years and then transferred to Sims Elementary, where I taught 1st Grade for 2 years. I was then able to transfer back to Joslin. I have now been back at Joslin since 2003, and I plan to spend the rest of my teaching days right here where I belong!
Joslin Elementary Distance Learning Teacher Schedule
Social and Emotional Learning
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The Science SongThis is a great song for vocabulary enrichment. Our class loves to sing The Science Song!
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Lessons for the week of April 13-17
Lessons for the week of April 13-17
Science Guiding Questions:
What do you know about Habitats?
How do you know this?
Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (T.E.K.S.)
Science K.2 The student will ask questions about organisms, objects & events observed in the natural world.
What do living organisms need that non-living objects do not need? Why?
Science K.9 The student will identify living & non-living things.
What do you know about Habitats?
How do you know this?
Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (T.E.K.S.)
Science K.2 The student will ask questions about organisms, objects & events observed in the natural world.
What do living organisms need that non-living objects do not need? Why?
Science K.9 The student will identify living & non-living things.
Science activities
Create a KWL chart for habitats
(A chart with 3 columns, a column for what I Know, a column for what I Want to learn, and a column for what I Learned).
The student will list information in the K column for what they already know about habitats.
Then the student will list questions they have in the W column, for what I want to Learn about habitats. The last column is used after the student researches their questions and lists what they learned in this study of habitats.
(This can be discussed orally if unable to complete this is writing)
The student will list information in the K column for what they already know about habitats.
Then the student will list questions they have in the W column, for what I want to Learn about habitats. The last column is used after the student researches their questions and lists what they learned in this study of habitats.
(This can be discussed orally if unable to complete this is writing)
Vocabulary
The student listens to the read aloud: A House is a House for Me.
After listening, ask your student to name 5 habitats they heard about in the book. (orally or written)
After listening, ask your student to name 5 habitats they heard about in the book. (orally or written)
Habitat Diorama Project
Think about the habitats you heard about in the story and all of the habitats you already knew about.
Choose a habitat to make a "shoe-box diorama"of. (It doesn't have to be a shoe-box, any box is good)
A diorama is a model which can be made of whatever resources you have available (paper, play-dough, legos, be creative!)
Include a variety of living organisms, and try to include a non-living object.
Choose a habitat to make a "shoe-box diorama"of. (It doesn't have to be a shoe-box, any box is good)
A diorama is a model which can be made of whatever resources you have available (paper, play-dough, legos, be creative!)
Include a variety of living organisms, and try to include a non-living object.
Listen to the Ocean Alphabet Book
Habitat Diorama Project
Work on your diorama project and write a description of your habitat.
Writing Guiding Question-
What can you write a poem about?
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Example:
S
P R I N G |
What type of survey can you create?
Objective- The student will create a survey, collect, record, and organize data.
Enrichment- The student will interpret data with elaborate detail.
This week, the student will think of a question to ask people. The student will plan a method for collecting data,
recording data and organizing the data. Students can be ready to share their survey with the class at a Zoom meeting.
Lessons for the week of April 20-24
Lessons for the week of April 20-24
Recorded Math Lesson on Composing and Decomposing Numbers
Science Activities
Objective: The student will learn about Earth Day.
Compare and contrast the 4 Earth Day stories you listened to this week.
In what ways are the stories similar?
In what ways are they different?
Did you have a favorite?
Think of something you can do to help Planet Earth.
If you want, make a poster or sign reminding your family to take care
of our planet.
In what ways are the stories similar?
In what ways are they different?
Did you have a favorite?
Think of something you can do to help Planet Earth.
If you want, make a poster or sign reminding your family to take care
of our planet.
Math Activities
Learning Objective: TEKS K.3B The student will solve word problems using objects and drawings to find sums up to 10 and differences within 10.
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Listen to the story Ten Magic Butterflies. Use objects and drawings to practice addition (sums) to 10, and subtaction (differences) from 10. Work on Dreambox Math. Work on Dreambox Math. Go to Brainpop Jr. on your student portal and look for a lesson on addition and subtraction. |
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Language Arts Activities
Creative Learning
Play a game of "4 Corners".
Designate a space that has 4 corners. Name the corners A,B,C, & D.
The caller will ask a question that has 4 options, such as
"Which of these animals is a mammal?"
"Corner A is an alligator, Corner B is a rainbow trout, Corner C is a moose, and Corner D is a Monarch butterfly."
Then say "3,2,1, GO", and the student goes to the correct corner.
You can use any type of questions & answers.
For Math, you could say, "What is the sum of 5+4?"
Corner A is 1, Corner B is 54, Corner C is 8, Corner D is 9"
Designate a space that has 4 corners. Name the corners A,B,C, & D.
The caller will ask a question that has 4 options, such as
"Which of these animals is a mammal?"
"Corner A is an alligator, Corner B is a rainbow trout, Corner C is a moose, and Corner D is a Monarch butterfly."
Then say "3,2,1, GO", and the student goes to the correct corner.
You can use any type of questions & answers.
For Math, you could say, "What is the sum of 5+4?"
Corner A is 1, Corner B is 54, Corner C is 8, Corner D is 9"
Play a game of "Cross the Room".
The players will face each other on opposite sides of the room.
The caller will say something like "Cross the room if you are 6 years old."
The caller will continue to give suggestions like "Cross the room if you like
donuts", or whatever the caller wants to say.
This can be for fun, or for academics, such as "Cross the room if you think
that 6+3=10".
The players will face each other on opposite sides of the room.
The caller will say something like "Cross the room if you are 6 years old."
The caller will continue to give suggestions like "Cross the room if you like
donuts", or whatever the caller wants to say.
This can be for fun, or for academics, such as "Cross the room if you think
that 6+3=10".
Lesson for the week of April 27- May 1, 2020
Learning Objective: The student will learn the life cycle of a ladybug.
Write a summary of 4 things you learned this week.
Language Arts
Heggerty Phonemic Awareness practice
Learning Objective: The student will practice rhyming, blending phonemes, and various initial, medial, and final sound activities.
Word hunt- get something to write on, and something to write with. Walk around your house and write down the words you see on things in your house. You can also look for words outside of your house.
Make a list of words that rhyme. Then use your rhyming words to make a poem or phrase that rhymes.
Write a sentence about this picture.
lessons for the week of May 4-8, 2020
Learning Objectives for the week:
Math Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (T.E.K.S.) -
The student can recite numbers up to 100 by 1's and 10's starting with any given number.
Writing T.E.K.S - The student can dictate or compose informational texts.
Science T.E.K.S.- The student can explore the science of rocks, and sort rocks based on different attributes
Math Lessons
Math Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (T.E.K.S.) -
The student can recite numbers up to 100 by 1's and 10's starting with any given number.
Writing T.E.K.S - The student can dictate or compose informational texts.
Science T.E.K.S.- The student can explore the science of rocks, and sort rocks based on different attributes
Math Lessons
Learning Objective- I can count on from any number.
If the student can successfully count to 100, then the parent can begin the student on any number, and the student should be able to count on from that number.
Review last week's objective of comparing numbers by watching
Annie & Mobie from Brainpop Jr.
Annie & Mobie from Brainpop Jr.
Listen to or read this lesson on PebbleGo about Place Value.
Understanding place value helps students deepen their understanding of number concepts.
Username: joslinpg
Password: gojoslin
Understanding place value helps students deepen their understanding of number concepts.
Username: joslinpg
Password: gojoslin
Science Lessons
I can explore, sort, and describe rocks.
This week's writing objective will be integrated into Science,
with the students dictating or composing an informational text
about rocks and minerals.
Begin your study of rocks with an OWL chart. What have you Observed about rocks? What do you Wonder? What have you Learned in your studies this week?
Listen to or read PebbleGo about rocks
Username: joslinpg
Password: gojoslin
Password: gojoslin
Today, students are to begin writing an informational report about rocks to share with Mrs. Branch and the class.
Learn about Rocks & Minerals with Annie and Mobie, then continue to work on your informational report.
You can have fun with poetry by writing a poem for your Mom or Grandma, or with your Mom or Grandma, for Mother's Day.
Lessons for the week of May 11-15, 2020
Review activities-
Math Objective:
I can count to 100 and count on from any number.
I can skip count by 10's, 5's, and 2's.
I can add to 10 and subtract from 10.
Math Objective:
I can count to 100 and count on from any number.
I can skip count by 10's, 5's, and 2's.
I can add to 10 and subtract from 10.
PebbleGo
Skip Counting
https://site.pebblego.com/modules/2/categories/8682/articles/8671
This week's objective:
I can use data to create real object picture graphs.
This week, the student's assignment is to create a pictograph. Many students had already created bar graphs or pie graphs, which can be converted into picture graphs. Students may collect data on Tuesday or Wednesday during Zoom if they wish to. To check for understanding, an e-mail of the work sample is appreciated.
Objective: I can listen and ask a related question.
Activity: Listen to Annie & Mobie teach about pictographs, and then think of a question you
can ask people to collect data. Use your data to create a pictograph.
Activity: Listen to Annie & Mobie teach about pictographs, and then think of a question you
can ask people to collect data. Use your data to create a pictograph.
Language Arts Lessons
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Learning Objective-I can listen to the story and then ask a related question.
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Lessons for the week of May 18-22
Listen to the story More Spaghetti, I Say!
Discuss why you think the author wrote this story.
Discuss why you think the author wrote this story.
Learn about Author's Purpose
Assignment
Choose a book that you have at your house. Think about the author's purpose for writing the book.
Do you think the author wrote the book to persuade you of something, to inform you about something,
or to entertain you?
Write about the reason the author wrote the book you choose.
Example
More Spaghetti, I Say!
The author wrote this story to entertain me.
This book is funny and I like reading it because
the pictures are hilarious!
The author wrote this story to entertain me.
This book is funny and I like reading it because
the pictures are hilarious!
Listen to this story, and discuss the author's purpose for writing this book.
Do you make any connections to this story?
Does this story inspire you in any way?
Do you make any connections to this story?
Does this story inspire you in any way?
What is Memorial Day?
Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day. Listen to find out why this holiday is important in America.
Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day. Listen to find out why this holiday is important in America.
Math Activities
At this time, all Kindergarteners should be able to form all numerals correctly from 1-9.
If a student has difficulty writing a number or is writing it backward, the student should
be practicing forming the number correctly until mastered.
Number test- Each student needs to begin with 1 and write their numbers as high as they
can go. Writing numbers correctly, in order, is a practice task students can work on regularly.
If a student has difficulty writing a number or is writing it backward, the student should
be practicing forming the number correctly until mastered.
Number test- Each student needs to begin with 1 and write their numbers as high as they
can go. Writing numbers correctly, in order, is a practice task students can work on regularly.
Last week of school May 25-28, 2020
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Kindergarten Memory Book
If you have a printer, you can print this memory book for your student to complete. If you don't have a printer, you can use this memory book as a model that your child can copy to make their own Kindergarten memory book. |
On the First Day of School, our class listened to a read aloud about a teacher
named Mrs. Hartwell, having her very first day at her new school.
This story is also about Mrs. Hartwell, having her last day of school for the year.
named Mrs. Hartwell, having her very first day at her new school.
This story is also about Mrs. Hartwell, having her last day of school for the year.
Learn about Summer with Annie and Moby.