1st grade homeschool co-op: sponsoring this group (once a week)
The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. This once a week plan is for 1st grade children in a homeschool co-op group.
about 6 and 7- 5 to 10 minutes missions
- once a week
Sponsoring this group for 1st grade in a homeschool co-op group
The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. In this co-op class, 1st grade children (about 6 and 7) practice with “The stop at the crosswalk.” Mr. Diaz, the crossing guard, he held the sign and waited until every child was on the curb. The once a week calendar is the one that fits: This is the once-per-week format from the second half of the manual, written for groups and clubs that do not meet daily. One meeting carries the mission. A single home task goes in the activity book. Do not try to compress five school days into one hour.
The co-op teacher leads. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book. Children answer in a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group. The spoken line is “Thank you for helping us cross..” The note line is “Thank you for waiting until we were all across..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.
Who is in the co-op class
A co-op class may meet once a week with children from several families. That is the once-per-week half of the manual. Each child still needs an activity book. Families can mix English and Spanish copies when the co-op is bilingual.
Words to say about Mr. Diaz
This is a script the co-op teacher can say with 1st grade children during sponsoring this group. It uses “The stop at the crosswalk,” a practice situation for this plan. It is not a list of the 30 printed flashcards. Those cards stay in the set and match the activity book. Use this script when you need the words in the room.
One once a week meeting in the co-op class
This is the once-per-week format from the second half of the manual, written for groups and clubs that do not meet daily. One meeting carries the mission. A single home task goes in the activity book. Do not try to compress five school days into one hour. In the co-op class, the co-op teacher has one sitting with 1st grade children, about 6 and 7. Do not replay a school week. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book.
Age tips for 1st grade (about 6 and 7)
First graders are ready to connect spoken manners with a written note. They can explain, in a simple way, that thank you is for a real person who did a real thing. A first-grade teacher, Laura H, said her children used please and thank you all the time once they knew the power behind the words. For this homeschool co-op plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group.
The note for Mr. Diaz
Use the How To Write A Thank You Note template in the activity book. First graders fill the greeting, one sentence about the kindness, and a closing. The adult helps with names and leaves the kindness sentence to the child. For this kindness the sentence is “Thank you for waiting until we were all across.” It has to mention the crosswalk or the stop sign, not a general compliment to the crossing guard.
Copy-ready lines for “The stop at the crosswalk”
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for helping us cross.” Reply children may hear: “You are welcome. Stay on the curb until I say so.” Note line to write: “Thank you for waiting until we were all across.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por ayudarnos a cruzar.”
Classroom and group notes for the co-op class
A co-op class may meet once a week with children from several families. That is the once-per-week half of the manual. Each child still needs an activity book. Families can mix English and Spanish copies when the co-op is bilingual. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book.
If 1st grade children stall on Mr. Diaz
Draw a curb line on the floor. Nobody says the line until both feet are on the safe side. A child who keeps thanking the co-op teacher is avoiding Mr. Diaz. Send them back to the crossing guard and the moment at the crosswalk. Whispering “Thank you for helping us cross.” counts.
What Mr. Diaz's lesson needs
The Operation Thank You Manual is 98 pages. The first half is the Monday–Friday classroom sequence. The second half is the once-per-week sequence for clubs. Each child needs Why and How To Say “Thank You,” the classroom edition: a saddle-stitched activity book with situations for saying thank you, the How To Write A Thank You Note template, and extra pages to practice. The flashcard set has 30 cards, 8.5 by 11 inches, colorful, with rounded corners. The cards mirror the activity book so the group can look at one situation before writing. The manual, the activity book, and the flashcards are available in Spanish. The MISSION Reminders Supplement can be added when some children speak Spanish. Extra activity books are sold in packs of 10. For “The stop at the crosswalk,” also set out the stop sign. If the books are not in the room yet, practice the spoken mission anyway, and tell families how a sponsor or an order supplies the printed set.
Spanish materials in this group
If any child in the co-op class speaks Spanish at home, order the Spanish activity book for that child and keep the same situation. The Spanish line for this plan is “Gracias por ayudarnos a cruzar.” The English line remains “Thank you for helping us cross.”
Home work after The stop at the crosswalk
Thank the adult who walks you across a street or a parking lot, and name the place. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Mr. Diaz's kindness, not a blank “say thank you.” Use the How To Write A Thank You Note template in the activity book. First graders fill the greeting, one sentence about the kindness, and a closing. The adult helps with names and leaves the kindness sentence to the child.
Books for this homeschool co-op 1st grade group
This page is about getting the set into the co-op class: the manual, one activity book per child, and the 30-card flashcards, so “Thank you for waiting until we were all across.” can be written about Mr. Diaz. The leader asks on Find a Sponsor at no cost. Alison Gilham matches a sponsor or takes a chosen group in any U.S. state, then calls the leader before shipping. Payment is due when the package is ready. Groups over 30 add books in tens. Spanish copies use “Gracias por ayudarnos a cruzar.” beside “Thank you for helping us cross..” Email info@cultureofthankyou.com or call 971-265-8262.
Questions leaders ask
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