1st grade homeschool: 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 group.

  • about 6 and 7
  • 5 to 10 minutes missions
  • once a week
1st grade homeschool: sponsoring this group (once a week) — children learning gratitude with books and activities

Sponsoring this group for 1st grade in a homeschool group

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. In this homeschool table, 1st grade children (about 6 and 7) practice with “The knotted shoe.” Coach Priya, the coach, she stopped practice and tied a shoe that had come undone. 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 homeschool parent leads. The mission should not crowd the rest of the homeschool day. Stop at the time limit even if the child wants to keep decorating the note. Children answer in a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group. The spoken line is “Thank you for tying my shoe..” The note line is “Thank you for tying my shoe so I could keep playing..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.

One once a week meeting in the homeschool table

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 homeschool table, the homeschool parent has one sitting with 1st grade children, about 6 and 7. Do not replay a school week. The mission should not crowd the rest of the homeschool day. Stop at the time limit even if the child wants to keep decorating the note.

Open on “The knotted shoe.” Tell the group that Coach Priya, the coach, she stopped practice and tied a shoe that had come undone at the practice field. Put a loose shoelace in sight. Ask all three questions, one at a time: “What did the team have to do while the shoe was tied?” “Why is the thanks for the stop, not only the knot?” “What can you practice so the next lace is yours to tie?” Children answer in a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group. Stop answers that are only “they were nice.”

Say the spoken line together: “Thank you for tying my shoe.” Then each child says it to a partner. 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. The homeschool parent listens for Coach Priya's name and for a loose shoelace.

Words to say about Coach Priya

This is a script the homeschool parent can say with 1st grade children during sponsoring this group. It uses “The knotted shoe,” 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.

The note for Coach Priya

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 tying my shoe so I could keep playing.” It has to mention the practice field or a loose shoelace, not a general compliment to the coach.

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 plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group.

Copy-ready lines for “The knotted shoe”

Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for tying my shoe.” Reply children may hear: “Double knot. Then come back in.” Note line to write: “Thank you for tying my shoe so I could keep playing.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por atar mi zapato.”

Who is in the homeschool table

Home-schoolers use the same missions teachers use in class. The manual, one activity book, and the flashcards fit on the kitchen table. An all-inclusive home-schooler package is available in English and Spanish. Daily schooling can follow the Monday–Friday format. A weekly gratitude block can follow the once-per-week format.

What Coach Priya'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 knotted shoe,” also set out a loose shoelace. 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.

Classroom and group notes for the homeschool table

Home-schoolers use the same missions teachers use in class. The manual, one activity book, and the flashcards fit on the kitchen table. An all-inclusive home-schooler package is available in English and Spanish. Daily schooling can follow the Monday–Friday format. A weekly gratitude block can follow the once-per-week format. The mission should not crowd the rest of the homeschool day. Stop at the time limit even if the child wants to keep decorating the note.

If 1st grade children stall on Coach Priya

Untie one lace. The thanks happens after the knot, looking at the helper, before play starts again. A child who keeps thanking the homeschool parent is avoiding Coach Priya. Send them back to the coach and the moment at the practice field. Whispering “Thank you for tying my shoe.” counts.

Home work after The knotted shoe

Thank the person who still ties shoes or packs the practice bag, and name the item. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Coach Priya'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.

Spanish materials in this group

If any child in the homeschool table 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 atar mi zapato.” The English line remains “Thank you for tying my shoe.”

Books for this homeschool 1st grade group

This page is about getting the set into the homeschool table: the manual, one activity book per child, and the 30-card flashcards, so “Thank you for tying my shoe so I could keep playing.” can be written about Coach Priya. 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 atar mi zapato.” beside “Thank you for tying my shoe..” Email info@cultureofthankyou.com or call 971-265-8262.

Questions leaders ask

Plan on 5 to 10 minutes. 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 mission should not crowd the rest of the homeschool day. Stop at the time limit even if the child wants to keep decorating the note.

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Let's help the next generation learn to recognize kindness, appreciate others,
and say “Thank You” with meaning.