Preschool homeschool co-op: using the flashcard set (Monday–Friday)
The group uses one large flashcard to talk about a thank-you situation before anyone writes. This Monday–Friday plan is for preschool children in a homeschool co-op group.
about 4 and 5- 5 to 7 minutes missions
- Monday–Friday
Using the flashcard set for preschool in a homeschool co-op group
The group uses one large flashcard to talk about a thank-you situation before anyone writes. In this co-op class, preschool children (about 4 and 5) practice with “The story on the porch.” Grandpa Luis, the grandparent, he told a short story and let a child sit close until it ended. The Monday–Friday calendar is the one that fits: This is the Monday–Friday format from the first half of the Operation Thank You Manual. You see the same children on five school days. Each day is one mission of 5 to 10 minutes. The note is the work of the later days, not of Monday.
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 one picture and one question, answered out loud in a small circle. The spoken line is “Thank you for telling me that story..” The note line is “Thank you for the story on the step..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.
What Grandpa Luis's lesson needs
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. 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 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. 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 story on the porch,” also set out the step where they sat. Hold one card. Ask what the person did. Match the card to the page in the activity book only after the children have said the kindness in their own words.
Five preschool missions in the co-op class
Monday in the co-op class belongs to the co-op teacher. Look only. Put the step where they sat where preschool children can see it. Name Grandpa Luis, the grandparent, and say the kindness: he told a short story and let a child sit close until it ended. It happened at a porch step. Ask “What did he give that you cannot hold?” Stop at 5 to 7 minutes. No note yet. 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 they freeze, Tell one sentence of a story and stop. Ask what the teller gave in that sentence.
Age tips for preschool (about 4 and 5)
Preschool children can learn why thank you matters before they write much. They need a picture, a person, and one clear kindness. A long talk loses them. The leader shows the moment, the children say a short line, and the group stops while the words still feel friendly. For this homeschool co-op plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 7 minutes. one picture and one question, answered out loud in a small circle.
The note for Grandpa Luis
The note can be a dictated sentence. The child supplies the person’s name and the kindness. The adult prints it on the activity-book template so the child can see that spoken thanks and written thanks are the same idea. For this kindness the sentence is “Thank you for the story on the step.” It has to mention a porch step or the step where they sat, not a general compliment to the grandparent.
Words to say about Grandpa Luis
This is a script the co-op teacher can say with preschool children during using the flashcard set. It uses “The story on the porch,” 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.
Copy-ready lines for “The story on the porch”
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for telling me that story.” Reply children may hear: “I like telling it to you.” Note line to write: “Thank you for the story on the step.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por contarme el cuento.”
Home work after The story on the porch
Ask a grandparent or older relative for one short story, then thank them for that story, not for “everything.” Write that in the activity book so the family sees Grandpa Luis's kindness, not a blank “say thank you.” The note can be a dictated sentence. The child supplies the person’s name and the kindness. The adult prints it on the activity-book template so the child can see that spoken thanks and written thanks are the same idea.
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.
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.
If preschool children stall on Grandpa Luis
Tell one sentence of a story and stop. Ask what the teller gave in that sentence. A child who keeps thanking the co-op teacher is avoiding Grandpa Luis. Send them back to the grandparent and the moment at a porch step. Whispering “Thank you for telling me that story.” counts.
Books for this homeschool co-op preschool group
Spoken practice about Grandpa Luis can start in the co-op class today. The activity-book template matters when preschool children are ready to write “Thank you for the story on the step..” If a sponsor is funding this homeschool co-op group, parents get a sample letter, and shipping is included on full and partial packages. The leader can ask at no cost.
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 contarme el cuento.” The English line remains “Thank you for telling me that story.”
Before Grandpa Luis comes up in the co-op class
The co-op teacher should be able to say the kindness in one breath: Grandpa Luis he told a short story and let a child sit close until it ended. If that sentence is fuzzy, preschool children will write a vague thank-you. Keep the step where they sat in reach and keep the mission inside 5 to 7 minutes. 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.
Questions leaders ask
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