Preschool homeschool co-op: noticing kindness (Monday–Friday)
Children point to a real kindness before they are asked to say or write thank you. 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
Noticing kindness for preschool in a homeschool co-op group
Children point to a real kindness before they are asked to say or write thank you. In this co-op class, preschool children (about 4 and 5) practice with “The mitten from the lost box.” Mr. Cole, the aide, he looked through the lost box and found a mitten that matched. 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 finding my mitten..” The note line is “Thank you for looking until you found my mitten..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.
Five preschool missions in the co-op class
Monday does not add a new helper. It stays with Mr. Cole. Look only. Put one mitten where preschool children can see it. Name Mr. Cole, the aide, and say the kindness: he looked through the lost box and found a mitten that matched. It happened at the lost-and-found box. Ask “What did he have to do that took time?” 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, Hide a mitten in a box of paper. Time the search. The thanks has to mention the looking.
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.
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 Mr. Cole
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 looking until you found my mitten.” It has to mention the lost-and-found box or one mitten, not a general compliment to the aide.
Words to say about Mr. Cole
This is a script the co-op teacher can say with preschool children during noticing kindness. It uses “The mitten from the lost box,” 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 mitten from the lost box”
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for finding my mitten.” Reply children may hear: “It was at the bottom. Check the name next time.” Note line to write: “Thank you for looking until you found my mitten.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por encontrar mi guante.”
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 encontrar mi guante.” The English line remains “Thank you for finding my mitten.”
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 preschool children stall on Mr. Cole
Hide a mitten in a box of paper. Time the search. The thanks has to mention the looking. A child who keeps thanking the co-op teacher is avoiding Mr. Cole. Send them back to the aide and the moment at the lost-and-found box. Whispering “Thank you for finding my mitten.” counts.
Books for this homeschool co-op preschool group
Spoken practice about Mr. Cole can start in the co-op class today. The activity-book template matters when preschool children are ready to write “Thank you for looking until you found my mitten..” 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.
What Mr. Cole'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 mitten from the lost box,” also set out one mitten. Show the moment first. Ask what the helper did with their hands. Accept the action before you ask for the polite words.
Home work after The mitten from the lost box
Thank a family member who searches for a lost shoe, hat, or paper, and name the item. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Mr. Cole'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.
Before Mr. Cole comes up in the co-op class
The co-op teacher should be able to say the kindness in one breath: Mr. Cole he looked through the lost box and found a mitten that matched. If that sentence is fuzzy, preschool children will write a vague thank-you. Keep one mitten 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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