There are so many great books to read for back to school either to your own children to get them excited about the first day or to your students to introduce them to school! I have a list of my favorites at http://www.teachingheart.net/backtoschoolreading.html . Here you can find ideas to match some of the given books too!
One of my favorite books to give to NEW teachers is First Day Jitters! As this cute picture book shows, first day jitters aren’t just for new students. The first day in a new school has Sarah Jane Hartwell wishing she could stay in bed. Mr. Hartwell tries to ease her nerves with reassurance and advice. Throughout the book you think it is a student who may have the jitters (if you look at the pictures closely, you will see some clues to who really has the jitters). Teachers get the jitters too!!! Students will make a text to self connection with the Sarah. Also, students will realize that it is normal for everyone to be nervous for the first day – even your teacher.
Makes a lovely gift for a first year teacher!
All teachers understand what the first day jitters are and they realize that even veteran teachers get those jitters. I still recall the dream I would have before school would start… My classroom was not ready and all my students suddenly show up for school!!!! I would wake up thankful that it was only a dream. Because all teachers know it takes a ton of prep to be ready for that first week of school.
Do you get the jitters before school starts?
To win this book: One entry per person. Entry must be made on or before the 14th of August.
Teachers in the comments section tell me if you get the jitters and share what you love about the first day of school. Leave your email.
Parents in the comments section tell me if your kiddos get the jitters. What do you do to calm their nerves? Leave you email.
That’s it kids! Good Luck!!
Come back Thursday for more party fun! Two giveaways!!! Be sure to look over all the giveaways, the last day to enter is the 14th of August. Enter each one if you can!
I don't know if my son will get the jitters – it's his first year of school. We'll see how it goes!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy B.
adennispac@yahoo.com
Last year was my first year of teaching and of course I got the jitters! Little did my students know that I was just as nervous as they were. However, I loved the first day of school. I loved meeting my new students and doing lots of "getting to know you activities." I get so excited about decorating my classroom, showing the students around, and having them make projects on the first day for my bulletin boards.
Julie
jmbst7@yahoo.com
After 23 years as a teacher, I still get the jitters. It started out where I would literally throw up for three weeks before school started. It was just like my system actually knew what time of year it was. And then it just happens – the excitement, the meeting of new students, seeing old friends. It is just the best.
Thank you,
Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net
As a kid I always got the jitters and could hardly sleep the night before! It was exciting, though – very anticipated…
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
I still get the jitters even after 19 years of teaching. It's more of excitement, night before Christmas kind of jitters though! I LOVE the first day of school!
Susie
labelle6pack@comcast.net
My son just started K this week. I had the jitters more than he did, he was just super excited! When I taught school, I definately had the jitters!
2 of my 3 are back in school this September and they say they don't have jitters, but the night before will tell. Reading books and telling stories about school and their friends will help if any jitters do appear.
Cheers
cabadov(at)hotmail(dot)com
This is going to be my first full year of teaching so there are lots and lots of things I am nervous about!!
Amber
quill6788@yahoo.com
Though this will be my 2nd year teaching…this will be my first first day of school (I started in October. last year) with the kids. I am so excited but definitely have the jitters!
ms.teachersb@yahoo.com
This is my daughter's first year of school. I've already got jitters but I think she's just fine. The book sounds like the perfect present for her teacher.
email in blogger profile
My little boy has NO JITTERS he is so friendly and outgoing that he just can't wait to start school. Me on the other hand I am so nervous to leave him and worry the majority of the time and of course arrive early to pick him up! 🙂
chadandshay@yahoo.com
I always get the "first day jitters" and I can hardly sleep the night before the first day of school. I'm most nervous at the end of the day when my second graders are leaving to go home. I'm always checking and double checking to make sure I've sent children on the right bus, etc.
Sheri :o)
sjones@solon.k12.ia.us
I always get the jitters on the first day of school. There is so much excitement around. What I love most about the first day is meeting all my wonderful students and knowing that I am going to impact these 20 kids lives for the better.
Email: Punkin18_00@hotmail.com
I always get the jitters on the first day of school. I love meeting my new students and parents. My jitters get worse as soon as my door closes and I'm introducing myself to the class and going through the procedures and routines. The kids are just as nervous as me!
wolfjinxangel@yahoo.com
I rarely get much sleep the nite before, I am so excited to start a new school year. This year it will be even worse because for the first time ever we will be admitting 3 year olds into our program. I'm already jittery thinking about this new challenge and if I will be able to meet it. But I do love the first day. All those little faces so excited to be going to the "big school" and so eager to learn. By the end of the day, I love them all!
Valerie in Chicago
vkowaluk@mail.stsymphorosaschool.org
This is my first year teaching and I definitely have the jitters! I don't think there is enough time to truly prepare for the first day properly – I'm sure it will be a learning experience for me!
Jennifer
ingen77@yahoo.com
I really the get te jitters! I even start dreaming or should I say have nightmares of something going wrong on the 1st day of school. I am as anxious as the kids wanting everything to run smoothly on the 1st day.
Kristi
lewisk@txkisd.net
The first day of school I am deathly nervous. As I think about all of the new faces that will be looking at me as their new teacher; I worry to myself; can I be a good teacher for them. From the time I pick them up from the cafeteria and gathering them to come to my room, I am nervous. As parents drop their little ones to me and want to talk to me, I'm nervous. All the while I maintain my permanent smile ( that I don't even realize I have on) and welcoming attitude to make sure that everyone else feels alot more comfortable than me.
neenasimone11@aol.com
I'm both a mom and a teacher – and I for sure get the jitters. Its exciting to meet new students, and of course nerve wracking to send my son to a new place. Thanks for the chance! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com
I don't get the jitters as much as I used to. I look forward to the first day of school. It's always exciting to see the eager little faces come into my room. I love the challenge of the new year. I usually have a few who are apprehensive and it sounds like this book would be great to read the first day!
Charme'
charmemccabe@rocketmail.com
I sooooo get the jitters! After 15 years I should be over this, like acne. But I still have the back-to-school nightmares, the whole did-I-do-my-lesson-plans panic attack, the where's-my-Sharpie?!!!!! moment……. Yes, I get the jitters. 🙂
And they completely disappear once I am on the floor with my firsties reading a great book and finding out what makes them special.
wendirichert@yahoo.com
I ALWAYS get nervous before school starts. I work so hard getting ready and for the most part, I generally feel like I am ready. However, the night before school, I never sleep. I am waking up every hour thinking that I am going to over-sleep! CRAZY!
Jackie at dougandjaqs@comcast.net
I don't get the jitters anymore. I love teaching and being an elementary school librarian. I see all the students in the school. I love seeing them grow up over the years.
I just got this book from the public library because I don't have a copy in our school library. I would love to have a copy for our teachers… and for me to read FIRST – to the students.
Sheryl
Yes, I do get the jitters on the first day of school, but I will say that they aren't as many as my first year teaching! I love the first day because you get to start a new year with a new group of kids- it's kind of like a blank slate.
ajb104@hotmail.com
This is my 33rd year and I still get the jitters! I love all of the excitement of the first day..except for crying mommies!!
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
Jitters, butterflies, and plain ol' stomach ache. . . one of those always comes about – because of me or children. I get excited enough for all of us! I also have a grown son who will be leaving for his second year away – that really gives me the jitters! There is something always to look forward to. . .
email: cathyc119@yahoo.com
Love this book and YES I do get Jitters on the first day!! I recently bought this book so don't include me in the giveaway!!
For all the teachers out there I am hosting a Teacher swap on my blog every Friday this month! It's a time to share ideas and support fellow teachers!! Hope you can stop by this Friday!
Jen
Following the Footsteps
I get the jitters because I think the first impression is the most important. I want everything to be perfect!
My nightmare is that I might get a student that cries and cries and sets all the other students off into a crying frenzy!
Amy
amytrax@msn.com
I actually never got the jitters for the first day of school as a teacher. My favorite part was meeting all my new students, some of which I always knew from being in the younger classrooms the previous years. Also, I loved how clean and inviting the classroom always was at the beginning of the school year. And all the typical fall decorations that were always up such as school busses and apples.
This year I not only get the jitters for the first day of school myself as I start in a different school board but my daughter is entering high school and 2 of my daycare kiddos are going into kindergarten. So we are all having the first day jitters!
cradles2crayonsdaycare@gmail.com
I have been teaching for 11 years and I still get the jitters. I'm always afraid I will no get all activities done and students will not like me. I always get the jitters when we have parents night and I have to talk to all the parents. I feel like all the parents are staring at me and I forget what to say, my cheeks turn red, and I start to talk really fast.
Tina
parentdopey@gmail.com
I don't get jitters on the first day of school like I used to when I first began teaching. I love watching the kindergarteners come into the classroom so excited about school beginning and excited about learning.
This year I will be having first day jitters for my son though. He will be beginning high school after attending the school where I teach since he was in kindergarten. I don't know if I will be able to read the "Kissing Hand" to my own students on the first day without some tears.
Sue
My email address is sue.lattea@gmail.com
This year is DEFINITELY going to be one when I have the "first day jitters"! I am returning to teaching after a year off…in a new school system…and in first grade! I have always been in 4th grade or higher! I am beyond excited, but terrified at the same time! I will be teaching full-time and being a full-time mom (and dad….since my husband is deployed to Iraq for 12+ months) to my 2 beautiful children.
I just keep reminding myself that I can do anything…and I will be an awesome first grade teacher and will continue to be an awesome mom!
cepshadow@hotmail.com
I get the jitters, butterflies in my belly and that silly sick feeling EVERY YEAR. But, I do love the first day. Everything is so new and exciting and the parents and the kids (even the ones that cry) are as nervous and jittery as me.
Marsha
mmmoffitm@yahoo.com