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First Day Jitters
Everyone knows the jumble of feelings as the first day of school approaches -- especially if it's the first day at a new school. Children and adults delight in the surprise ending!
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
March 1st 2000
by Charlesbridge Publishing
(first published January 1st 2000)
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Jan 23, 2013
Samantha Hagler
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
school-themed
This colorful children's book is about a girl named Sarah Jane Hartwell, who has bad jitters about the first day of school. She is really nervous because it is a new school and she doesn't know anyone. She refuses to get out of bed, until Mr. Hartwell finally makes her. He drives her to school as Sarah is still complaining about being sick. At the end, the author throws a twist in the book when the reader realizes that Sarah is actually a teacher on her first day of class!
This book was very ente...more
This book was very ente...more
First Day Jitters is full of interesting, colorful, and vivid illustrations. Sarah Jane Hartwell is a relateable character that decides she does not want to go to a new school on the very first day of the school year. Through discussions and arguements with her father, Sarah is convinced that her attendance is mandatory, despite her fears and hesitations. The fears of Sarah Jane, and many fears other people may have on their first day of school, are described throughout the story and resolved wi...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is an excellent book about emotional health! It teaches children many concepts about understanding some feelings. It also teaches emotional concepts to young children to help them understand that everyone (including adults) has these feelings!
Learning experience: LD5j- Children will identify and connect information and events to real-life experiences.
I would use this book to teach children about different emotions they have experienced in life. I will get several pictures of children with f...more
Learning experience: LD5j- Children will identify and connect information and events to real-life experiences.
I would use this book to teach children about different emotions they have experienced in life. I will get several pictures of children with f...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Danneberg, J. (2000). First day jitters. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
Summary:
Sarah doesn’t want to go to school on her first day. She has “first day jitters”! Mr. Hartwell continues to encourage Sarah to go to her new school, but Sarah is reluctant and afraid. The full-page illustrations by Judy Love are colorful and engaging, and don’t show Sarah’s face until she arrives at her new classroom, where the reader is in for a surprise.
Reviews/Awards:
Horn Book Guide 9/1/2000
Library Talk 5/1/2000
Sch...more
Summary:
Sarah doesn’t want to go to school on her first day. She has “first day jitters”! Mr. Hartwell continues to encourage Sarah to go to her new school, but Sarah is reluctant and afraid. The full-page illustrations by Judy Love are colorful and engaging, and don’t show Sarah’s face until she arrives at her new classroom, where the reader is in for a surprise.
Reviews/Awards:
Horn Book Guide 9/1/2000
Library Talk 5/1/2000
Sch...more
Summary
This book is about a girl named Sara and her father, and Sara’s first day of school. She is still in bed and her father tries to wake her up several times but she doesn’t want to go to school because she thinks that the children will not like her and she doesn’t have any friends at this new school. Finally Sara comes downstairs and is dressed and ready to go to school. Her father drives her to school and when they arrive the principal shows Sara to her classroom. You’ll have to read the b...more
This book is about a girl named Sara and her father, and Sara’s first day of school. She is still in bed and her father tries to wake her up several times but she doesn’t want to go to school because she thinks that the children will not like her and she doesn’t have any friends at this new school. Finally Sara comes downstairs and is dressed and ready to go to school. Her father drives her to school and when they arrive the principal shows Sara to her classroom. You’ll have to read the b...more
Sarah is hiding under her covers as Mr. Hartwell asks, "You don't want to miss the first day at your new school do you?" From under the blanket she replies, "I'm not going." When he reminds her how much she liked her other school and asks her to think of all the new friends she'll meet. Mr. Hartwell finally gets Sarah to stumble out of bed and get into the car where she slumps down into her seat. At school, the principal cheerfully welcomes her and takes her to the classroom where she is introdu...more
I actually didn’t really like this book as much as I thought I was going to like it. The whole way through the book they lead you to believe that it is the child that wont get out of bed and is so nervous to go to school when in the end you come to find out that the person that was so nervous for the first day of school was their teacher Mrs. Sarah Jane Hartwell. The reason I don’t particularly like this book is because it shows the teacher dreading school and being really scared which doesn’t s...more
It teaches children many concepts about understanding some feelings. It also teaches emotional concepts to young children to help them understand that everyone (including adults) has these feelings!
Children willbe able to identify and connect information and events to real-life experiences.
I would use this book to teach children about different emotions they have experienced in life. I will have children make different facial emotions on paper plates. As the students are sitting in a circle, I w...more
Children willbe able to identify and connect information and events to real-life experiences.
I would use this book to teach children about different emotions they have experienced in life. I will have children make different facial emotions on paper plates. As the students are sitting in a circle, I w...more
Mommy's review from 1/3/12 -
2.5 - Julia and I borrowed this from the library before Christmas and finally got around to it a few days after the 25th. When we cracked it open Julia informed me that she'd had this read to her in school so she already knew the story.
I was able to see fairly quickly where this was going but I pretended I didn't for Julia's sake and she got a big kick out of me being "tricked".
I'm surprised I haven't seen a book like this before now, with the character not being sho...more
2.5 - Julia and I borrowed this from the library before Christmas and finally got around to it a few days after the 25th. When we cracked it open Julia informed me that she'd had this read to her in school so she already knew the story.
I was able to see fairly quickly where this was going but I pretended I didn't for Julia's sake and she got a big kick out of me being "tricked".
I'm surprised I haven't seen a book like this before now, with the character not being sho...more
I LOVED this book! It is about a girl who does not want to go to school because she is starting off at a new school. She is very nervous and refuses to get out of bed. Her Dad eventually gets her up and on her way to school. When she gets there the Principal kindly greets her and leads her to her new classroom. There, she is introduced to the class as Ms. Sarah Jane Hartwell, their new teacher. Very unexpected twist! This is great to show that first day jitters are normal and teachers get them a...more
This book really is a delight. It is great for reading aloud, and the students really are surprised by the ending. In fact, some younger students might need the surprise explained for them. I know that some of my students were shocked at the end of the book when it's discovered that Sarah Jane is really a teacher who doesn't want to go to school.
This is a good way to deal with the anxious feelings that students may experience at the beginning of the year - letting them know that anxiety and havi...more
This is a good way to deal with the anxious feelings that students may experience at the beginning of the year - letting them know that anxiety and havi...more
Jul 10, 2011
Bridget
added it
The first day at a new school is always a frightening experience. In this story, Sarah does not want to go to school. Mr. Hartwell eventually gets Sarah to get out of bed, eat breakfast, and go to school. With the beautiful illustrations, the pictures do not tell how old Sarah is. It is revealed at the end of the story that Sarah is the new teacher. First Day Jitters shows children that they may not be the only ones nervous about a new school or the first day of school. The teachers often are al...more
Danneberg took a very relatable concept and made a great story out of it! Almost everyone has experienced a first day of school, but even if someone hasn't, first day jitters could be experienced on the first day of any new experience. Readers can recall the nerves or excitement they felt on their first days of something new, and laugh along at the protagonist's antics as she tries to avoid leaving her home! No matter what upcoming experience is causing someone anxiety, this story is a fine exam...more
This book was a cute book. It starts out talking about how a child does not want to go to a new school. The dad tells the child to get out of bed and get ready and she talks about how they are sick and does not want to the new school. She is afraid of making new friends and seeing the new school and the new schedule. Also, she does not want to meet the teacher. She gets up and gets ready and then she goes to school. And to figure out what happens at the end, you will have to read!! Once I read t...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I love this book. This book is a father waking up his daughter for herfirst day of school. She has changed schools a little so she is not excited about it or even about meeting new people. Her father takes her to school where the principle meets her and takes her to the classroom. As the principal introduces her, we realize that Sarah is actaully the teacher.
Wonderful book to keep students engaged. This book can also be used to relate students and teacher, explaining that we are both nervous on...more
Wonderful book to keep students engaged. This book can also be used to relate students and teacher, explaining that we are both nervous on...more
I actually heard about this book from another student in the masters program. As soon as she told us about the book I just knew that I wanted to use it in my classroom on the first day of school. It was so fitting for me because this was my first year teaching. It helped the kids realize that they weren't the only ones nervous on the first day. It helped us make a connection right off. It is also fun because it is a complete surprise at the end when you find out the the person who was so nervous...more
This is an adorable book about someone nervous about the first day of school. The speaker repeatedly asks about all the possible things that could go wrong on the first day, as a man assures her that everything will be alright. At the end of the story you realize that the speaker, who many assume is a child, is actually the teacher. This is adorable because it shows children that they are not the only ones that get nervous on the first day, which can possibly help put students at ease on their f...more
Sep 24, 2012
Dolly
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
parents reading with their children
We saw this book at our local library after a magic program for the kids. Our youngest stated that she'd already read it (or had it read to her) in school, but that it was very good and she wanted to read it again.
We really enjoyed this tale of a reticent Sarah who doesn't want to go to school on the first day. I saw the twist at the end a mile away, but our oldest was quite surprised. The narrative is fun and the illustrations are colorful, expressive and nicely realistic. It's a fun story for...more
We really enjoyed this tale of a reticent Sarah who doesn't want to go to school on the first day. I saw the twist at the end a mile away, but our oldest was quite surprised. The narrative is fun and the illustrations are colorful, expressive and nicely realistic. It's a fun story for...more
This book is perfect for an elementary school classroom, particularly the younger grades. In so many books and even in real world experiences that we have had, it's almost always the students who feel nervous about starting school. This story completely flip-flops the typical scenario and sheds a new light on how teachers really feel about starting their first days also. I was extremely surprised at the final outcome of the book on the last page and it made me so happy that there was a book like...more
This is a great book about a school teacher that has the first day jitters. Throughout the book, you think that she is a student that is nervous about attending a new school, because her dad is trying to pull her out of bed, but she just doesn't want to go. This is a great book to use on the first day of school to show the students that may be having soem jitters that everybody goes through the same thing on the first day, but things will definitely get better if everyone works together.
I loved this book! The illustrations were captivating and the print was not basic left to right. I was wondering the whole time why the pictures did not show Sarah's face, so that would be a good question to raise during read alouds. I really liked how the author turned the story around and made the teacher the new person with the jitters. The idea that teachers/adults feel the jitters on the first day as well will make new students more comfortable.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is such a great book! It takes about first day of school jitters, and how everyone feels them. Many people do and especially if they have moved to a new school, but what I love most about this book is the twist at the end where you find out it is the teachers first day! You can relate this to your students on the first day and let them know that you have the jitters too, and it is okay to have them. I would read this in k-2.
First Day Jitters was easy to read and had a lot of different things to look at in the pictures. I wondered why the author called the girls dad Mr.Hartwell instead of sarah's dad. I loved how the cat's facial expressions were used to show how Sarah was feeling in each page. In conjuction the dog was happy go lucky just like Mr. Hartwell. I laughed out loud in the end when it was the teacher who was afraid of the new students.
Oh my gosh i love this book! It is so cute and has such a surprise ending! My pre-k placement gave me this book on my first day and they read it to me. I loved it! I think this is a great book to read the first day of school. This book is about someone who is afraid to go to school the first day because she doesnt know what everyone will think of her. And im sure that plenty of students feel that way the first day of school.
Our classmate read this book to the class, and I thought this book was very very cute. The cute factor of this book occurs at the very end though.
This is a great book to use for making predictions. The whole time I thought this book was extremely predictable, however it proves you wrong in the end!
Good book for laughs! I would personally recommend this book for educators, because it is something that they can relate to.
This is a great book to use for making predictions. The whole time I thought this book was extremely predictable, however it proves you wrong in the end!
Good book for laughs! I would personally recommend this book for educators, because it is something that they can relate to.
First Day Jitters was such a cute book! Every student can relate to Sarah and her anxiety about the first day of school. It is well written with great illustrations and even has an ending that will throw students for a loop. I believe they would find this very amusing and it is something that can be read on the first day to break the ice so students will no longer feel scared about coming to school.
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| week 1 | 1 | 1 | Sep 08, 2012 04:14pm | |
| It's a great book | 1 | 3 | Nov 17, 2008 06:37pm |
