There’s something magical about the first day of school.
Fresh crayons. New backpacks. Bright smiles.
And, of course… a few butterflies.
Whether you’re teaching kindergarten, first grade, or beginning second grade, the first day is filled with excitement, curiosity, and sometimes a little nervousness. That’s exactly why First Day Jitters has remained one of teachers’ favorite back-to-school read-alouds for years. It reminds children that everyone—even adults—can feel a little “jittery” when facing something new.
More Than a Book Companion
When I created this resource, I wanted it to be much more than a collection of worksheets.
After spending 38 years in the elementary classroom, I know the first day moves quickly. Teachers need activities that are engaging, purposeful, and easy to implement while helping students feel comfortable and connected.
This resource provides a complete day of learning centered around First Day Jitters, helping you confidently guide students through one of the most important days of the school year.
What’s Inside?
You’ll find everything you need to build a memorable first day, including:
- Detailed teacher lesson plans
- Morning arrival activities
- Welcome posters and headbands
- Read-aloud discussion questions
- Interactive class poll and graphing activities
- Vocabulary and word work
- Comprehension activities
- Writing pages and graphic organizers
- Math activities
- A fun first-day craft
- Student observation checklist
- Color and black-and-white options
Each activity is designed to reinforce literacy skills while encouraging students to share, listen, and build relationships with their new classmates.
Building More Than Academic Skills
The beginning of the school year is about much more than reading and writing.
It’s about creating a classroom where every child feels safe, valued, and excited to learn.
Throughout the day, students have opportunities to:
- Share about themselves
- Learn about classmates
- Express their feelings
- Practice listening and speaking
- Build confidence
- Celebrate similarities and differences
These simple conversations help lay the foundation for a caring classroom community that lasts all year.
Turn Those Jitters Into Smiles
One of my favorite themes throughout this resource is the reminder to Turn Those Jitters Into Smiles!
Children quickly discover that it’s perfectly normal to feel excited, nervous, or even a little uncertain on the first day. Through meaningful discussions, engaging activities, and the surprise ending of First Day Jitters, students realize they’re not alone—and that those butterflies can quickly turn into excitement.
Sometimes all it takes is a friendly smile, a welcoming classroom, and a caring teacher to make all the difference.
Created by a Teacher, for Teachers
Every page in this resource comes from years of classroom experience. My goal has always been to create lessons that save teachers time while giving students meaningful learning experiences they’ll remember long after the first day is over.
If you’re looking for a resource that combines literacy, classroom community, social-emotional learning, and fun first-day activities in one easy-to-use package, I hope this companion helps make your first day a little less stressful—and a lot more memorable.
Here’s to a wonderful school year filled with learning, laughter, and lots of smiles.
Because every great school year begins by turning those first-day jitters into smiles!
No Comments