First Day Jitters

Today I'm linking up with Collaboration Cuties for the first time ever for their popular Must Read Mentor Texts link up.  I love hearing about books teachers use to teach concepts to their students in all subject areas: reading, math, science, social studies and so on!  The theme for today's link-up is back to school mentor texts.  (Be sure to click the image below to check out more first day of school mentor texts brought to you by other teacher bloggers.)

My favorite book to read to my students on the first day of school is 'First Day Jitters.' It tells the story of Sarah Jane Hartwell, who is about to begin her first day at a new school and she is sooooo nervous!  After Mr. Hartwell finally drags her out of bed and drives her to school, the principal befriends Sarah Jane and shows her to her new classroom.  The kids are always delighted at the surprise ending: Sarah Jane isn't a new student like they are led to believe throughout the story -- she is the teacher!   

Reading this book leads to a great discussion about 'first day jitters.'  It helps the students feel better about their own nerves, knowing their classmates were a little nervous for their first day of school, too, and even their teacher (me!) gets the 'first day jitters.'  Click here to buy 'First Day Jitters' on Amazon.

 This year, I decided to have the kids do a little writing after we finished reading, about their first day nerves so we could look back on the last day of school.  Sure enough, the kids LOVED getting their writing back on the last day to remember how nervous they were the first day and see how much they had grown as writers in fourth grade.  Click the picture to get it for FREE on my TPT store.

Doesn't this post get you excited for back to school?  Maybe?? Well, for those of you already looking forward to the LAST day of school, check out the sequel to 'First Day Jitters', called 'Last Day Blues'.  I had no idea it existed until my teammate read it to her kids on the last day this year.  I will definitely be using it next year!  Click here to find it on Amazon.

 This was just so much fun!  Check back tomorrow for July's Pin-spired link-up.  And...I just found out I was nominated for my first blog award!  More on that later this week.

Don't forget to enter my Rodan + Fields giveaway for a FREE mini-facial...there are actually three of them to win!  To enter, click here and comment on the product you would most like to try or use the Solution Tool and comment on your recommended regimen.  The winners will be announced Friday!