First Day Feelings Slides First Day Jitters • Character Feelings
Grade K–2 Reading
Story Emotion Detectives
First Day Feelings
How does the character feel before and after the big surprise reveal?
Look for clues in words & illustrations
Practice sharing with your partner
Emotion Vocabulary
Our Feelings Word Bank
Name the Emotion
🙈
At the Beginning
When waking up and heading to school:
Jittery nervous energy
Worried thinking of problems
Scared fear of the unknown
Reluctant does not want to go
😊
At the End
After meeting the class:
Relieved worry goes away
Calm feeling peaceful
Welcomed accepted by all
Excited ready to teach
Goal: Listen to clues from the author's words and illustrations!
Teacher Model Watch and Listen
Beginning Clues
Clue 1: What does she do?
Sarah pulls the covers over her head and refuses to get out of bed.
"I'm not going," said Sarah.
She is hiding from school!
Teacher Think-Aloud
How Sarah Feels:
"In the beginning, Sarah feels jittery and scared because she hides under the blankets and says she will not go."
Oral Sentence Frame: In the beginning, Sarah feels _____ because _____.
Next, we will practice finding clues together on the ride to school!
Guided Practice Turn and Talk
Partner Discussion
🚗 Clues on the Ride to School:
Nervous tummy and butterflies
Hands clutched tight to her bag
Quiet and silent in the car
Turn & Talk with Your Partner
"On the way to school, Sarah feels ________ because ________."
Partner A speaks first. Partner B nods and adds another clue!
Look at partner • Use a quiet detective voice Ready for the BIG reveal?
The Turning Point The Big Climax
SURPRISE!
Sarah Jane Hartwell is not a student...
She is MRS. HARTWELL, THE TEACHER! 🍎
Even teachers get the first-day jitters!
How does Sarah feel now that she sees her new classroom and smiling students?
Guided Discussion After the Reveal
The Ending Feelings
Clues at the End
What happens when she walks into the room?
Students smile & say hello
She stands tall at the front
She takes a deep, calm breath
"Good morning, Mrs. Hartwell!"
Oral Practice Frame
"After the reveal, Mrs. Hartwell feels relieved and happy because her students welcome her with warm smiles."
💡 Think: Why did her feelings change from nervous to relieved?
Her worries vanished when she realized everyone was kind and excited to meet her!
Oral Language Synthesis
Compare: Beginning vs. End
Full Comparison
At First 🙈
Jittery & Worried
Clues: Hiding under the blankets, shaking tummy, holding onto the car door.
Sentence: "At first, Sarah feels worried because she does not know what will happen."
In the End 😊
Relieved & Ready
Clues: Smiles at her new class, greets the students, stands tall at the front.
Sentence: "In the end, Mrs. Hartwell feels relieved because her students are friendly."
Partner Challenge: Use BOTH words in one sentence!
"At first she was _____, but then she felt _____!"
Jitter Detectives Teacher Guide Jitter Detectives Teacher Guide
First Day Jitters • Oral Language & Character Feelings (K–2)
40–45 Mins
Lesson Plan & Script
Focus Standard
RL.K.3 / RL.1.3 / RL.2.3: Describe characters, feelings, and key story events using evidence.
Oral Language Objective
Students will orally compare how Sarah feels before and after the surprise reveal using cause words (because).
Key Materials
First Day Jitters book, Lesson Slides, Discussion Mats, Exit Tickets.
Target Emotion Vocabulary
Beginning Feelings: Jittery, Nervous, Worried, Scared, Reluctant
Physical cues: butterflies in tummy, shaking, hiding under blanket, silence.
Ending Feelings: Relieved, Calm, Welcomed, Happy, Excited
Physical cues: big smile, deep breath, standing tall, warm greetings.
Interactive Read-Aloud Stopping Points & Scripts
1. Hook & Vocab Introduction (5 Mins) • Slides 1–2 Whole Group
Script: "Have you ever had a fluttering feeling in your tummy on the first day of school? That feeling has a special name: the jitters! Today, we are emotion detectives. We will watch how our character feels at the beginning of school, and how those feelings change in the end."
2. Teacher Modeling: Beginning Clues (Pages 1–5) • Slide 3 I DO (10 Mins)
Script: "Look at Sarah buried under the quilt. Her dog is barking, and she groans, 'I'm not going!' Stop and listen to my detective brain: When someone covers their head and says they won't go, that is a huge clue. She is not just sleepy; she is nervous and scared. Listen to my complete sentence: 'In the beginning, Sarah feels jittery because she hides under the covers and refuses to go to school.'"
3. Guided Practice: In the Car & Hallways (Pages 8–18) • Slide 4 WE DO (10 Mins)
Prompt: "Sarah is sitting in the car with Mr. Hartwell. Look at her hands clutching her bag. Look at her eyes darting around. Turn and talk to your partner: What clues tell us Sarah is still feeling anxious?"
Sentence Frame to echo: "Sarah still feels worried because her hands are clenched and her tummy hurts."
First Day Jitters • Character Feelings Instructional Guide Page 1 of 2 (Continued on back)
The Big Reveal & Oral Mastery
Discussion Facilitation, Differentiation & Assessment
Post-Reading
4. The Big Reveal & Feelings Shift (Pages 20–24) • Slides 5–6 10 Mins • YOU DO TOGETHER
Script: "Turn the page... Look! Mrs. Burton introduces her: 'This is your new teacher, Mrs. Sarah Jane Hartwell!' Gasps! How do you feel right now? You thought she was a student!"
Feelings Flip Discussion Mat Feelings Flip Discussion Mat
First Day Jitters • Partner Talk Routine
Partner 1: ________________
Partner 2: ________________
1 Point to the story clues
2 Use your loud detective voice
3 Say the complete sentence frame
Part 1: At First 🙈
Before the Big Reveal
Under blankets & driving to school
Story Evidence Clues:
Covers over her head ("I'm not going!")
Butterflies and nervous tummy
Hands clutched tight in the car
Emotion Word Choices:
Jittery Nervous Worried Scared
Partner 1 Oral Stem
"At first, Sarah feels __________ because ________________."
Part 2: In the End 😊
After the Big Reveal
In front of Room 4 with her students
Story Evidence Clues:
Mrs. Burton introduces Mrs. Hartwell
Smiling students say "Good morning!"
Sarah smiles and takes a calm breath
Emotion Word Choices:
Relieved Calm Welcomed Excited
Partner 2 Oral Stem
"In the end, Mrs. Hartwell feels __________ because ________________."
Master Detective Challenge: Put Both Together! Partner High-Five Routine
"At first, Sarah feels jittery because she fears going to school, BUT in the end she feels relieved because her new class is welcoming!"
Place this mat between you and your partner • Point to clues as you speak First Day Jitters • Oral Reading Scaffolding Mat
Feelings Reveal Exit Ticket Feelings Reveal Exit Ticket
First Day Jitters • Oral Language Check
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. Before the Reveal 🙈
How did Sarah feel at the start? Circle one:
Jittery Nervous Scared
Quick sketch or clue symbol:
2. After the Reveal 😊
How did Mrs. Hartwell feel in the end? Circle one:
Relieved Calm Happy
Quick sketch or clue symbol:
Teacher Oral Check Prompt:
"At first she felt _____ because _____, but then she felt _____ because _____."
Named Emotions Story Evidence
Score: ⭐ / ⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐
Cut here for 2 half-page exit tickets
Feelings Reveal Exit Ticket
First Day Jitters • Oral Language Check
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. Before the Reveal 🙈
How did Sarah feel at the start? Circle one:
Jittery Nervous Scared
Quick sketch or clue symbol:
2. After the Reveal 😊
How did Mrs. Hartwell feel in the end? Circle one:
Relieved Calm Happy
Quick sketch or clue symbol:
Teacher Oral Check Prompt:
"At first she felt _____ because _____, but then she felt _____ because _____."
Named Emotions Story Evidence
Score: ⭐ / ⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐
