Story Review of First Day Jitters

Characters: Sarah, Mr. Hartwell & Mrs. Burton

Setting: In Sarah’s bedroom & her new school

Plot(Problem): Sarah didn’t want to go to her new school

The story of First Day Jitters is written by Julie Danneberg. It talks about a person called Sarah who didn’t want to go to school on the first day, finally got to school with her father urging her and she herself walking weakly with a headache. At the school, the principal introduces her to the whole class. She didn’t feel sick and weak as before. The headache was also gone.

Even a teacher doesn’t like moving to a new school to teach. Sarah didn’t want to get out of bed, because she hated her new school. She also didn’t want to start all over again and she didn’t know anyone. But she was a teacher! Meanwhile, her father thinks going to a new school is a new experience, and she would meet new friends. Plus, how did she know if the school is good or bad if she’s never been there before? Surely she needs to try once! After a while, Sarah got downstairs and said she felt sick. Her father heard that as nonsense, so Sarah dragged herself in the car. When they got to the school, Sarah was having a real headache, but all recovered when she saw the principal. Teachers also have first day jitters like students.

At the ending of the story, the author surprises the reader. In the beginning, the author describes Sarah like a student, so we think Sarah is a student. But, what we don’t know is that Sarah is actually a teacher! All the time the author lets us think she is just a plain old child who is nervous to go to school. That is normal. Everyone has first day jitters, even the brave kids who are never afraid of anything have them. Turns out, Sarah is a grown up who teaches kids! She is in charge of the kids. You may wonder: A teacher who is in charge of kids also has first day jitters? No way! But, to be honest, it makes the story more interesting. Don’t you think so?

In the story, the author uses some assonance, or vowels. ‘Tumbled’, ‘stumbled’ and ‘fumbled’ is an example.in the story, Sarah tumbled out of bed, stumbled in the bathroom, and fumbled into her clothes. This shows that she is unwilling to go to school and half awake. When she woke up, she still didn’t want to go to school. Her mind is not ready for the first day of school. She did those things lazily and without care. She didn’t mind if her clothes were neat, her hair was good, her face was clean, or what she will teach today. She just didn’t want to go to school. Her mind was not on it. She feels sick, and also has a headache. We can use this kind of writing skill because it is very useful in writing essays.

From this story, I learned that even a teacher can have first day jitters. Not everyone is brave, not even teachers. Everyone has jitters on the first day, no one doesn’t. We all have times when we are scared, have jitters, or don't want to go to school. That’s normal for all of us. But, let us try to overcome these jitters, feelings, and problems. Let us be brave, and overcome the first day of everything.