Student anxiety is often experienced during the first week of school. Sharing picture books is one way to help students acclimate more quickly to the classroom.
Kids may be worried about making new friends or meeting a new teacher. They could also be nervous about entering a new grade level. Whatever the source of student anxiety, taking the time to validate their feelings will help your students feel at ease. The following books are great for the first week of school because they address common feelings that your students may be having, but they could be used any time of the year.
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Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller
This is a great book to start the school year with because it addresses feeling nervous about new situations and how to treat others. Mr. Rabbit’s new neighbors are otters and he has some concerns because he’s never met an otter. Mr. Owl offers him the advice to “Do unto otters as you would have otters do unto you.” Otter then contemplates what that would look like. This easily translates to student anxiety felt on the first day of school as they wonder if they will get along with those they don’t know. It also is a good way to begin talking about expectations for your classroom regarding manners.
Follow-up Discussion
- What would you do for a classmate that you would want them to do for you?
- How would you speak to a classmate to show them how you would like to be spoken to?
Talk about what rules and manners look like in your classroom.
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
Sarah Jane doesn’t want to go to her new school. She doesn’t know anybody and she is sure it will be awful. Mr. Hartwell tells her everyone is expecting her but Sarah Jane thinks she feels sick. The very end of the story reveals that Sarah Jane is actually the teacher! This book will give those starting the day feeling a little uneasy something to laugh about.
Follow-up Discussion
- Ask students to share a time they were nervous about going somewhere new and it turned out to be fun.
- What can you do to help new students feel welcome in our class?
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
In this story, we meet a shy mouse named Wemberly. She worries about everything it seems; especially going to school. When Wemberly gets to school she meets Jewel, another girl mouse who has lots of the same worries. As the two play together and become friends, their worries don’t seem quite so big. Many students will relate with Wemberly as her student anxiety is revealed. They too may worry if they will make friends, have a nice teacher, or get on the right bus when it’s time to go home.
Follow-up Discussion
- What are some silly things that Wemberly worried about? What are some things she worried about that you’ve worried about too?
- When you are worried, who can you talk to or what can you do to feel better?
The Worry Box by Suzanne Chiew
A young bear named Murray has many worries about new experiences and making. Murray’s older sister Molly shares that she deals with anxiety by writing down her worries and putting them in a box. Together, they make Murray a worry box of his own and although his worries still exist, writing them down helps him not dwell on them so that he is able to confront fears and enjoy adventures. If you find student anxiety is shared by several class members, you may consider making individual worry boxes or a class worry box.
Follow-up Discussion
- How did the worry boxes help the characters in the story?
- Do you think a worry journal would work as well as a worry box? Why?
Stories like these give a natural feeling lead into talking about student anxiety. Those discussions can help students realize they are not alone in their student anxiety and that it is okay to have apprehensions when encountering new things. It also affords the opportunity to talk about ways to overcome student anxiety so that students are able to relax and enjoy learning with their classmates.
Resource Ranch
Rhonda is the author of Resource Ranch. Most of her classroom experience has been in early elementary. She has also taught Title I Reading, ESL, and gifted students. She is certified as a Texas teacher in grades 1-8 and as a K-12 librarian.
