This book presents ideas for beginning secondary teachers who want to excel during their first year of teaching. The eight chapters focus on: (1) "Before the First Days of School" (e.g., classroom design, school policies, important people to know, dressing for success, special education students, school records, and emergency procedures); (2) "The First Week of School" (class procedures and first day of school celebration award); (3) "Planning for Classroom Instruction" (classroom instruction and planning for instruction); (4) "Student Recordkeeping" (communicating with students, classroom records and telephone log, student contact, and student assessment of the course and homework); (5) "Classroom Management and Discipline" (classroom environment and classroom management); (6)"Working with Colleagues, Substitutes, and Paraprofessionals" (mentor teachers, veteran teachers, substitute teachers, and communication with staff); (7) "Communicating with Parents" (parent contact, planning for the open house, communicating with Mom and Dad, and Mom and Dad come to school); and (8) "Finding Balance: Loneliness at the Chalkboard" (e.g., school politics, department politics, parent issues, student politics, evaluation, professional organizations, and professional development growth plan). Two resources list professional organizations and subject-specific organizations. (SM)