This book offers beginning teachers daily step-by-step plans for the first 4 weeks of school. It is based on a survey of first year teachers that examined their problems, concerns, needs, and feelings. It is also based on a task force of preservice and inservice teachers who set an agenda and tasks to find out more about beginning teacher needs. Five chapters focus on: (1) "What Do I Do First?" (the application process, preparing a resume and portfolio, preparing for the interview, what to do after being hired and before school starts, preparing for the first day, and survival advice); (2) "How Do I Get Started?" (teacher as manager, fist month classroom management plan, and comments from first-year teachers); (3) "How Do I Work with Parents?" (relationship building, effective communication, the open house, the parent-teacher conference, and parent involvement issues); (4) "How Can I Save Time?" (time management, time savers, and reflective teaching"; and (5) "How Do I End the Year?" (teacher as a professional, the last month, and end-of-the-year management plan). (Contains 59 bibliographic references.) (SM)