This practical guide for new teachers is written by teachers and offers strategies for the early years of teaching that cover classroom practice and professional development. Seven chapters address teaching practice and cover the following topics: getting to know students at the beginning of the year; strategic planning for the whole year; following the curriculum; classroom management; types and sources of resources; working in partnership with parents; and successfully managing the homestretch--March to June. Short essays on professional development and personal concerns alternate with these chapters. These are: "Curing Occupational Hazards: From the Inside Out" (Timothy Gangwer); "Curing Occupational Hazards: From the Outside In" (Paula Hartman); "On Becoming a Professional" (David Georgi); "Professionalism: You Get What You Pay For" (Betty Myers); and "A Dialogue on Professionalism" (Vincent Bono and Eileen G. Krieg). The guide includes a list of contributing teachers, a list of IMPACT--II information centers around the nation, and an index. (JB)