This handbook offers guidance on how to establish relationships with the school staff, organize and manage an inviting classroom, prepare lessons to engage students, prevent discipline problems, develop partnerships with parents, assess student learning and performance, troubleshoot behavior problems, and develop a teacher portfolio. Chapter 1 details strategies to help the beginner fit in and seek assistance from a variety of sources. Chapters 2 and 3 contain ideas for setting up and organizing an effective learning environment, and for the routine management of daily classroom life. Chapter 4 describes effective lesson and unit planning and presents guidelines for using various instructional approaches. Chapters 5 illustrates how to manage and monitor student behavior and chapter 6 suggests various approaches to the assessment of student learning. Chapter 7 is devoted to developing partnerships with parents. Chapter 8 presents answers to common problems and frequently asked questions, and chapter 9 stresses the importance of continuing professional development and suggests professional development resources for beginning teachers. Included are classroom-tested ideas; lesson planning guides; sample parent letters, forms, and checklists; and examples of how to manage an effective classroom. (Contains 30 references.) (ND)