You've got questions. We've got answers, and sometimes we answer twice (listen to this episode to see what I mean). In this email roundup, we help you calm your nerves as you prepare for the first day of school. We also discuss some grittier subjects, including one emailer's frustrations in his student teaching experience and another teacher's trouble dealing with a student that loves to play the victim in class.

Our last few shows have been dedicated to interviews, so we decided to knock out some of the listener email that's been piling up in the interim. Today we hit some of the basics of Teaching 101, like how to write lesson plans. Join us as we broadcast from Glen's sprawling estate (specifically his living room). Here, I'll even pull up an extra chair for you.

We interview Rick Ellenburg, the 2008 Florida State Teacher of the Year. He delivers great advice for new teachers, including three invaluable guidelines all rookies should keep in mind. As you listen, I think you'll find it impossible NOT to be uplifted and encouraged by Rick's dedication and love for his kids. Finally, he addresses the biggest fear all new teachers have: hamster babies. Confused? Listen to learn more!

This week, we sit down with Rich Ognibene, the 2008 New York State Teacher of the Year. Among the topics of conversation: qualities that make a good teacher stand out, managing student discipline before it becomes a problem, and cultivating a productive and welcoming classroom environment. Most of all, you'll sense Rich's passion for teaching and for his students as he explains how to move beyond simply conveying academic content in your classroom to making a difference in your students' lives.

Bring your teaching methods into the 21st century with the help of our special guest, Candy Shively of TeachersFirst.org. She's hand picked five different web resources (designed for varying ages and subjects) that can be used in the classroom right away. Whether you're new to educational technology or you know your way around monitors and computer mice, she's got something that'll interest you. We also respond to a listener email that asks us to define the term "digital divide." (Note: The web addresses--URLs for the techies among you--of the web sites Candy identifies in this episode are listed on our web site, www.newteacherhotline.com. Just check the comments section for Podcast #17. You can also find the links at Candy's web site, www.teachersfirst.org, by typing "tech toolbox" into the search box.)

When you're a teacher, you're always on stage. Though you may not be paid like a movie star, you sure do have your share of critics around to dissect your latest lesson. The number of observations you'll endure during your first two or three years of teaching is probably equal to the number you'll face in the ten years after that combined! This week we talk about preparing for those dreaded performances, the results of which are forever stored in your permanent personnel record!

If you're wondering what happened to the stressed-out teacher from our last episode, wonder no more. She's written to us again to let us know how the situation in her classroom is developing. It turns out that she needs help with parent phone calls. Like most rookie teachers, she's intimidated by the thought of contacting parents, especially parents who might not be up for, shall we say, any parent of the year awards.

The title of this week's episode is not only dramatic, it's an actual quote from a frazzled listener. What happens when a student is misbehaving, you've tried everything you can think of, and nothing works? Is there anything you can do (other than hope and pray that the student is absent)? Next on the agenda is the Return of the Fatal Five (just in time for Halloween). The topic: What are the five worst ways to respond to sudden and unexpected bad behavior in class?

In this episode, we finally dig our way out of the email that accumulated during our summer hiatus. What would you do if a principal asked you to stay beyond your contractually defined hours? How much time have you spent crafting your grading system? Would it stand up to parental or administrative challenges? Does the way you grade truly reflect your teaching philosophy?

The new season of the New Teacher Hotline kicks off in grand style as Glen rejoins the podcast, fresh from summer vacation. While we were away, we received a ton of listener email, so in this episode we do our best to answer as many of your emails as we can. All that plus a blooper at the end of the podcast? What more could you ask for?