Many of you are not teaching the same grade levels or subject areas you studied in college. You may have imagined yourself teaching first grade only to find that the job offered to you is teaching sixth grade science. Or you may have a background in technical writing, but your first job as a teacher is teaching high school economics. To avoid a year of playing "catch up," take the time to map out what you need to do to become proficient and comfortable with your subject area and with the developmental abilities of the students you have in your class. Here are some suggestions for becoming an expert in your field. Read through all of the text materials for your class, including auxiliary materials and teacher notes. Make a list of the main topics you will be teaching. Keep the list with you whenever you go to the library, surf the Internet or visit a bookstore so when you have a few minutes you can research these topics. Ask your administrator to connect you with your school district supervisor for your subject area. Make an appointment to discuss with your supervisor any questions about the subject area as well as opportunities for you to attend appropriate professional development. If another teacher at your school is teaching the same subject or students, ask if you can schedule some time each week for the first few weeks to discuss any questions you may have. As an alternative, ask the experienced teacher to recommend resources to you that can help boost your background knowledge. Register for an online or in person course in the subject area you are now teaching or related to the students you teach. In addition to formal for-credit courses at community colleges and universities, there are often continuing education courses that are less formal, but can provide you with great information and contacts. While these suggestions take some personal time and effort, your investment will pay off quickly for both you and your students.