? ? ?These are the questions most often asked by beginning teachers when seeking advice on acquiring materials and locating resources for classroom use. Faced with too many responsibilities and too little time, wanting to be fully prepared but not knowing exactly how, seeing catalogs filled with teaching materials but having no experience with any, and having limited financial resources, beginning teachers need assistance in selecting teaching resources. Teachers need strategies that are effective, efficient, easy to use, practical, and adaptable. Information must reflect current best practices in education.

? ? ?This article includes a set of classroom resources identified by experienced teachers as recommended resources for beginning teachers. The resources are grouped into six areas of teachers: (a) developing professionalism, (b) basics for effective instruction, (c) academic instruction, (d) cognitive-behavioral instruction, (e) behavioral management, and (f) classroom extras.

? ? ?As newly established special education professionals, beginning teachers should become members of a professional organization that advocates for special educators, special education, and the students and families who receive special education services. With membership in The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), teachers have access to high-quality, timely information and the CEC web site; reap the benefits of CEC?s advocacy activities; and receive the following publications: TEACHING Exceptional Children (6 issues/year), Exceptional Children (4 issues/year), CEC Today (10 issues/year), and Research Connections in Special Education (2 issues/year). Membership in CEC offers opportunities to become more involved in the profession at the local, state, national, and international levels through professional development, leadership, advocacy, publications, and networking activities. Membership is also available in the 17 divisions of CEC, representing areas of interest within special education.

? ? ?Special education teachers should be proficient in using the resources of the federally-funded Educational Resources Information Center--the ERIC system. This includes knowing how to search the ERIC database and use the resources of the ERIC Clearinghouses. The ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education is located at The Council for Exceptional Children in Reston, VA.

? ? ?All special education teachers should have copies of current district, state, and federal rules, regulations, and policies for special education. This is especially important for beginning teachers, who are expected to be knowledgeable of and adhere to rules and regulations immediately. As soon as beginning teachers accept positions, they should contact the director of special education within the school district, the intermediate special education agency, and the