This handbook is designed to help student teachers and beginning teachers handle the "surprises" they encounter on the job. The scenarios in the book identify critical incidents and potential situations teachers are likely to face and offer help in keeping teachers out of unpleasant situations or suggesting courses of action when they find themselves in such situations. Many of these anticipated situations are drawn from the field experience diaries of student teachers and real-life experiences of beginning teachers, as well as from the experience and observations of cooperating teachers and university teacher educators. The suggestions made are based on accepted program and classroom management techniques in the field of vocational education, although most of the techniques can be applied to academic subjects as well. Topics covered in the short vignettes include the following: managing students in and around the classroom, in the laboratory, and on field trips; interacting with parents and teachers; getting along with administrators; and notes from beginning teachers. The book also covers three essential teacher competencies and provides tips for getting students ready to control their behavior in new situations. (KC)