Start out in a community college Most towns and cities have two-year community colleges where you can take your basic courses at less cost than at a four-year college or university. Just investigate to make sure your community college credits will transfer.

Take advantage of Work-Study programs If you qualify for federal work-study program, take advantage of it! You will have an on-campus job, possibly in your field of study.

Or work for school Many colleges give discounted or free tuition to employees and their family members. There are lots of non-teaching jobs on campus that you can apply for.

Live frugally Live at home or get a roommate. Avoid expensive spring break trips. Buy used textbooks, and sell your books at end of semester.

I already have a loan. Now what? If you have a federal student loan, it is possible to have your loan debt discharged (canceled) or reduced, under certain specific circumstances:

You die or become totally and permanently disabled Your school closed before you could complete your program You work in certain designated public school service professions (such as teaching in a low-income school) You file for bankruptcy (only if bankruptcy court rules that repayment would cause undue hardship.) As you can see, there are many steps to avoiding or relieving college debt. To best manage your debt it is wise to implement a combination of strategies listed above that work best for you.

This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we believe that getting an education is best investment you can make, and we're dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite you to learn more about how to avoid college debt at www.NextStudent.com .

6. Take advantage of all first year teacher inservices.

Staff development is a crucial component of “No Child Left Behind”. Most districts have developed appropriate staff development workshops to meet intent of law and to provide details that are missing from teacher manuals. Veteran teachers who present sample lessons or time saving tips can be a life saver for first year teachers.

7. Begin parent contacts from first day of school.

Send some kind of a communication to parents first day. Describe your plans and goals for school year and solicit their help and expertise. Parents can be presenters, volunteers, and field trip chaperones. They love getting involved. Start first week by phoning each parent (do 5 a day) and introducing yourself.

8. Send a regular newsletter home

Whether it be a weekly report or a monthly newsletter, establish a vehicle for regular communication with parents. Parents are busy folks, too. They may also need frequent reminders about upcoming events. Have students write a letter to their parents as an end of day activity for example. There is no such thing as too much communication.

9. Get involved in at least one curriculum committee.

As a first year teacher, you may say to yourself that you haven’t got time to do one more thing. However, it is strongly advised that you begin to get involved in a curriculum committee at district level. Join a group. They are always looking for members. They usually meet only once a month after school. You should find an area that interests you most and sign up. Even if you can’t make a meeting every month, this will help you begin to see input and influence that teachers can have on curriculum decisions.

10 Realize that first year is toughest.

As a first year teacher, there will be days and sleepless nights when you will wonder if you took correct path. If you love teaching kids, hang in there. Each year will get easier because you will gain new insights and experience as each year passes. Being a teacher is a tough job. Don’t try to go it alone. A support system made up of family and colleagues will get you through tough times so that you can reflect back on rewarding times and know that you can and do make a difference.