I got the job, now what!?

I was hired to teach English part-time to 7th and 8th graders on August 20th, 2012, about a week and a half before school started. I went to my interview in my Calvin Klein black business skirt, a blue top with snap buttons and pockets, a black belt, and black kitten heels (Since having two kids I switched from the 5 inch stilettos and traded them in for some good ol' 3 inchers). I had a portfolio in hand, a nervous smile on my face, and hope in my eyes when I walked into the main office for my interview. I was even 15 minutes early and I was first on the list, which I thought was perfect because that way I wouldn't have to see the other candidates and do the whole sizing up bit. Well much to my dismay, not only did interview start late, BUT the other two candidates showed up while I was sitting nervously waiting to be called back and to top that off, they made a mistake and called in the candidate that was scheduled to interview AFTER me, BEFORE me. Great! That interview took FOREVER with the candidate who rudely went ahead of me. By the time she came out 25 minutes later, I was sweating bullets and my heart rate was so rapid that I was sure I was either going to pass out or throw up.
Lucky for us, the office staff gave us the interview questions before we even headed back for the interview. So while Candidate Rude was hogging interview time, I was sitting next to Candidate Dressed for Success and was sure I didn't have a chance against her until she asked me what question #1 meant. That gave me a sliver of hope, but I still didn't trust Candidate Rude and her veteran teacher's briefcase and the pencil tucked behind her ear and her matronly dress slacks. Candidate rude spelled out experience. When they finally called me back, I offered a sweaty handshake to my interviewers and did my best to answer each question with confidence. (I am very lucky my dad works in a school district and was even more lucky to have him coach me on current topics, interview processes, and possible questions I might be asked. I honestly believe I was able to interview well because of my dad.) Towards the end of the interview, I got really nervous and started talking too much and then I just laughed and told them I was really nervous and that I was glad we were done with the tough questions. Much to my relief, they laughed too and I left them all with a smile. I wished the third candidate good luck on my way out of the office and then I went home to wait.
The next night after two nervous, gut-wrenching days, I got a phone call from the principal. I don't remember much of the conversation except, "We'd like to offer you the job." Me: "What?! Are you serious?! OH. MY. GOSH!" Him: "You're our newest Spartan, gal, congratulations." Me: "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
I spent the next few days stressing out MAJOR and then I cried and then I called my dad and begged him to tell me what to do because I told him I had no idea how to teach or WHAT to teach or how I'm going to manage a classroom full of kids who might be mean.  He calmed my fears, but in the end I realized no one was going to tell me exactly what to do. There is no exact formula for teaching and now I understand that only experience is going to teach me how to be a good teacher.
I started work that following Monday and school started Wednesday. I will do my best to document each teaching day on this blog. Expect posts to be much shorter because I likely will be very much stressed out, too much short on time, and most frightening, under-slept. My hope is that this blog might be of use to other first time teachers as well as a window into a public school classroom. Welcome to my life and my experiences in room 208.