The Other Side of the Desk is a basic methods text for new secondary teachers that can be used both individually and in a professional development setting. The book is rooted in research and the author's many years of training teachers for working with students in urban and suburban schools. The book is split into two parts:

1) Fundamentals of the Teaching Profession and

2) Recent Developments Essential to the Secondary Classroom.

Coverage includes strategies for transitioning from student to teacher, planning classroom instruction, using technology effectively, reaching ELLs and diverse learners, as well as aligning lessons to the standards and using a variety of meaningful assessments. The book concludes with planning tools to help new teachers to chart their professional growth and begin preparations for the following school year.This book was born out of Arnold's bestseller, Succeeding in the Secondary Classroom (2000), but contains completely revamped sections on instruction and several new chapters addressing English learners, diversity, technology, and core standards.