With another school year about to begin, the time is right for "The Education of Ms. Groves."

This documentary series grew out of a Peabody Award-winning "Dateline NBC" segment and takes an intensive look at the yearlong struggle of a rookie English teacher as she sets out to educate 83 sixth-graders at a tough urban middle school.

Monica Groves is one of a select group of college graduates chosen by the organisation called Teach for America to educate students in low-income communities. Assigned to Jean Childs Young Middle School in Atlanta, the 21-year-old Groves, fresh out of the University of Virginia, begins the semester full of optimism.

But her expectations collide with the school's harsh realities. Her initial excitement gives way to frustration and self-doubt. Her curriculum includes hard lessons that reach outside of the classroom — including poverty, homelessness and broken families.

And, of course, needy students await. Such as Stephen, who begins the year living in a hotel room with his mother and three younger siblings.

Will Ms. Grove pass the test? Directed by Izhar Harpaz and produced by NBC News Productions, "The Education of Ms. Groves" airs in four half-hours, Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m. EDT on Sundance Channel.

Other shows to look out for:

— Two years after Katrina, the pace of recovery is all too slow for New Orleans homeowners. A new CNBC documentary, "Against the Tide: The Battle for New Orleans," examines the business side of the New Orleans recovery effort as homeowners struggle to rebuild their lives from the foundation up. Among its stories: Correspondent Scott Cohn investigates how a federal program to assist in housing replacement is beset by a budget shortfall, inadequate staffing and computer malfunctions. And reporter Mary Thompson explores the decision of the Shell Oil Co. to return to New Orleans. The one-hour programem premieres 10 p.m. Sunday.

— On Valentine's Day 2003, Kris Carr was diagnosed with a rare and terminal cancer. Just a few weeks later, the 31-year-old actress-photographer began filming her story.

The result is "Crazy Sexy Cancer," an irreverent, witty documentary following this young woman's journey as she searches for a cure and finds a lot more. En route, she meets other women determined to become survivors. She also meets cameraman-editor Brian Fassett, with whom she begins a romance that leads to marriage.

Why the sassy title? "To challenge the perceptions, to poke fun, and bring humanity to a disease that is still so misperceived and feared," replies Carr, whose film had its world premiere earlier this year at the South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas. It makes its television debut on TLC at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

— It's new! It's free! It will make you attractive to the opposite sex (well, that part's a lie). It's the latest edition of "World's Funniest Commercials." Hosted by comedian-actor Kevin Nealon and wife Susan Yeagley ("Friends," "Curb Your Enthusiasm"), this 60-minute special goes global to showcase clever and humorous spots from Sweden, Argentina, Japan and Romania, among other countries. The sort of programme that could really bewilder your ad-skipping DVR, it airs 9 p.m. Thursday on TBS.

— Any kid who's being honest will tell you: A cartoon show that makes good use of the word "pupununu" is worth checking out. "Tak and the Power of Juju" is such a show. Adapted from the popular video game, this new Nickelodeon series follows teenage jungle boy Tak and his fellow Pupununu villagers as they face various wacky challenges.

They are sometimes helped, sometimes hindered by the strange and mystical Jujus, magical beings with whom Tak has a special bond. But since he's a rambunctious kid, Tak sometimes makes a mess of his Juju-power.

With computer-generated animation and top-notch voice talent (including Maurice LaMarche, John DiMaggio and Patrick Warburton), "Tak" is colorful, chaotic fun. It opens with back-to-back episodes 8 p.m. Friday.