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Here's a few things to keep in mind ...
1. Maps of the sky have the horizontal scale (right ascension) in hours. Each hour is 15 degrees. The vertical scale (declination) is in degrees. The hardest thing for beginners is to picture the size of a constellation. If you hold your arm straight out to the sky, the width of your thumb is about 2 degrees, the width of your clenched fist is about 10 degrees, clenched fist with thumb extended is 15 degrees and the total width of your hand with thumb and fingers spread out is about 20 degrees.
2. Maps are generally oriented with the north celestial pole at top. Looking north, the maps will be upside down. Looking south, the constellations will rotate about the south celestial pole so maps will change orientation.
3. Due to the rotation of the Earth, the sky and its constellations will appear to move from east to west at 15 degrees each hour.
4. The largest spots on each map are the brightest stars. Try to locate them using a planisphere or Stellarium as mental4astro recommended. Find the more obvious constellations e.g. Crux (Southern Cross), Orion, Canis Major or the Great Square of Pegasus.
5. Once you can recognise and find new constellations, then you can start to look for component binary stars, clusters and later on galaxies. Use binoculars to help you spot and identify the brighter clusters.
Regards, Rob
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