So I recently burnt out my clutch after 15k miles on my brand new car, probably partly to due with I raced it some, but I have some questions for when I am driving around town.
1) Can I give it gas between shifts? Not power shifting(revving the rpm's way up in between shifts) but rev them up a bit? This makes my shifts a lot smother, I just wanna make sure that I am not doing damage.
2) I should be in neutral at a stop light right?
3) Basically I guess could some one give me a detailed description of how to shift? I know how to do it and all I just want to make sure I don't burn my clutch out again.
4) Is downshifting good for the clutch? and if yes how do you do it?(I am doing it now by breaking and then when I get to about a good speed for the gear that I am going down to I press the clutch in all the way and then downshift, then slowly let out the clutch in till it engages. Other wise it shakes the car)

Thanks, and +rep for good answers.
Please only people who know how to drive manual, not some one who learned by reading off line or by playing video games or think they know how to.