A quarter is rather a lot to start. I'd start with half and work my way up. I did 2 grams my first time. I had wonderful but manageable visuals, and I spent most of the night running around saying ridiculous things or just tripping in another room quietly (I'm a solitary person, introspection suits me). On my second trip, I took an eighth and the effects were unpleasantly strong. The coming up is rather unpleasant the first time you take a whole 8th in my opinion, but that doesn't mean I would not necessarily suggest an 8th to a first time user.
I have done mushrooms many, many times, and my suggestion is to start with 2, 2.5g (or just over half, if you are eyeballing), and an hour and a half later, dose the other gram if you want to take it all the way, but I have to say, to this day the best fry I've ever had, despite several heroic doses, was a good friend and I splitting an 8th. A whole eighth can lead to some pretty crazy confusion. I was once found just standing there in the bathroom staring. When asked what I was doing, I told them I had forgotten and intended to stay in there till I remember. A half hour later, I took a piss.
ROA for both was just eating the damn things. I have heard that grinding them up in a coffee grinder and putting them in juice like KPZ said, it will be easier on your stomach, and easier to digest. I also think the greater surface area would probably speed up that whole 'waiting' period at the beginning. I'm definitely going to try that next time.