The authors tackle how to cultivate socioemotional skills in order to become better teachers and happier people. They explain the current reality in many classrooms as a gap in socioemotional competence. This book will offer teachers reflective activities and models that help them transcend the momentum of fear and focus on connecting to themselves, their colleagues, children's families, and the children in their classroom.

Introduction: How much should we care about each other? -- Difficulty: Juan, "you don't like my child" -- Shift: recognize the impact of your negative feelings -- Difficulty: Willy, a child marked by trauma -- Shift: move from a deficit to an asset-based model -- Difficulty: Carlos, a bad reputation -- Shift: change your internal dialogue -- Shift: change your public conversations -- Shift: change how you speak to children -- Difficulty: Charlotte, feeling out of sync -- Shift: intentionally and continuously foster class community -- Difficulty: Ricardo, giving up before trying -- Shift: provide multiple opportunities to develop competence -- Difficulty: Alfred, trying to control -- Shift: intentionally cultivate students' autonomy -- Shift: collaborate with students -- Conclusion: Looking inward & outward.