Closing the achievement gap and creating high-performing schools depends not on what we teach but how we teach. The most powerful and effective way teachers can help students overcome negative influences in their environment as well as succeed in becoming their best selves is by developing close and caring connections with them. Developing quality relationships with students is key to their healthy development. This book gives teachers strategies, guidelines, and real-life examples of how to build and enrich close and trusting teacher-student relationships. This important new resource covers key topics including: setting high expectations for students; conveying confidence in student capabilities; creating classroom rituals and traditions; networking with family and community; developing strong interpersonal skills; identifying relational resources; and communicating appropriate caring and respect in the classroom. Healthy connections with teachers are associated with a decrease in behavioral problems and an increase in social and academic skills. The relationships we develop with our students are at the heart of how we make a difference. This book contains five chapters: (1) Our Changing Roles as Teachers; (2) Making Healthy Connections with Students; (3) Communicating to Our Students That We Care; (4) What It Takes to Revitalize Ourselves; and (5) Yeah, I Hear You, But.... The book also contains a foreword (Bonnie Benard); preface; list of resources; list of references; and an index.