Rapid innovation is transforming the way people think, work, and connect. For students to succeed today, they must acquire the knowledge and 21st century skills required for college and career readiness. Practical and research-based, this resource will help you design meaningful, relevant skill assessment and instruction that promotes student mastery of critical competencies, including collaboration, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, creative thinking skills, communication skills, digital citizenship, self-regulation, and more. Use the most effective practices for teaching soft skills to increase college and career readiness: Explore the seven critical competencies necessary for success in the 21st century. Become familiar with good habits of mind, and pass those habits on to students to support their soft skill development. Learn how to teach critical thinking and other 21st century skills by facilitating learning that will develop the critical competencies in students. Develop powerful and effective soft skill assessment methods, such as student self-assessments, that will test student levels of competency in the seven critical areas. Access free reproducibles to supplement your understanding of the text and facilitate the book's content in the classroom. Contents: About the Authors Introduction Chapter 1: Cultivating Habits of the Mind Chapter 2: Self-Regulation Chapter 3: Critical Thinking Chapter 4: Collaboration Chapter 5: Creative Thinking Chapter 6: Communication Chapter 7: Digital Citizenship Chapter 8: Social Competence References and Resources Index