Whether your courses frequently raise potentially sensitive subjects or never do so deliberately, odds are good you will sometimes encounter a “hot moment”: a sudden eruption of tension, conflict, or big emotion during class, often connected to a heightened awareness of the social differences in the room. What are your pedagogical choices in such a moment? And how can you take advantage of such moments as opportunities to advance student learning? In this interactive workshop for instructors in all disciplines, participants will reflect upon their own experiences of hot moments and practice applying concrete strategies for achieving their goals in the classroom even when tension runs high.