The Need for Social and Emotional Learning and Teacher Training During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In the spring of 2020, the rapid spread of COVID-19 caused schools in the U.S. to shift to online education. With the drastic change to online learning, the transition caused many issues that negatively impacted students' and educators' social and emotional learning (SEL) that helped ensure educational productivity. Social and emotional learning includes five competency areas: self-awareness, relationship skills, social awareness, self-management, and responsible decision making. Virtual learning has shifted the attention of educational institutions away from these competency areas due to the limitations of digital classrooms and the prioritization of academic intelligence over emotional intelligence. The chapter provides recommendations to address the social and emotional learning of educators.