Empathy is a critical skill that all teachers need, especially in troubling times. The better teachers understand how students are feeling, the better they can respond appropriately to a given situation.
In addition, there is a significant body of research (McAllister, 2002; Cooper, 2011; etc.) that strongly suggests empathy is vital when attempting to help students deal with real-world problems and develop better self esteem.
This article is not only a useful overview of this important topic, but it also provides a helpful list of additional resources that teachers can use.
It’s well worth sharing!