The Flexible SEL Classroom

Amber Chandler is a National Board Certified middle school English language arts (ELA) teacher in Hamburg, New York, and an adjunct professor at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. No matter which level Chandler is teaching, the goal is always the same: to enable students to take charge of their own learning. Chandler's website, flexibleclass.com, has many resources to support teachers, and she regularly updates lessons and provides links to her webinars. Follow her on Twitter @MsAmberChandler and check out over 300 of her free resources on ShareMyLesson.com.

Social emotional learning is more than just helping students be social. In this co-publication from Routledge and AMLE, Amber Chandler shows how middle and high school educators can be intentional about seeing their students for who they are, growing relationships, and building community.

Grounded in classroom experience, Chandler's practical strategies can be adapted to suit different needs, so you can create a Flexible Classroom and reach all learners. Topics include encouraging academic risk-taking without fear of failure, helping students self-manage, teaching self-awareness, modeling responsible decision-making and empathy, building relationship skills, and emboldening students to become more socially aware.

This updated second edition features new chapters on running Restorative Circles and focusing on resilience instead of deficit analysis. There is also a special section with post-pandemic takeaways, as we learn new ways to help students thrive.

Social emotional learning is more than just helping students be social. In this co-publication from Routledge and AMLE, Amber Chandler shows how middle and high school educators can be intentional about seeing their students for who they are, growing relationships, and building community.

1. The Truth About Grades and the Importance of Risk-Taking  2. Keeping All the Balls in the Air: The Importance of Self-Management  3. Escaping the Echo Chamber: Teaching Self-Awareness  4. Whatever Happened to Afterschool Specials? Preparing Students for Responsible Decision-Making  5. Relationship Skills: Don't Let Them Get Your Goat  6. Social Awareness: "We All Have to Try"  7. Restoration: Circles and Bubbles for Healing  8. Resilience: Just Keep Pedaling