Amber Rain Chandler
I'm one part ELA teacher, one part book nerd, another part motivational speaker, and a mama. I've been teaching my whole life. From teddy bears, to AP Literature, to remediation, to 8th grade ELA, to graduate courses, my goal is always the same: help students become the best version of themselves. Through the years, I've learned that the fuel to light the spark is different for everyone, and my job is to figure that out. I also love road trips, waterparks, and sleeping away an afternoon.
Education
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BA from DeSales University in English/Communications
MA from University of New Hampshire in Literature
National Board Certified ELA teacher
School Building Leader Certification from Buffalo State Coll
Areas of Research / Professional Expertise
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I'm particularly interested in Differentiation, Danielson's Domains, and Project Based Learning. I do workshops on these topics, as well as Dimensions of Learning, The I-Search Research Paper, and Preventing Plagiarism with Student Centered Research.
Personal Interests
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I love collecting sea glass, taking road trips, and painting. I'm excited to be making a documentary right now about Social Emotional Learning, and it is interesting to learn about movie making.
Websites
Books
Articles
Show What You Know: From PBL to Digital Portfolios
Published: Sep 10, 2016 by AMLE Magazine
Authors: Amber Chandler
Subjects:
Education
This article explains how I'll be setting up Digital Portfolios to track student progress in my PBL classroom.
One Word Can Build a Mindful Classroom Culture
Published: Sep 10, 2016 by MiddleWeb.com
Authors: Amber Chandler
Subjects:
Education
This article explains a "get to know you" activity that I do with students. It includes a slideshow and video, so it is ready for teacher use immediately.
This School Year, Use These Three Data Point to Ensure Student Success
Published: Sep 08, 2016 by BIE.org
Authors: Amber Chandler
Subjects:
Education
This article describes three data points that might be overlooked that will help teachers plan for PBL.
What Happens When You Combine Writer's Workshop with Makerspace?
Published: Aug 26, 2016 by GettingSmart.com
Authors: Amber Chandler
Subjects:
Education
This blog is a bit of a profile of author Angela Stockman and her book, Make Writing, but also an exploration of combining two unique learning philosophies.
My First 30 Days
Published: Jun 27, 2016 by ShareMyLesson.com
Authors: Amber Chandler
Subjects:
Education
This blog is about setting up a successful school year for students.
How I Finally Figured Out Collaborative Writing
Published: May 08, 2016 by MiddleWeb.org
Authors: Amber Chandler
Subjects:
Education
This is a blog explaining the ups and downs of collaborative writing and why it is worth it.
Photos
News
Chandler Finalist for 2022 NYSTOY
By: Amber Rain Chandler
Subjects: Education
Finalists for the 2022 New York State Teacher of the Year were also honored today. They are as follows:
- Amber Chandler, an 8th grade ELA teacher at Frontier Middle School, Frontier Central School District;
- Jeanne Lance, a 4th grade teacher at Watervliet Elementary School, Watervliet City School District;
- Heather McCutcheon, a Visual Arts educator at Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School, Herkimer Central School District; and
- Lynn Sajdak, a Special Education teacher focusing on Life Skills and Workforce Development at Hamburg High School, Hamburg Central School District.
The New York State Teacher of the Year Program is administered by the New York State Education Department and sponsored by New York State United Teachers (NYSUT); United Federation of Teachers (UFT); New York State Parents and Teachers Association (NYSPTA); New York State Association for School Curriculum Development (NYSASCD); New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA); School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS); New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE); and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE). The program is run in conjunction with the National Teacher of the Year Program, sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
People on the Move
By: Amber Rain Chandler
Subjects: Education
Amber Chandler, a nationally-board-certified ELA teacher at Frontier Middle School in Hamburg, was named a lead fellow with America Achieves for the 2016-17 academic year.
Videos
Published: Sep 28, 2015
This is another conversation with Dru Tomlin from AMLE. Here we talk about the importance of providing artifacts as a part of the APPR process.
Published: Mar 17, 2016
This video is a conversation with Dru Tomlin about the importance of formalizing how we teach Speaking and Listening Standards.