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"With over twenty years of experience teaching grades six through twelve, my success has been rooted in building positive relationships in a student-centered classroom. The ideas Lori Woodley-Langendorff shares in this book reinforce the work. I was lucky enough to witness and learn from her as a colleague, and I found myself once again being reminded and re-energized by what I read.
"SEL Muscle Mastery is an essential toolkit for anyone committed to nurturing resilience and connection for young people. This book expertly blends relatable stories and practical insights with transformative approaches, making it a must-read for educators and caregivers alike who are on the front lines of raising youth."
"SEL Muscle Mastery is an essential toolkit for educators and caregivers alike. Through powerful messaging and relatable anecdotes, Lori Woodley-Langendorff equips readers with feasible ways to foster healthy relationships with children and adolescents. As an education researcher and a former special education teacher, I find this book particularly powerful because it encourages sustainable practices that may mitigate educator burnout and caregiver fatigue.
"SEL Muscle Mastery is an extraordinary resource for educators, parents, and caregivers who want to nurture resilience and empathy in young people. Lori’s innovative strategies bridge the gap between emotional intelligence and happiness, offering practical tools that inspire lasting change. Her work is a beacon of hope for creating more compassionate schools and communities.”
"SEL Muscle Mastery is a game-changer for educators, providing six powerful tools to build resilience, emotional intelligence, and authentic connection in schools and communities. This book goes beyond theory, offering practical strategies that transform classroom culture, deepen student engagement, and create lasting impact. By strengthening SEL educators, Lori empowers students with the confidence and skills they need to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and purpose.
"The author of SEL Muscle Mastery feels like a trusted friend sitting down to share practical, powerful tools for communicating with heart and clarity. Through simple, relatable advice like using "I-statements," not taking things personally, and getting clear on what you need, it offers strategies anyone can apply in everyday life. Whether in a classroom, at home, or in any relationship, these tools—perfectly described as muscles to practice and strengthen—are thoughtfully presented in a way that’s both easy to read and genuinely empowering."
"The topic in SEL Muscle Mastery is timely, and I appreciate the manner in which Lori Woodley-Langendorff looks at the whole person AND the whole community. The author’s passion and personal stake are evident. They are honest that there can be pitfalls and difficulties, but that the benefits make up for the struggle.
"The timing of SEL Muscle Mastery is perfect: this book highlights the critical need for developing emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, especially for educators and caregivers working with young people. In today's complex, fast-paced world, these "SEL muscles" seem increasingly important for building strong relationships and supporting healthy development. The framework is grounded in research and best practices, making it a credible approach. Additionally, the author's tone is warm, understanding, and invites the reader to be a partner in the process.
"This book provides a resource for adults to learn more about SEL and how this can impact how they approach a task or problem with their students. This is a much needed resource for any adult that is working with students. Modeling, teaching, and learning how to listen and respond is crucial as mental health concerns continue to rise in our young people. This resource would be a great addition to the work of our mental health wellness team. Equipping the adults with a clear understanding of their mental health and recognizing how we respond to student needs."
"With this book, Lori completely took me out of my comfort zone. She took me outside of the books with which I had been taught, the mentoring I had, and the lessons I learned while attending school. She made me grow me in ways that have made me a force to be reckoned with as a school counselor."
"In SEL Muscle Mastery, Lori offers a revolutionary approach to building emotional strength and fostering connection. Her six tools are not just strategies—they are life-changing practices that align perfectly with living your passions and creating meaningful relationships. This book is an essential guide for anyone ready to make a difference in their own life and the lives of others."
"If you are looking for practical ways to create emotional resilience, look no further than SEL Muscle Mastery. This is a masterful work with practical applications for anyone looking to help either themselves or others grow their emotional intelligence. Lori Woodley-Langendorff’s work is based on practical experience as well as research and is easy to read and apply.
"With over thirty years of experience in education, I’ve never seen a greater need for schools to be equipped with tools that address social-emotional learning. I believe we have yet to fully recognize the long-term impact COVID has had on children, and how these effects continue to manifest even five years later. This book is rooted in solid research, with tools that Lori’s team has successfully used to demonstrate effective strategies and practices that can be easily applied in classrooms.
"SEL Muscle Mastery is a transformative and essential guide for educators and caregivers seeking to build resilience and foster deep connections with students. Lori Woodley-Langendorff masterfully blends research-backed strategies with relatable storytelling, equipping readers with practical SEL tools that create trusted spaces for growth. This book is a must-read for anyone dedicated to supporting the well-being of young people while strengthening their emotional intelligence and leadership."
"SEL Muscle Mastery serves as a blueprint for developing and strengthening essential life skills—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship-building, and decision-making. The powerful concept of Notice. Act. Choose. transforms us from passive bystanders into active difference-makers. Written in a user-friendly style, this book empowers educators and caregivers alike to foster meaningful relationships, personal growth, and lasting change.
"SEL Muscle Mastery offers a revolutionary and thought-provoking way to teach and learn, especially with the advancement of AI, the fastest-growing technology in human history. Lori Woodley-Langendroff's insights and practices are needed for human beings to live, think, and love."
"SEL Muscle Mastery is a book for anyone who works with children. Helping students develop SEL skills ensures our children not only flourish in the school setting, but also in life! Teaching children to notice, choose, and act at an early age helps them to be empathetic to those around them as well as reflective of their own impact."
"These all-too familiar stories encourage educators, parents, and caregivers to NOTICE the emotional tyranny we unnecessarily subject ourselves to. Woodley-Langendorff’s 'muscles' empower readers with simple skills to CHOOSE and strategies to ACT, thus promoting harmony in our homes and classrooms. The author reassures us that although these muscles may not be easy to flex, they get easier with time."
"This book is a must-have for educators seeking to foster students' social-emotional growth while also nurturing their own well-being. Packed with practical strategies, it equips teachers to create supportive, empathetic learning environments without sacrificing self-care. SEL Muscles is a powerful guide for balanced and sustainable SEL practice."
“SEL Muscle Mastery is a game-changer for educators and parents seeking practical strategies to strengthen emotional resilience and create a more balanced life. With relatable insights and actionable techniques, this book equips readers with six essential mental muscles to navigate challenges with confidence and ease. It's a must-read for anyone committed to fostering emotional intelligence and well-being in themselves and the children they support!"
