Author Archives: Louise Sattler

About Louise Sattler

Founder and owner of SIGNING FAMILIES™, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Founding member of 411Voices network, national guest speaker, blogger, contributor to Education.com JustAsk Column, Cancer Warrior Goddess, and always ready for a laugh, especially with groovy people. Grateful to all who read this blog.. so thank you!
Mar27

Four Actors, Four Stories

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Four Actors, Four Stories

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Today I have the privilege to interview four up and coming talent who are represented by THE LINICOMN AGENCY.  Not newbies. Not seasoned. These up and coming actors are savvy, smart, full of acting chops and raring to go! Listen to their stories and perhaps consider them for your next casting. (Connect via TheLinicomnAgency.com)

 

LISTEN HERE at 11 am EST or via PODCAST /iTUNES:  BLOG TALK RADIO 411 VOICES NETWORK

Without further adieu.. meet Erica Taylor, Alex Ortiz, Britanni Johnson and Allison Victoria!

Mar23

Would you rather be SMART or LUCKY?

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Would you rather be SMART or LUCKY?

              

 

“Would you rather be smart or lucky?”, I was asked by a cameraman who was shooting some video last week of Beth Engeleman and myself. Hmmm.  That is a loaded question, I thought!  At first I blurted out, “LUCKY!” – as I have already thought that I have had an enormous amount of luck in my life.  It is fate/luck that born me in to a family that was able to provide, nurture and love me.  Some people are not that “lucky”.  Then I thought again and of course changed to “SMART”.  I guess I was contemplating that some circumstances are due to good planning and education – and that takes “smarts”.

Days later I am back to vacillating on the answer…. URGH!! So my readers, let me pose the question to YOU… If given a choice would you rather be SMART or LUCKY.  Keep in mind this is a choice.  Can’t wait to read your comments.  By the way – Beth couldn’t decide either!

 

Mar22

Guest Post by Wendy Young of Kidlutions

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Guest Post by Wendy Young of Kidlutions

Next week I will finally get to meet and greet my friend and colleague from 411 VOICES – Wendy Young. This dynamo founded one of the premiere mental health sites for families- KIDLUTIONS.  This week I snatched from Kidlutions.com blog this article Wendy wrote about our joint presentation at the  Michigan Associaiton for the Education of Young Children’s 2012 Conference, 

Thanks to Wendy for a great article!  

Also, feel free to check out SIGNING FAMILIES  for our I WANT, I FEEL CHART to help children express their feelings with sign language

Calming the Angry Child

If you happen to be in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area for the Michigan Associaiton for the Education of Young Children’s 2012 Conference, I hope you will drop by and see Louise Sattler, of Signing Families, and me.  We will be presenting an engaging workshop about calming the angry child.  Louise is one of my BFFs on twitter/facebook and 411 Voices, and we finally get to meet each other for this one-time only training!  Laugh and learn in this unprecedented event!
It will be a workshop event unlike any other you have been part of!
If you are unable to join us, be sure to check out Kidlution’s resources in our Anger Toolbox for Kids!
Articles that help kids deal with feelings:
Mar12

Why I LOVE the ABC Family show – SWITCHED AT BIRTH!

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Why I LOVE the ABC Family show – SWITCHED AT BIRTH!

FINALLY there is a new show on television which incorporates a deaf and hearing cast of teens and adults who perform a script that spotlights the wonderful deaf culture and American Sign Language.  Many love the show. And, some are harsh critics. I love the show on so many levels as this seminole drama helps to increase awareness about deafness, ASL and so much more! Plus, it is just a fun weekly series to view! (What will become of Emmitt and Bay?)

I love that SWITCHED AT BIRTH is imperfect.  The hearing cast members sign awkwardly as a novice signer often does.  Many use their signs too literally and not conceptually – which is another rookie mistake that shows the authenticity of these newbie signers.  In addition, the cultural lessons are exemplified throughout the various story arcs. This past week, Daphne (played by Katie LeClerc) joined her team at a championship game. Deaf families came from all over the country to see the basketball team play in solidarity and support of  the deaf school that Daphne attends. Not THEIR local school but another region’s school. This is a very typical scenario within the deaf community and one that I am glad the director and writers highlighted.  (For those who are interested in learning more about deaf culture and the importance that deaf schools has made on the deaf community please watch the brilliant THROUGH DEAF EYES available on PBS).

As I embark on going to Los Angeles as the newest member of  THE LINICOMN AGENY, I only hope that our Exceptional Talent division will have an opportunity to shine a spotlight on many talented youth and adults who happen to have sensory or learning differences.   If you are interested in learning more on how you can audition to become a member of THE LINICOMN AGENCY , please leave a comment here and I will connect back with you.

If you are interested in learning more about sign language go here–> SIGNING FAMILIES

THANKS!

Mar5

ATTENTION ALL CAMPERS!

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ATTENTION ALL CAMPERS!

This year scores of children will hear the school bell ring signaling the end of another school year and the beginning of summer camp season!  While the kids are dreaming of long days with friends playing and having all night fun in their bunks, their parents will be busily preparing their summer wardrobe trunks with hopes that  what clothing and other personal items leave their home will someday return! Thanks to LOVABLE LABELS your child’s belongings have a fighting chance of making their way back to your home! In addition, this award winning company has awesome products, many which are created to keep your child SAFE and organized!

Now I need to tell you that I received the LOVABLE LABELS in a cool multi-pack! ( I even got permission for a GIVEAWAY- so read below to participate! )  Not only were there the camp labels but also tons of colorful ways to place your child’s name and ownership to books, lunch boxes, key chains, luggage tags and much more! Have a child in daycare with lots of “stuff” to label- like boots, coats, lunch box and sippy cups? No problem! LOVBLE LABELS to the rescue as each design can be unique to your child.  Their name on brightly colored press on labels (no miserable tape or sticky stuff here!)

Now here are some very IMPORTANT and LIFE SAVING reasons why LOVABLE LABELS are A+… they have the ability to alert people in your child’s lives as to FOOD and other ALLERGIES! Imagine placing an important WARNING LABEL on your child’s lunch box, school folder or lunch payment card with information about peanut or egg allergies (to name a few!)  If you want you can have these labels personalized to include name and an emergency contact phone number.  Excellent for children who are low or nonverbal, such as with children who have Autism.  The applications of  LOVABLE LABELS are endless!

Enough of my glee with LOVABLE LABLES,  check out the slideshow which spotlights this great product for yourselves! To learn more/ order click HERE. (Come’on you know your curious!)

Follow them on TWITTER, too! @MyLovableLabels and FACEBOOK: lovablelabels.officialfanpage

****To be eligible for the Random Giveaway Contest of a free pack of PERSONALIZED LABLES  Sponsored by Lovable Labels do the following:

Comment here

Go to their FACEBOOK PAGE and LIKE THEM

If you TWEET- become a follower on TWITTER.

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Disclaimer: I received a complimentary multipack set as part of the LOVABLE LABELS promotion.   I am donating this set to a student in a local shelter. (The name on the labels is A+ STUDENT!)  

Feb21

The Art of Moving. Why Winnie the Pooh makes the cut and the furniture doesn’t!

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The Art of Moving. Why Winnie the Pooh makes the cut and the furniture doesn’t!

Goodbye Washington DC area and hello Los Angeles.  After 17 years, my hubby and I are moving. It is a bittersweet experience, and I must say that the hardest part is the packing!

The physical labor is one thing. But, the deciding what stays with us and what gets donated or tossed is another. It is as if we are walking through  a memory vault. Which brings me to the box of Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals and books. There are a lot of Winnie the Pooh items in our house. Also, we have loads of children’s books and Barbies! They got priority packing in nice and neat Rubbermaid boxes. With each toy and book I can hear my kids as preschoolers laughing. I can visualize their make-believe play on rainy days.  I can remember the joy that this house brought to our family.

Photo albums also get “presidential treatment”. Each one wrapped again and again and placed in waterproof bins. Each one first being looked at with large quantities of time. Again, evoking memories of long ago and some more recent.

I also have decided that moving is an art form. Now keep in mind we have a full moving service, but I am OCD enough to pack and
unpack my belongings before the “official movers” arrive.  Each box is color coded and photos taken of the contents.  They are labeled with Sharpie pens and then the photos are adhered to the outside of the boxes. Crazy I know! But, I don’t want Winnie the Pooh and Tigger – too getting lost among the dishes.

As for the tired furniture- it goes! Actually it already has gone or is on its’ way to area shelters to help women and families who are victims of domestic violence.

If you have any moving suggestions, please comment below. I can use all the help I can get. 

Thanks for reading!

Feb16

Peacock Pottery is PERFECT for Empty Nesters!

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Peacock Pottery is PERFECT for Empty Nesters!

Ok- after nearly two years of denial I will admit that hubby and I are officially empty nesters.  I know this to be true as I am busy packing up our DC area house to head west to a new residence and opportunity in California.  When one packs up nearly 20 years of “life” it is hard not to keep everything and anything.  I managed to toss and donate a fair amount, but one thing that was non-negotiable was my pottery collection.

My most recent edition was a great baking dish from the collection of  Peacock Pottery.  They specialize in pottery imported from Poland and it is BEAUTIFUL!  They sent me a great sample of their amazing pottery and asked me to use it in a very practical and day to day manner.  So, I made a lot of “meals for two” using this fun size pottery. I loved that it was small enough for our larger sized toaster oven and didn’t need to have me fire up the big oven for our dinner. But, make no mistake, this is a great piece of pottery and certainly not for “easy bake ovens”!

What did I make? The first night I made a combo of chicken, stuffing, vegetables and CRAISINS. ( I really do love the “craisin”).  It baked up like a charm! I was able to put all the ingredients together in to the single dish and bake for about 30 minutes. (I used precooked chicken- yes I “cheat” when I am busy packing).

Secondly, I used the dish for some homemade brownies with white chocolate chips.  YUMMY!!  (Also, I found that the dish was great for reheating, too!)

Best of all this quality pottery is easy to wash, microwave, put in the fridge and even use as a decorative piece. I have given several other Peacock Pottery pieces as gifts. The serving bowls were a hit with my daughter and the Christmas ornaments made for lovely gifts for friends.

To see for yourself all the great Peacock Pottery offerings click HERE

Read the fun blog by owner Leah HERE

Have a great day or as they say in Polish: Mieć wielki dzień

~Louise

Feb5

LOVE SHOULD NOT HURT.. A Campaign Sponsored by 411 VOICES

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LOVE SHOULD NOT HURT.. A Campaign Sponsored by 411 VOICES
This month the experts of 411 VOICES are dedicating our efforts and shining the spotlight on domestic violence and school bullying. Our hopes are to educate all and support victims.  We have listed numerous resources, including videos in ASL on the 411 VOICES website. Click here for our list
 
Below is a video in ASL created by Gallaudet University students. Please support our efforts by following 411 VOICES on Twitter (@411VOICES) and “retweeting” the information we post so we can help to save lives and show support to victims of domestic violence and bullying.
 
Jan27

DARE to DREAM

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DARE to DREAM

THIS TUESDAY- MY GUEST ON ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT and THE BUSINESS OF IT ALL!  Debbi Dachinger, Author of DARE to Dream

Listen here TUESDAY, January 31st at 11 am EST

 
This week I am super excited to have on my radio show as a guest- Debbi Dachinger. I have known this amazing media personality and now author for several years. She never fails to impress. Always one of those who is on the know and so empowering with her deeds and words.
 
When I first talked to Debbi I was duly impressed with her ability to motivate people. She could lift anyone from a case of self-doubt and send them charging in to the land of  ”I CAN DO IT!”
 
So, if you are one of those people who may feel the need to have a “life – boost” or to get past any mid-life- anything crisis then go ahead and get DARE TO DREAM. Available on her website DeborahDachinger.com or AMAZON.
 
Here is an excerpt…
 

Forgiveness Sets You Free

Once upon a time, I convinced myself that not forgiving others meant they couldn ̳t hurt me again. I believed my holding a grudge would remind them they couldn ̳t do that to me without repercussions. I told myself it was for the better, it was self- protection and I thought it was self–caring. But, the truth is, it was sucking the life out of me. I carried each person and each situation around like an energetic garbage bag, slung heavily over my shoulder through each step in my life.
 
All the reasons I held onto grudges worked against me. Bitterness did not protect me, it burdened me. Grudges did not separate me from anyone harmful; they kept me married to them through my various colors of judgment, condemnation and hate. This behavior didn ̳t allow me to love myself because I was busy destroying others with my thoughts and emotions. Bitterness was a bitter pill I swallowed over and over again and then blamed others for making me gulp. Withholding forgiveness did not end the terrible hurt I felt, it kept the hurt cemented and brought the hurt forward into each day, month and year.
 
Then I learned there was another way. Engaging in the act of forgiveness changed my life. I learned through doing inner healing work to forgive meant to dissipate and end the actual anger and hurt. Forgiving others took me off the bitter hook, and forgiving made me free.
 
Also appearing on ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT and THE BUSINESS OF IT ALL! is ABSOLUTELY ABBY-  she will help bring down the hour with her sage advice about getting a job, including in the entertainment industry.  CALL IN your questions here: (619) 639-4656
 
 
Jan17

Sign Language is FUN!

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Sign Language is FUN!


I remember my first intro to sign language course. It wasn’t even called American Sign Language (ASL) but SIGNED LANGUAGE  in ENGLISH.  WOW.. that set’s me back a few years.  Now ASL is recognized as a foreign language in many colleges and schools, therefore, allowing students to learn credit for their efforts and promoting signing in our communities.

SIGNING FAMILIES, my instructional company focuses on melding developmental psychology with sign language instruction. We are deeply rooted in the bilingual-bicultural worlds and have an affinity to work with children and families within the special needs communities.  Most of our connections are in fact within special education.

There are many great companies that are producing some sensational  ASL learning tools  to help those who are motivated to learn the basics of sign language. I happily will promote and offer reviews and links to those who I feel are really connected to ASL  and not just wanting to “teach sign” in order to line their pockets with your cash.

So without much further ado.. here are a few that really “get” ASL -

VISUALIZE ASL is the brainchild of Cathi Bouton.  I love that she has her heart and soul in the deaf world as well as the hearing.  Cathi told me that she wanted to give her students some interactive way to practice after classroom instruction.  Through research, trial and error and much sweat, Cathi created the VISUALIZE ASL Interactive Activities for learners of American Sign  Language.  I previewed the Basic Vocabulary and Fingerspelling CD along with the Match Games. Both were very good for novice learners and quite enjoyable. Both were soundly developed according to sign language linguistic principles -which I truly appreciated. I would offer this as a good supplement for college students, home educated students and those who wish to take on ASL instruction at the comfort of their home computer.   This can be purchased on their website or via AMAZON and HARRIS COMMUNICATIONS.  Check out Visualize ASL on YouTube too!

EVERYDAY ASL is another wonderful sign language instructional company.  I love how the duo of  Gilda Toby Ganezer & Avery Posner  developed a series of videos to demonstrate ASL IDIOMS. Also, they have APPS and YouTube Videos available.  The apps are my favorite as you can learn to sign “on the go”.

And, I would be really remiss if  I didn’t invite you to check out the many fun, interactive and inexpensive ways to learn ASL via my company SIGNING FAMILIES.  We have ONLINE VIDEOS for beginners, homeschool learners and even those who use sign language adaptively.

We also offer a series of  DVDs, communication charts, folders and bookmarks. ALL of our products are made with input from educators, students and people within the special needs communities. (Our I WANT, I FEEL CHART was made by request from families within the Autism Community)

Happy Signing!