Louise Masin Sattler

Explore Route 66 with Children: Travel with Oso Series.

Published on September 4, 2026September 4, 2026 by Louise Masin Sattler1 Comment

Hello Friends!

I appreciate your patience as I haven’t blogged in a “minute,” but I’ve been deeply involved in the development of a new children’s travel book series called TRAVEL with OSO! There’s a wealth of information to share about my new fun project, so let me start by introducing the TRAVEL with OSO series and explaining how it all started!

One bear, a boy in a wheelchair, girl with curly hair, and a dog with service dog on his halter. Background- small town main street.

I have long been wanting to create a travel series, and recently, I had the opportunity to explore Route 66 during the 100th anniversary of this road with a friend. Throughout the journey, I meticulously took notes on the accessibility of the attractions, considered whether children would enjoy the experiences, and evaluated each spot based on a “family fun factor”!

The information culminated in a multi-book series featuring four enchanting characters. First, we have Jade, an exuberant 8-year-old who is always on the go! Next is Jack, a smart and clever photographer who navigates life using a wheelchair due to mobility challenges. His loyal service dog, Buddy, is the third character, providing companionship and support. Finally, we meet our “team mascot,” Oso! Together, they journey along the iconic Route 66, exploring hidden caverns and discovering quirky attractions like the Blue Whale of Catoosa. They make new friends, including Kaya from Oklahoma, and relish experiences like riding in an accessible hot air balloon and watching stunning sunsets at the Painted Desert in Arizona. Their adventures are engaging and kindhearted, showcasing the incredible Mother Road from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California!

A little bit about the process…

The actual writing was trickier than creating the characters. I knew that I wanted to incorporate my photos, experiences, and storytelling into the series. I also wanted Jack’s use of a wheelchair to not be a huge part of the story, but an opportunity to discuss in each book about access and Inclusion along Route 66. I outlined each of the “main stories” and then started pulling together my notes, tabbed websites, and pamphelts I had collected along our drive. I knew that I had enough material for several books, especially since young readers don’t usually have the patience for a 70+ page text.

So, I diligently conducted research, wrote for hours and hours, tore up a bunch of first and second drafts, and then repeated the process – several times. Amidst all this writing and research, I proudly launched a website – TravelwithOso.com! Furthermore, I created an array of curricula, games, activities, posters, and maps on the site to enrich learning experiences! My hope is for children to interact with Oso and delve into all the games, while educators uncover the essential lessons surrounding travel, culture, friendship, language, and accessibility!

Now, it is no secret that I am NOT an artist. So, I confess—I enlisted a bit of digital magic to help create these characters by providing an AI program with very specific prompts. The same goes for the background images in the books, which drew from my photography and were crafted with clear direction. Sometimes, the outcomes were hysterically funny! I’ll never forget some of the more notable “mishaps,” like Jack having a third arm or Oso sporting a dog’s tail! Yet, all things considered, I am pleased with the results!

Bear on the right side learning on a sign that says in bright colors - TRAVEL with OSO. A piece of luggage to the right of the bear.

Introducing the Travel with Oso Route 66 Book Series!

Travel with Oso Route 66 text above a bear driving a convertible car that is red.

Since, I was new at writing a travel series for children, I thought I would start off “easy” with a primer- TRAVEL with OSO– Route 66. This book is written for an intended audience of 2- 6 year olds. I added a few games to keep little travelers busy in a car or restaurant. The book published this month on Amazon and the feedback has been very good! (Phew!)

You can read more about this book and view/download additional activities on the Travel with Oso website.

Available on Amazon

Travel with Oso and Friends – ILLINOIS – A Route 66 Adventure!

This book was just released this week. The book begins with an explanation of Route 66 and then several pages depicting in detail Route 66 destinations! The book includes games, “challenges”, and much information for grown-ups to read, too!

Available on Amazon, with extended learning on TravelwithOso.com

A couple of sample pages:

One bear, a boy in a wheelchair, girl with curly hair, and a dog with service dog on his halter. Background- small town main street. A list of check off boxes to the left and items next to them from the content of the book

A Travel Journal for Kids! Now available on Amazon!

travel with oso- my route 66 Travel journal with a bear, luggage, road signs that say Route 66 and destination markers on a pole. Photos from travels and a camera.

SOON TO BE RELEASED:

Travel with Oso and Friends will be releasing the Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma storybook next. (September 2026). Followed by Texas and New Mexico and lastly, Arizona and California. All books are expected to be available for the December 2026 holiday season on Amazon.

One bear, a boy in a wheelchair, girl with curly hair, and a dog with service dog on his halter. Background- wheat fields of Oklahoma or midwest

One bear, a boy in a wheelchair, girl with curly hair, and a dog with service dog on his halter. Background- small Texas

MY ROUTE 66 TRAVEL JOURNAL

The last book in the Route 66 series is the travel journal. I wrote it for kids to chronicle their experiences along the Mother Road. The prompts are easy to follow, making it a perfect tool for homeschooling families. This journal not only encourages creativity, but also allows children to engage with their environment in a hands-on way. This book can serve as a valuable supplement for children who may prefer to draw over writing or are budding “authors.” The book will be available on Amazon and other websites as a download, ensuring easy access for all families and educators.

And now for a little surprise! A GIVEAWAY!

Thank you for reading until the end! I am sponsoring a GIVEAWAY! Three lucky winners will randomly be picked to receive the paperback copy of TRAVEL with OSO on SEPTEMBER 22, 2026. Simply comment below why you wish a copy of the book. Here are some simple rules:

Must write a comment below about the Travel with Oso series and why you wish the book.
Must comment by September 21, 2026, 11:59 pm Pacific Time
Must have an address in the United States.
If your prefer to win the AMAZON KINDLE version, please note that in the comment.
Must not be an immediate relative of Louise Sattler.

Thanks for reading and Good Luck!

For Media Inquiries: Click here

FUN ALERT – Part 2! Creative Summer Learning Activities (Reading, Writing, Videography, and more – with FREE downloadable ideas)

Published on June 10, 2024June 10, 2024 by LouiseSattlerLeave a comment

Hello and welcome back if you are a regular reader and a big hello if you are new to this blog. Today, I am going to write Part 2 about how to beat the summertime “there is nothing to do” cycle with your kids and sneak in strategies to retain skills. Part 1 tackled Math and this time, Part 2 will focus on READING, WRITTEN LANGUAGE, and learning about our world!

Please don’t let out a big sigh and stop scrolling because I talked ed-speak here! I promise that below you will find fun and creative ideas that even grown-ups will love. So, please keep reading, comment with your ideas, and share with others!! THANK YOU!!

As I mentioned in Part 1, the first steps are necessary and important. Step 1) Turn off devices. This is good “old-fashioned” learning. Hands-on and multifaceted. Unless otherwise noted- no devices will be needed. (And if they are it will be “with intention”.) Step 2) Engage with your child and supervise their activities if they are young or in need of help. Don’t assume that your child will know what to do or how to do it. Bonus- you are likely to have fun, too!

INTERNATIONAL FLAIR!

Start by highlighting a different country every week or bi-monthly! During this time you can 1) read about the country 2) Listen to music from the country 3 )Find the country on a globe or map 4) Plan a fake (or real) trip to the country – including making an itinerary. 5) Learn about the language of the country (or languages). 6) Play a game that is specific to that country 7) Cook a traditional meal from the country!

Margaret McSweeney, host of KitchenChat, shared this technique to help promote cooking at a young age and reading skills, “Try tasting the world by cooking through the alphabet with your children. A: learn about Argentina and make Chimichurri sauce. B: learn about Brazil and make Brigadeiro. You will enjoy exploring the globe through food with your kids.”

For example, here is a scenario… “Jane” decided that she wanted to spotlight SPAIN. She found several books about SPAIN and even a travel guide and journal from DK! She then mapped out a “wish trip” from Barcelona to Malaga. Next, Jane went to the library and found a Spanish cookbook and chose to make a recipe for paella. She also found a Spanish dictionary and young reader books to help her learn basic Spanish vocabulary. Because she was learning “with intention”, Jane was able to listen to watch Flamenco dancers, and play “futbol”! She then watched TV shows in Spanish and tuned in to Spanish-language radio shows!

DRAMA CAMP- from STORYBOARDING TO FILMING

Do you have a future thespian in your home? Perhaps a screenwriter? Or videographer? Equip your kids with the skills to create a storyboard to start creating a play, or script for a TV program or film, and let them use their creativity to figure out the rest (like sets, costumes, etc.). Remember, the TV show The GOLDBERGS and how Adam Goldberg would enlist his family and friends to be part of his videos? Well, Adam is now a very successful filmmaker and it all appears that he started with what and who he knew- his family.

In this interview, Steven Speilberg talks about his early start to making movies prompted by his dad.

How to get started? First, your kids need to understand what is a storyboard and its purpose. You can find much information about that here in this video. Using tools such as CANVA and STORYBOARDTHAT can help to organize and create storyboards. What is amazing about this creative outlet is that children of all ages can integrate several skills. They need to read, write, and use many executive functions such as organization and being flexible. (If first you don’t succeed… try, try, again!)

Hint: Graphic storyboards and comic strip makers can multiply the attention span for this kind of activity. Free to download the “boards” I have created below.

YOUNG AUTHORS

Along the same line as ‘Drama Camp” is helping a child find their inner “author”. Perhaps they want to create a book (and even self-publish- such as on Amazon). Or they wish to begin a blog (yes, WordPress allows kids to write here.) There is no limit to the ideas a child conjures that are worth writing and being read!

More fun ideas!

Create a family trivia game – your child can design their own board game based on family trivia! Topics can be as follows: 1. WHO SAID THIS 2. WHO BOUGHT THIS. 3. WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? 4. FAVORITES (favorite book, color, places to visit, etc.)

Download the PDF here to make and copy your own trivia game.

RULE-1 Download

COMIC-BOOK-and-STORYBOARD-TEMPLATES-Download

Holiday Gift Recommendations: Games so fun your kids won’t know they are learning! #Giveaway

Published on December 5, 2020December 5, 2020 by LouiseSattler5 Comments

Each year I write a post with my list of ideas for holiday gifting. I try to skew to gifts that give back to charity or are educational. I also like to list gifts that are provide “random fun”. This year I am writing three blogs – three lists full of holiday gift ideas. The first one is dedicated to educational toys and games. AND… there is a GIVEAWAY. Simply comment below to be entered to win the Griddly Games 5 STONES game by midnight Pacific Time December 13, 2020. See rules below.

Two things you need to know…

First, if I recommend a product or charity I do so without any payment from the company or organization. A few companies sent samples and they will be donated to families who are struggling due to Covid 19 or teachers.

Secondly, I welcome your suggestions. Simply add your holiday gift ideas in the comment section below.

From Griddly Games comes a very unique ensemble of ” just add…” products and others that use word and numerical reasoning. I must admit, as an educator, they had me at their descriptions of being products focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). All of these kits are user friendly (younger children will require supervision, as can be expected).

CALLING ALL TEACHERS AND HOME EDUCATORS – CHECK OUT VERY FUN STEAM ACTIVITY KITS FOR THE HOLIDAYS FROM GRIDDLY GAMES.

just add EGG.(ages 5 and up, parent/ teach guidance required) – Comprised of more than 10 interactive activities with “egg-speriments” included in this very fun egg shaped box. This game is filled with everything from molding clay, crayons, glue and even corn syrup! Lots of hours of fun are to be expected and all need is a child, their imagination, a parent or teacher to supervise and EGGS!

Like science AND art? Then check out just add BAKING SODA! You can make at least 20 different projects – including your very own bath bombs, volcano or holiday ornaments with this very visually fun and interactive kit! I like that this kit uses a lot of visual motor perceptual skills and helps to build fine motor skills.

**Be sure to check out ALL the just ask kits here. Great prices! Find also on Amazon!**

WISE ALEC™️ EARNED an A++

WISE ALEC ™️

Children’s Products) If you enjoy trivia games – then you will LOVE Wise Alec(TM). Meant for family night or classroom game time – WISE ALEC incorporates mind games such as brain teasers and tongue twisters with physical activity. Over 1000 questions are included in the game box. The game is geared reinforce elementary school curricula covering the subjects of History, Science and Spelling!

Need easy questions for your first grader – no problem. Want to challenge your fifth grader? With Wise Alec you can do that, too! And when you pick a STUDY BREAK card get ready to MOVE (and earn points for doing so!) Excellent game and great for those who need support with literacy skills, too! Supper fun and creative. I give Wise Alec a solid A++

SHOW ME THE KWAN!

When I first saw this game in the box I started hooting and hollering! A WORD game!! Plus it was very reminiscent of Scrabble® and Boggle®. SHOW ME THE KWAN also had many components of categorizing games such as Scattergories®. This game is Intended to be played with a large group (you can have up to ten players). I envision this game as great for classroom use, “Covid 19” education pod groups (home education) and parties with tweens and teens.

“KWAN” takes a bit of a learning curve to get the rules down – but once you do – watch out! This is a fast paced game for letter/wordsmiths! Small enough to bring along to family and friend gatherings.

PUZZLES! PUZZLES PUZZLES!

There are several reasons for parents to buy puzzles this holiday season. How many gifts can teach history, art, geography and much more for a fraction of the price of an electronic gaming system? Plus, kids can learn foundational literacy skills.

First, when you assemble a puzzle you need organizational and visual discrimination skills. Some people like to separate pieces by color, or by shape. Others are very focused on the cover picture and organize their puzzle pieces section by section (frame vs. inside, for example).

Did you know that when you assemble a puzzle you also are training your eyes to see how “parts become a whole”? Puzzles, believe it or not, can help teach children how letters become words and words become a paragraph?!

Check out ENDLESS GAMES !

Endless Games is a company that you can access online or by driving to your nearest Kohl’s. If you are a lover of puzzles AND Broadway you will FREAK at their PLAYBILL Presents puzzle! Hours of fun for under $15!

PEACE ON EARTH

This is a beautiful 1000 piece puzzle spotlighting the artistic talent of Malcom Watson. Your whole family can linger over the dining room table as you complete this puzzle that measures almost 20″ by 26″ when finished.

Master Pieces – beautiful quality puzzles.

I received this CATOLOGY puzzle. While not a huge fan of cats (more of a dog lover) – this puzzle was simply lovely and the poster inside was a nice bonus feature!

More Favorite Puzzles with Educational Value

White Mountain Puzzles. Their Nostalgic / Vintage Collection are my favorites. These puzzles are great for multi-generational play. Grandparents and parents can educate children and young adults about life before the new Millennium! The pieces are thick and that is good for young and old fingers, alike. White Mountain Puzzles are POPULAR – so be sure to check back if ones on your wish list are out of stock. Website and Amazon.

Uncommon Goods offers novelty puzzles with political and historical themes. This VOTES FOR WOMEN is a circular pattern.

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY- the Griddly Games new edition: 5 STONES! Open to all United States residents who are 18 years of age or older. Must comment on this post on or before Sunday, December 13, 2020, 11:59pm Pacific time. No employees or family member associated with Griddly Games nor LouiseSattler.com may enter. One winner. Will be announced here on the blog AND via email. No substitutions.

Coming up in the next blog: Giving with a Purpose!

Learn Online with Cudoo

Published on March 28, 2020March 28, 2020 by LouiseSattlerLeave a comment

There are positives and negatives to every situation. Such is the case of being “stuck” in quarantine due to COVID-19. The negatives is the lack of being with loved ones, friends and in public places. The positive is discovering new ways to keep the mind active. CUDOO is a very big positive.

CUDOO is a user-friendly online learning system with a wide variety of course topics. From foreign languages, accounting, social media and even engineering – you can expand your knowledge base with very little financial cost outlay.

After communicating with the company, who asked me to “test drive” their product, I decided to take advantage of looking at their version of American Sign Language instruction. I opted for the BUNDLE and started my way through the various lessons.

First Impressions

The dashboard and menus are very easy to negotiate. I appreciated that there was considerable content, but not too wordy or boring, about the nuances of sign language. Terminology used was common and very basic – perfect for beginners.

Clear examples are offered with each vocabulary word – both as an illustration and as a video. And, there are quizzes at the end to help with comprehension. I purposefully missed a couple and was sent back to “relearn” before moving on or getting my certificate.

Let’s chat about the certificate! It is an excellent feature as having proof of completion of a course that allows a student to add to their resume, bring to a current employer as proof of skill development and initiative or just have bragging rights!

See for yourselves!

Sometimes photos and video is a much better “explainer” than words, especially when it comes to sign language. So, I created this video to help you see the program “in action”.

There are a few things that I would recommend for this online American Sign Language course. My top request would be for additional learning levels to address more advanced ASL concepts and vocabulary. Also, games would be a fun addition or suggestions for creating games for hands on learning!

START LEARNING WITH CUDOO! A Special product link has been set up for my readers: https://dealspotr.com/getcode/Y9ezz The Product Code: LOUISESATTLER

Cudoos is priced very reasonably for individuals and families. The ASL bundle that I reviewed has a price tag of $49. As a reviewer, my disclaimer is that I received a complimentary subscription. However the opinions expressed here are 100% of my own and without input from the company.

To learn more about CUDOO go here: Cudoo.com

More Ideas to Keep Busy When You are Stuck at Home!

Published on March 19, 2020April 26, 2020 by LouiseSattlerLeave a comment

Hello All! What A WEEK! I hope you are all healthy and staying safe from COVID 19 (Corona Virus).

I am planning to continue posting about activities / online events that you can do to keep you and your loved ones busy during this Corona Virus pandemic crisis. Many of the sites listed below are educational and appropriate for students of most ages. Several were chosen to help reduce the boredom factor being experienced by teens and adults.

Part one of my “boredom busters” was published earlier this week and can be found here.

You will find the details and articles associated with thel suggestions below where you see CLICK HERE

Have a suggestion? Add it to the comment section – (Remember keep it G-rated!)

GUESS WHAT! You can dance with Debbie Allen! Instagram Live – Use @MsDebbieAllen to follow along

Wednesdays at 4p/ Eastern 1pm Pacific

PBS rocks with concerts, movies and more! Watch and CLICK HERE for some of your favorites for FREE!

YMCA 360- CLICK HERE On-Demand Videos

Stream BROADWAY shows for a fraction of the cost ($8.99 a month) CLICK here

BRAVO to Billboard for their LIVE AT HOME CONCERT SERIES. They have amassed quite a number superstars to join their online concert series. Click Here is the link to learn more

John Legend … Coldplay … Death Cab for Cute … Indigo Girls … and more

Listen to many A-list musicians who are “self-quarantined” but want to bring a bright moment to music-lovers. CLICK here for the scoop

The Grammy Museum is offering Education at Home opportunities! Click here for info

FREE BOOKS from this VIRTUAL LIBRARY!! No hitch. Click here

CLICK HERE: More suggestions from USA Today (100 Things to Do…)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Home? Bored? Check out this list of ideas to keep your family happy…

Published on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 by LouiseSattler1 Comment

I, like everyone else, cannot wait for the ghastly COVID 19 (Corona Virus) to be GONE! And, like many people, I have chosen to self-quarantine. But, let’s face it- one day in the house is fine. Two or three days is not optimal. But a week, two or three? Now I have issues! I figure I am not alone manifesting a fear of the” boredom factor”. Surely there are parents who are trying to rack their brains to come up with enough activities to keep their kids busy!?! As an educator, parent and individual who bores very easily, I decided to help others by searching online sites for activities that could be fun while we wait out this “CORONA- geddon”.

Below you will find my list and I would LOVE if you add a link(s) at the bottom or an idea on how to stay busy during these challenging times. (Remember, this is a family blog – so play “nice” with your suggestions.)

1. 12 Famous Museums that have VIRTUAL tours

Or check out these 500 Museums and Galleries

2..Live ZOO CAMERAS:

San Diego: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
Houston: https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/
National Zoo: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams
ZOO CAMERAS AROUND THE WORLD: https://zoocamerasaroundtheworld.com/list-of-zoos-with-webcams/

3. Love to cook and want to learn? Here you go…

TASTY – for kids and parents https://tasty.co
Cooking Channel: https://www.cookingchanneltv.com/videos/players/full-episodes-player
Cook with Kids: https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/recipes/2015/11/diy-baked-potato-bar

4. This channel is a HOW TO video channel for people who love to exert their creative juices: https://createtv.com

5. Travel without leaving home:

Travel with Angel (who I know and is so awesome!) https://angelstravellounge.com/about/
Rick Steves: https://www.ricksteves.com
Virtual Travel: Balloon Ride: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KT0rn03-tU
New Mexico Balloon Rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGAMTlI6XxY

6. Looking for excellent videos to watch: TEDx / Ted Talks are amazing:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TEDxTalks/playlists

I love Brene Brown – check her out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN1DORYYV0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

7. Family time:
Make a piñata: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Piñata
Real crafts for real good gifts: https://www.sixcleversisters.com/12-diy-gifts-that-your-family-and-friends-will-love-to-get/
A little plug for learning sign language: LouiseSattler.com or Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF8KwJbRq_K05m6fezHv9_g
And be sure to check out signed stories on YouTube for fun: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrg6w933BuOQrL7xTtRphmw/videos

8. Entertainment/ Concerts
S. Korea orchestra: https://qz.com/1817876/korea-offers-free-concerts-online-during-coronavirus/
Peabody school of music: https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/videos/student-orchestra-impromptu-concert-coronavirus/
In fact, a lot of events were cancelled so people posted their “dress rehearsals’, etc. Here: https://twitter.com/hashtag/heyjenlookatme?src=hashtag_click

9. Just for fun:

The SCOTT QUINTUPLETS/ FAMILY is some of the most fun video watching I do all day; Take a break and watch their whole Quint journey here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKMT-NFpYshJT9v-Fd6tmrw

Photo: Scott Family

Other ideas!

10: Jigsaw puzzles – Amazon has a huge selection including some that used RETRO photos and memorabilia. I love the ones by WHITE MOUNTAIN best – such as the classic books puzzle below!

But wait… there is more…

11. Lego building for kids and grown-ups! Ideas can be found here from LEGO and on this website .

12: Lastly, SCRAPBOOK and PHOTO ALBUMS. NOW is the time to organize your photos, create family scrapbooks and enjoy reminiscing! Need ideas? Simply jump over to Pinterest.com for TONS of examples and DIY projects. Also, keep in mind that Snapfish and Shutterfly are both offering HUGE discounts for photo projects.

Tag you are it! Your turn to suggest how to keep busy when you are “stuck at home”.

Yes or No? A Sign Language Explanation – repost

Published on May 29, 2018May 17, 2018 by LouiseSattlerLeave a comment

Often I am asked how to sign YES and NO in sign language. Indeed there are formal signs for these words, but, frankly the obvious choice is to shake your head YES or NO.

If one wants to learn how to sign YES, simply make the handshape S (as below). Then bob it up and down as if it is a head nodding the affirmative.

**YES! Move your wrist up and down as if this fist is your head bobbing up and down to say YES!**

To make the sign for NO use the “N” manual alphabet handshake and close it to the “O” handshape. Of course, adding the headshape NO is a bonus!

When you say NO but you mean WRONG. Try this sign instead!

WRONG is made with the Y handshake to the chin — **WRONG is made with the Y handshape to the chin**

What if you are indecisive?

The MAYBE sign is made with hands being alternated up and down. As if you are saying, “If not this one, then that one”.

MAYBE - alternate hands up and down — **MAYBE – alternate hands up and down**

And, when you see DOUBLE ZEROS, that means NOTHING, NO WAY and even in Spanish – NADA!

Double ZEROS - tend to be made near the head or chest area - depending on the context. — **Double ZEROS – tend to be made near the head or chest area – depending on the context.**

Happy Signing!

*** Please note that SigningFamilies.com materials can now be found HERE at LouiseSattler.com

Sign Language Instructional Lesson for Educators #1

Published on May 22, 2018May 22, 2018 by LouiseSattlerLeave a comment

Welcome to the Educators Lesson Plans for Signing Families!

The first lesson in learning sign language is actually talking to your students about Deafness and why some people may “talk with their hands”.

Great resources to set the groundwork for older students to talk about Deafness and Gallaudet.edu

How to approach the topic of Deafness? Preliminary assignments for students.

1- Ask your students if they have any experience within the Deaf community. You may be surprised to find out that some have quite a bit of knowledge.

2- Do any of your students have previous exposure to sign language. Perhaps they know signs such as MOMMY and DADDY or the alphabet / numbers?

3- Some students may benefit by being given the assignment of watching television with no sound or captions for 30 minutes. Can they follow the storyline? (Older kids should be encouraged to watch a variety of shows, such as the news. Discussion points can include what was easier to follow?)

Second portion of this assignment can include asking students to watch television or videos WITH captions! Another discussion can be the value of closed captioning and the laws that enable closed captioning for equal access.

**FIRST SIGNS to TEACH:

Preschool students: (These signs are ready for download on our GALLERY PAGE)

MOMMY

DADDY

I WANT

MORE

FINISH

**Kindergarten age and up:

ALPHABET : VIDEO for learning:

NUMBERS 0-10: VIDEO for learning

PRACTICE:

Practice letters by first signing common objects and names. 2 letters. Then 3 letters. Then more.

Practice in front of mirrors.

Practice by spelling names of movies, books, famous people and family and friends.

How to reinforce learning creatively:

MANUAL ALPHABET: Play games such as SCRABBLE, Hangman, Word Search, Crossword puzzles

NUMBERS: Math problems, memorizing digit series, Sudoko, Battleship

EXTEND LEARNING FOR OLDER STUDENTS (Middle/ High School)

1- Do all countries use the same sign language? What country is American Sign Language most akin to?

2- Deaf people often learn to sign to communicate. Could sign language be a good communication method for non-deaf people and if so, which circumstances?

3- How do you think sign language can help you learn other subjects (such as spelling or math problems)?

HALFLING, a New YA Novel with Bonus Features: Book Club, Virtual and Homeschool Curriculum Options

Published on April 14, 2017April 14, 2017 by LouiseSattlerLeave a comment

Halfling (2016) by debut author, Donna Marie Robb

Donna Marie Robb is a writer who has a dream … actually, a whole lot of dreams! Her debut young adult fantasy novel, Halfling, chronicles the story of Remmi, a young girl who is vacillates between Dreamearth and Realearth. As her story unfolds you realize that Robb wrote Remmi to be a strong protagonist who has experienced more in her few short years than most do in a lifetime.

As the story commences you learn that Remmi was orphaned as a child, so she thought. Due to circumstances beyond her control, she ends up in an unusual living situation where she is among “drones” who have been voided of thoughts. Her life in slavery ends when she realizes that her skill-set includes a touch of magic. As a clever and precocious teen, Remmi uses her new found abilities to escape and go forth to help others. Her story of survivorship grabbed me within the first two chapters. (And, robbed me of precious hours of sleep as I couldn’t put the book down!)

The story ebbs and flows between one “earth” to another – similar to other YA books such as The Giver or Harry Potter, where alternate realms help enhance the intrigue. While Halfling was written for the tween and teen audience, my husband and friends also became fast fans and thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner!

Plus, the animated video, created by the very talented Dara Blaker, gives Remmi a voice and makes reading Halfling even more enticing!

Meet the author, Donna Marie Robb

I have had the pleasure of knowing the author for many years. Her ability to have insight in to the psyche of young adults’ is clearly evidenced by her writing of Halfling. She also is a librarian who cares about the youth of our country and their education and attainment of literacy skills. That is why she decided to introduce a book club and a homeschool / virtual school curriculum as adjunct features to Halfling.

View the Halfling Book Club page!

The book club allows students to expand the discussion regarding Halfling with fun and thought-provoking questions. Also, they can engage with the author by using the contact form or comment section on the Book Club page. Check out the book club feature here.

About the Homeschool / Virtual School Curriculum

Coming soon will be a curriculum for home educated / virtual schooled students. This will be a four to six -week literacy based guide to instruction with Halfling as the featured text. Students will be able to delve in to the book, explore their own “dreams”, keep a journal and compare and contrast the themes of the book with current events.

Let the author know you are interested in the Homeschool Curriculum by filling out this contact form. (And, ask in the comment section how you can get the book and curriculum for FREE – an offer that is time limited.)

Why Halfling is needed in OUR world

On a closing note, as a School Psychologist I believe we need books like Halfling. The character, Remmi, is likable but also a role model for tweens and teens. She exemplifies what it is like to be a resilient child with a will to overcome all obstacles in her way – including evil and persecution. I won’t give away the ending – but know that it is not predictable.

Halfling and the adventures of Remmi are easy on the budget. Kindle version is free for unlimited prime members, $2.99 for basic Kindle and $11.99 for paperback. All can be found here: AMAZON.

And, my hashtags for this book would be … #MustRead #FreshOriginalPremise

I am part of the social media team helping to promote this amazing author and Halfling. Trust me when I say it is my pleasure to represent such an amazing talent!