Lisa Renea Shaw

  A Message to Parents: Why Your 4th Grader Deserves a Strong Start This Semester There is so much going on in the world of education and student achievement. If I weren't an educator, I would find it difficult to truly unpack how my child is being measured in terms of achievement. I would also find it difficult to truly understand how I could personally support his growth as a reader, a writer and a mathematician. Having a point of reference, example of sample performance and a resource is important. Point of Reference If you live in Georgia and your third grade child attended a public school last year, are may be aware of a test called the Georgia Milestones Assessment. This test measured your child's performance in the area of Reading, ELA and Math. According to the Georgia Department of Education, over 127,234 third graders were tested in the 2024–2025 school year. Of those: 35.4% were below grade level in reading - having a reading lexile score of lesson than 520 O...

  Teaching Spanish to Young Learners: Why Early Matters and How to Start Language is more than vocabulary—it’s identity, connection, and confidence. And when it comes to teaching Spanish to young children, the earlier we begin, the deeper the roots grow. What Is a “Mother Tongue”? A child’s mother tongue is the language they learn before the age of 8. According to UNESCO and multiple linguistic studies, early exposure to a language—especially in everyday, emotionally rich contexts—can lead to native-like fluency and cultural attachment. That means if your child begins learning Spanish before age 8, it can become part of their foundational identity—not just an academic subject. This is especially powerful for families where one parent speaks Spanish and the other does not. You don’t need to be fluent to support your child’s bilingual journey—you just need to be intentional. Why Early Spanish Learning Matters Children under 8 absorb language naturally through play, repetition, and e...

  Why I Built My Other Tongue—and What It Offers Your Family When I launched My Other Tongue Language School , I wasn’t just creating a place to teach Spanish. My intent was to build a community of learners- a supportive, immersive space where students could become confident speakers of the Spanish language. As a multilingual educator, curriculum designer, and children’s author, I’ve spent years helping students understand how to access the tools they need to communicate in Spanish with confidence and clarity.  I’ve experienced the joy of seeing wonderful connections being made between people with linguistic and cultural differences. I've witness firsthand how language can empower a child to speak up, connect deeply, and feel proud of who they are. That’s why My Other Tongue exists—to make bilingual learning accessible, meaningful, and rooted in purpose. What We Offer at MyOtherTongue.com Our programs are designed for families who want more than worksheets and flashcards....

  Welcome to Lisa Renea Shaw's Blog!!  I’m so glad you’re here. This space is more than a blog—it’s a home for the stories, strategies, and resources I’ve created to help families, educators, and communities grow with purpose. Whether you’re raising bilingual learners, designing curriculum, or searching for faith-rooted tools that speak to the heart, you’ll find something here that meets you where you are. At the center of it all is MOT — My Other Tongue , My Other Thoughts , and My Other Talents —three branches of one mission: to make learning joyful, inclusive, and deeply connected. My Other Tongue This is where language comes alive. Here, I share bilingual literacy strategies,   ACTFL and CEFR standards-based Spanish instruction, and   K–5 Math and ELA tutoring resources aligned with Georgia Milestones. You’ll find stories, activities, and tools that nurture identity, empathy, and academic growth—one word at a time.   My Other Thoughts This is your educator’s...