After collecting over 75 Spanish textbooks and workbooks in 25 years of teaching, I found myself facing a tough reality: I wasn’t actually using them. Despite their glossy pages and perfect layouts, they just didn’t meet the needs of my students—or support the kind of teaching I knew made a real difference.

In this heartfelt and behind-the-scenes episode, I’m sharing why I walked away from traditional Spanish textbooks and how that decision led me to create what I now call a "living Spanish curriculum"—an interactive, evolving, student-centered approach to learning that’s built to serve both students and homeschool parents.

You’ll hear:

• The surprising moment a professor told me I was building a “living textbook”
• How I taught myself to create video lessons, flashcards, and culturally rich content—without being tech-savvy
• Real-life examples of how homeschool families bring Spanish learning to life across subjects and at home
• Why it’s okay to let go of the “perfect” curriculum and create something that works for your child

Whether you're a new homeschool parent or have been learning Spanish, this episode will encourage you to think differently about what really works in Spanish education—and remind you that your child doesn’t need perfect resources… they need intentional ones.

👉 📌 Course for Parents- free 5-day Parent Course to help you build a strong Spanish-at-home plan—even if you don’t speak Spanish.

https://spanish-educational-solutions.teachable.com/p/5-day-parent-course Let’s walk this journey together. You’ve got this.

Explore my FREE DEMOs:

Spanish 1 course for middle-high school course

https://spanish-educational-solutions.teachable.com/p/spanishonefoundational-demo

Elementary Curriculum

https://spanish-educational-solutions.teachable.com/p/spanish-curriculum-for-elementary-demo

🔗 Let’s Stay Connected!

Follow me for more homeschool Spanish tips, curriculum insights, and fun language-learning strategies! 🎉

📌Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spanisheducationalsolutions/ 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spanisheducationalsolutions 📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spanisheducationalsolutions I share behind the scene my bilingual homeschooling journey.

📌Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@spanishsolutions

📌 Website: https://homeschoolspanishcurriculum.com/

👉 Subscribe & Leave a Review! Love this episode? Please take a moment to subscribe and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review—it helps us reach more homeschool families teaching Spanish!

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal story—not as a Spanish teacher, but as a mom who began homeschooling while still learning English, full of fears and doubts.

You’ll hear three vulnerable moments that shaped our homeschool journey—and how my children became confident, bilingual young adults despite my limitations.

This is for the parent who wonders, “Am I enough?” The answer is SI!!.

🎁 Plus, I’m giving you a free 5-day Parent Course to help you build a strong Spanish-at-home plan—even if you don’t speak Spanish.

👉 Get the free course: https://spanish-educational-solutions.teachable.com/p/5-day-parent-course

✔️ No fluency required ✔️ For parents of elementary students and teens ✔️ Practical, encouraging, and easy to follow

🎥 Includes:

• 5 Days- short, focused lessons with actionable steps
• Bonus webinars for curriculum planning and teen credit guidance
• Tips on mindset, scheduling, learning methods, and more

🔗 Let’s Stay Connected! Follow me for more homeschool Spanish tips, curriculum insights, and fun language-learning strategies! 🎉

📌Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spanisheducationalsolutions/ 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spanisheducationalsolutions 📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spanisheducationalsolutions

📌Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@spanishsolutions

📌 Website: https://homeschoolspanishcurriculum.com/

👉 Subscribe & Leave a Review! Love this episode? Please take a moment to subscribe and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review—it helps us reach more homeschool families teaching Spanish!

Does learning Spanish make you nervous? Whether you're a Spanish learner, a homeschooling parent, or a teen, you might have felt the pressure to speak perfectly, avoid mistakes, or keep up with others. You're not alone!

In this episode, Sra. Morato explores:

• The Pressure Triangle – Teacher, Peer, and Self-Imposed Pressure
• How anxiety blocks language learning and ways to push through
• Strategies to reduce fear and build confidence in Spanish
• How parents can support their teens in a healthy learning environment

📢 Now Open! Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year 🎉

• High School Spanish Courses – Live support or self-paced options
• Elementary Speaking Curriculum – Fun for the whole family!

Learn more at homeschoolspanishcurriculum.com

🔗 Let’s Stay Connected! Follow me for more homeschool Spanish tips, curriculum insights, and fun language-learning strategies! 🎉

📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spanisheducationalsolutions/ 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spanisheducationalsolutions 📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spanisheducationalsolutions

📌Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@spanishsolutions

📌 Website: https://homeschoolspanishcurriculum.com/

👉 Subscribe & Leave a Review! Love this episode? Please take a moment to subscribe and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review—it helps us reach more homeschool families teaching Spanish!

In this episode, Zakkiyya Chase shares her inspiring journey—from studying Spanish in college to a transformative three-month study abroad in Argentina. She opens up about the challenges of learning Spanish, adapting to Argentina’s unique culture and accent, and the life-changing impact of full immersion.

📢 Note for Parents: This episode touches on sensitive parts of Argentina’s history.

• Author of No Dream Deferred: Why Black and Latino Families Are Choosing Homeschool
• Founder of Empowered Home Educators, Inc.
• Advocate for homeschooling and language learning

🎓 How college Spanish prepared her for real-world interactions 🌍 The challenges and rewards of studying abroad in Argentina 🗣️ How immersion helped her gain confidence in Spanish 🍽️ Favorite foods, cultural surprises, and life lessons 💡 Encouragement for parents & teens learning Spanish

🔗 LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zakkiyya-chase

🌐 Empowered Home Educators https://www.empoweredhomeed.org https://www.facebook.com/empoweredhomeed/

📖 No Dream Deferred Book

https://www.amazon.com/No-Dream-Deferred-Families-Homeschool/dp/0997893419

No Dream Deferred- FREE Excerpt!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1wkSeSNm8nsMGRrUEhPYnVqSzA/view?resourcekey=0-alHdYVFKgn4U8uAt72t83A

🔗 Let’s Stay Connected! Follow me for more homeschool Spanish tips, curriculum insights, and fun language-learning strategies! 🎉

📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spanisheducationalsolutions/ 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spanisheducationalsolutions 📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spanisheducationalsolutions 📌 Website: https://homeschoolspanishcurriculum.com/

👉 Subscribe & Leave a Review! Love this episode? Please take a moment to subscribe and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review—it helps us reach more homeschool families teaching Spanish!

What do you do when your child refuses to speak Spanish? In this episode, I share a deeply personal story about how my youngest daughter, Elizabeth, struggled with Spanish—and how her journey led me to create an elementary Spanish curriculum that actually works for homeschool families.

You'll learn: ✅ How to navigate when kids resist speaking Spanish—and how to help them overcome it ✅ The surprising role that learning French played in boosting my daughter’s Spanish confidence ✅ Tips on how to encourage Spanish learning at home (even if you’re not fluent!) ✅ How to approach Spanish learning and methodology during the primary years. ✅ Practical tips to help your child speak Spanish naturally and confidently

If you’re a homeschool parent wondering how to raise a bilingual child or looking for a Spanish curriculum that goes beyond vocabulary lists, this episode is for you!

🔹 Special Guest: My daughter Elizabeth joins me to share her personal experience!

Links and resources:

🚀 Ready to Help Your Child Speak Spanish with Confidence?

Join my FREE Parent Training where I’ll show you how to teach Spanish at home—even if you’re not fluent! 🎉

https://spanisheducationalsolutions.webinarninja.com/automated-webinars/21438/register

🔗 Let’s Stay Connected! Follow me for more homeschool Spanish tips, curriculum insights, and fun language-learning strategies! 🎉

📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spanisheducationalsolutions/ 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spanisheducationalsolutions 📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spanisheducationalsolutions 📌 Website: https://homeschoolspanishcurriculum.com/

👉 Subscribe & Leave a Review! Love this episode? Please take a moment to subscribe and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review—it helps us reach more homeschool families teaching Spanish!

Show Notes:

Today, I share my journey from classroom teaching to launching an online Spanish program. We’ll explore:

• Key differences between in-person and online learning
• Tips for success in online education
• The future of online learning

Episode Highlights:

• Starting from "Grade Zero" – My journey as an immigrant and educator.
• The Path to Online Education – Transitioning from tutoring to teaching online.
• Overcoming Challenges – Facing fears of technology and parent resistance.
• Founding Spanish Educational Solutions – Supporting homeschool families with online learning.
• The Power of Online Learning – Beyond Spanish: time management, independence, and tech skills.
• The Future of Education – Why online learning is here to stay and how AI is changing language learning.

Thank You for Listening!

Special Invitation for Parents and Teens!

📢 Live Webinar:

Stop Feeling Overwhelmed by Your Teen’s High School Spanish Requirement!

And Discover a Plan that Works Even if You Don't Speak Spanish

🔗 Sign up now:

https://spanisheducationalsolutions.webinarninja.com/live-webinars/10651485/register

💬 Connect with Me: 🌐 spanisheducationalsolutions.com 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spanisheducationalsolutions/

|📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spanisheducationalsolutions

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spanisheducationalsolutions

Podcast notes:

• How to prepare your family for seamless transitions to new countries and cultures.
• Practical tips for overcoming language barriers and making the most of cultural differences.
• Natalie's unique perspective on what culture really means: language, food, values, and the heart of the people.
• Powerful lessons learned from traveling to multiple countries and building a global worldview.
• Strategies for facing cultural challenges and developing adaptability and resilience.
• How to bring the world into your home, even without travel, using books, music, and community engagement.
• Insights into the resilience and flexibility of military families that anyone can apply to their own lives.

Ready to embrace cultural adventures? Click "Subscribe" for more inspiring stories and strategies to empower your family's learning journey.

Connect with Natalie and explore resources:

• Natalie's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nataliemackllc/
• Military Homeschoolers Association: https://www.facebook.com/militaryhomeschoolersassociation/
• Natalie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolnataliemack/
• Listen to Natalie's TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyazhnmwkJM
• ** Check out Natalie's Book:** 101 Tips for Homeschoolers - Loving your homeschool experience

Let's learn and connect! Follow me on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spanisheducationalsolutions/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spanisheducationalsolutions

Explore our Spanish Curriculum for K-12 ages: https://homeschoolspanishcurriculum.com/

The holidays are over, and many of us are returning to our routines. If you've taken a break from learning Spanish, you might feel overwhelmed trying to get back on track. But don't worry! In this episode, we're tackling how to restart your bilingual journey with practical strategies to help you avoid feeling stuck or giving up.

Join me as I share 4 powerful principles to ease back into learning, stay consistent, and reignite your passion for becoming bilingual.

1. Start Small & Remove Guilt and Shame

• Why starting light and easy is the best way to rebuild momentum.
• The importance of replacing guilt and shame with conviction to stay committed to your vision.
• A personal story about how starting small with exercise taught me how to apply this principle to learning Spanish.

Focus on Consistency & Avoid Perfectionism

• Perfectionism can lead to procrastination and paralysis.
• Embrace short, consistent practice sessions instead of aiming for perfection.
• Why "practice makes consistent progress" is a healthier mindset than "practice makes perfect."

Do Hard Things & Reward Yourself

• Facing challenges expands your capacity and builds resilience.
• The power of visualizing rewards and celebrating progress, both short-term and long-term.
• Ideas for rewards that motivate parents, teens, and individual learners.

Ask for Help & Find Support

• You don’t have to do this alone—seek out community, teachers, and study partners.
• How our resources, including YouTube drills and songs, can make your learning experience more enjoyable and effective.

• YouTube Channel: Spanish Educational Solutions https://www.youtube.com/@spanisheducationalsolutions
  • Check out fun and engaging drills to help you learn Spanish!
  • Don’t miss our latest song: El Alfabeto en Español. https://youtu.be/-1PT2vn2RPQ?si=K4XaTOw1BvKDQWaP
• Courses for middle-high school years: Homeschool Spanish Curriculum

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spanisheducationalsolutions
• Website: spanisheducationalsolutions.com
• Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/spanisheducationalsolutions/
• https://www.facebook.com/Spanisheducationalsolutions

Thank you for listening! Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Let’s continue growing together on this bilingual journey. 🎉

Hasta luego, amigos!