Homeschool Spanish Academy: Taking classes with Google Hangouts ~ a review

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***links in this post are affiliate links.***

Over the last few years that Madison has been using Homeschool Spanish Academy, she has met her teacher, Nora, on Skype for one-on-one lessons. This year, Mikayla and Madison are using the new meeting site on Google Hangouts.

Google Hangouts is very similar to Skype in there video conferencing. Logging into class is super easy because Homeschool Spanish Academy sends you a reminder email for your class the day/night before your class. Just in case you are a busy and forget, you also get an email one hour before class starts. I really love this feature!

Your reminder email has all the details of your upcoming class session including the start and end times along with your teacher information. This is especially helpful if you are utilizing multiple teachers for the course. If you are needing to cancel or reschedule your class there are links right in the email that enable you to do so quickly.

To take classes through Google Hangouts you need to download the program on your computers desktop. It is free and completely safe to do so. One of the best features I think is that you have the option to take your lessons with you on your phone or tablet by downloading the Google Hangouts app. The app is available on both Apple and Android devices so you are covered if you need/want portability.  While we have not tried this feature yet, I know once we hit the road traveling up and down I-95 for gymnastics meets we will be utilizing the mobile app option.

On the girls laptops to log into class they simply just click the click here button in the reminder email. Doing this opens the Google Hangouts where you press the join button. After doing that you are in the classroom where you wait for the teacher. It’s recommended that you log into the class no more than 5 minutes beforehand to wait for the teacher to join the session.

We are excited for all the options that Homeschool Spanish Academy offers while using Google Hangouts. Both of my girls are excelling in their lessons and learning to speak Spanish beautifully!

©2008 - 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.

 http://astablebeginning.com

Brinkman Adventures, Season 4 ~ a TOS review

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Are you ready to hear about the next audio drama that we have fallen in love with here at A Stable Beginning? They are not a new company because I have shared our love of the Brinkman Adventures before. The past six weeks we have been listening to Brinkman Adventures Season 4. If you are up for an adventure, continue reading below!


Prepare to become immersed into an adrenaline filled journey as you travel the globe from from houseboats in Cambodia, or travel down the dangerous alleys in the Middle East, or to frozen prisons in Russia with our modern-day missionaries, The Brinkman family. With The Brinkman Adventures will take your family on a heart-pounding, exciting adventures taming rogue robots and dodging angry hippos all the while showing God’s love for everyone on earth.

We received the digital download of Season 4 of The Brinkman Adventures which contains 12 action packed episodes. With over 5 hours of audio drama/entertainment these are perfect for long road trips or just around town. Each action-packed episode is roughly 30-40 minutes long and they each contain a central theme. Episodes in Season 4 include:

37 A Paradise Lost (God is in control)

38 Remember Nhu (Persevering) 

39 Aisha’s Fear (Overcoming Fear with Love) 

40 Heart Song (Tenacious Faith) 

41 The Crashed Kitchen (God Doesn’t Make Mistakes) 

42 Crisis In The Congo (People Over Projects) 

43 The Mysterious Palm Feller (Confronting Evil) 

44 War of the Raccoons (Faithfulness in Work) 

45 The Five Guys (Listening to God) 

46 Toughest Man (Surrendering Everything) 

47 Cambodian Quest (Going Deeper with God) 

48 What Brings Us Together (Glorifying God in Every Vocation) 

The Brinkman’s are not just your normal everyday missionaries. They are a modern day, large family, whose powerful stories come together through the wild and crazy adventures they take to share God’s word. Their escapades will inspire the old and young and strengthen your faith to love and follow Jesus with all your might.

We spend a lot of time in our van driving here and there each week and while listening to the popular kids satellite radio is fun, one does quickly tire of hearing the same songs looping over and over. I was so excited to be able to pop this audio drama cd into the CD player for something different. We have listened to many audio books before but nothing is quite as exciting as The Brinkman Adventures. From the very beginning, everyone in the van is completely immersed and listening intently to the stories to not miss a beat.

The Brinkman Adventures are available to purchase by season on CD for $31.99 or on MP3 download for $25.99. This is not the first year that the Crew has had the opportunity to review Brinkman Adventures. When we get in the van to go anywhere my kids are always asking me to plug my phone in so we can listen to our favorite episodes from the Brinkman Adventures Season 4 over and over again! Our favorite episodes are #40 and #48. Click on over to the site and hear a sample of the stories and I know you will be hooked on them just as we are. Also check out what my CrewMates think of this audio drama by clicking the banner below!

Company ~ Brinkman Adventures 

Product ~ Brinkman Adventures Season 4

Format ~ digital download 

Price ~ $25.99 digital download or $31.99 CD set 

Ages ~ families of all ages

Social Media: 

 Facebook

©2008 - 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author. 

 http://astablebeginning.com

Wordless Wednesday

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©2008 - 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author. 

 http://astablebeginning.com

Channie's Visual Handwriting Workbooks: One Page a Day: Double Digit Math Problem Workbook ~ a TOS review

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You know how I told you yesterday that McKenzie really enjoys doing worksheets for school? Well today I have another great product to share with you from Channie’s Visual Handwriting & Math Workbooks called One Page a Day: Double Digit Math Problem Workbook.

McKenzie loves math! It is her favorite subject and she likes to do many math activities as she can each day. With the One Page a Day: Double Digit Math Problem Workbook I am able to fulfill McKenzie’s needs of more math. Let me tell you how we used it.


McKenzie normally only schools 4 days a week, taking off Wednesdays, because she trains a double day at the gymnastics gym. Between getting her home, rested and fueled up again for training there is not much time left in her day. However, this girlie is one of my hard chargers and likes doing school so we have incorporated doing a page a day of math from this workbook along with a hands-on math activity and reading.

What I love most about this product is that it is set up in a way to help little 1st through 3rd graders keep their numbers lined up when adding or subtracting double digits. This page has guide boxes that are color-coded (another favorite) to help your student visually see just where the number should be placed. Each workbook page contains 25 problems or either addition or subtraction and progresses with difficulty of problems as you go through the book. Your student’s knowledge will be tested on:

Simple Addition 

Simple Subtraction 

Mix of simple addition and subtraction problems 

Additions problems that carry over 

Subtraction problems that need borrow 

Mix of double digit additions and Subtractions

Overall, we have thoroughly enjoyed using this product! McKenzie gets the extra math she craves and I know that she is getting quality math facts instruction, it’s a win-win situation! The fact that the boxes help make the page neater is a bonus! Be sure to click the banner below to check out what my CrewMates thought of One Page a Day: Double Digit Math Problem Workbook and the other products being reviewed:

Quick & Neat Alphabet Pad - PreK-1st 

My First Letters - PreK-1st 

Easy Peasy Alphabet - PreK-1st 

Easy Peasy Cursive - 1st to 3rd

Company ~ Channie’s Visual Handwriting & Math Workbooks

Product ~ One Page a Day: Double Digit Math Problem Workbook 

Format ~ consumable workbook

Price ~ $11.95

Ages ~ 1st – 3rd grade

Social Media Links:

 Facebook @channiesworkbook

©2008 - 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author. 

 http://astablebeginning.com

Wordless Wednesday

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©2008 - 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author. 

 http://astablebeginning.com

Super Teacher Worksheets: Worksheets made easy ~ a TOS review

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I love the way that God just places reviews right into my lap when I need them. That’s exactly what happened when we were offered and Individual Membership from Super Teacher Worksheets!

 {a game of go fish with this weeks spelling words}

Originally when we started school I had planned on McKenzie, my second grader to complete the spelling program that corresponded with her literature reading even though that meant we would put down our beloved Rod & Staff curriculum. After a few weeks I knew that it was a mistake. For some reason, I could not find our third grade student book and low and behold the review for Super Teacher Worksheets just popped into my lap. After checking out the website I knew that their spelling program would work perfectly for McKenzie because she loves worksheets!

Have you ever needed just the right worksheet to fit the bill for a concept or idea you are teaching your child? Does you child need a little bit of extra practice on a certain skill? Well, today I am glad to share with you a super supplement from Super Teacher Worksheets. We received full year Individual Membership access to the site which allows unlimited access to all printable resources on the site for one user for just $19.95 per year.

Super Teacher Worksheets has created a plethora of worksheets to give your student just a little more time and practice. The website is chock-full of printable worksheets that are not only helpful but useful for homeschoolers, parents, and teachers alike to use with their students. There are literally thousands of worksheets to choose from so there is sure to be something you can find helpful too!


From preschool through middle school there are worksheets all neatly organized by subject area, concept and theme on the following topics:

Math 

Reading & Writing 

Phonics & Early Literacy 

 Handwriting 

 Grammar 

 Spellings Lists & Worksheets (Gr. 1-5) 

 Science 

 Social Studies 

 Holiday Puzzles 

Brain Teasers 

 Teacher Helpers 

 Pre-K and Kindergarten 

 Make Your Own Worksheets

There are also seasonal and holiday worksheets for every subject along with:

card games 

mazes 

coloring pages 

mini-books

McKenzie loves worksheets so this was a perfect fit for her! Each Saturday evening I was able to print off the following weeks worth of spelling lessons for her to complete. To make a packet of work I stapled it into a packet of weekly work and she was able to pick and choose what she did on what day giving her a little bit of freedom and choice in her daily schoolwork. During this review period I only focused on the spelling program for McKenzie, however, with the many different worksheet types available there are many possibilities for full use.


I was also able to use this with my 5th grader, Montana, and my son who is three. With Montana my main focus was to use the multiplication and logic puzzle worksheets with her as she is still working at solidifying those type of math facts. Montana especially loved solving the mysteries and the Logic puzzles. With my son, we mainly focused on the PreK activities including making alphabet flashcards for him and putting them on a ring for when we are out and about.

I know for some families worksheets feel like busy work. That’s not the case here at A Stable Beginning! McKenzie thrives on a weekly packet of worksheets and with her busy gymnastics training schedule it works for her and her learning style right now. This site is a tool and you can use it just as that. If you like to get creative, be sure to check out their worksheet generator where you can make your very own worksheets needed for your homeschool.

I L-O-V-E Super Teacher Worksheets! This is a resource that definitely will be renewed when my year is up. There is so much that the site offers, its hard not to find something to use. If you are looking for quality homeschool printables to supplement your learning, look no further that Super Teacher Worksheets! Be sure to check out what my Crewmates thought of this product by clicking the banner below.

Company ~ Super Teacher Worksheets 

 Product ~ Individual Membership 

 Format ~ online access 

 Price ~ $19.95 

 Ages ~ PreK - middle school

Social Media Links: 

 • Facebook  • Twitter     • Pinterest   • Instagram  

©2008 - 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author. 

 http://astablebeginning.com