Daily writing prompt
How has technology changed your job?
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I do not have any large white boards. Students don’t walk up to a white board to write their answers. We use a Promethean board where we use game sites and other activities for engagements.

Since it’s a computer screen I focus more on using Google Slides or PowerPoints to present information. Writing on it takes time and muddles the whole group experience.

Students have multiple computer centers. Students have the ability to do spelling, reading, writing, creating on Chromebooks. This is in effort to get students comfortable with computers as that is what they have to tote around classes sixth grade and beyond. All major testing is completed on a computer.

We have a large variety of offline activities but the biggest ones for students are on their Chromebooks. They fret at us if they’re on them too much but then, want them able to use Chromebooks for state testing and other big testing… it’s a teeter totter mess to deal with.

#BlackWingsGraySkies #Review

Title: Black Wings Gray Skies
Author: Hailey Edwards
Published: April, 2022
Series: Black Hat Bureau .. Book 4.. there’s 10 books
Rating:🥄🥄🥄🥄

Contains spoilers.. I’m in the 4th book.

I did the dishonorable thing and read reviews before I read this book. There is a lot of complaints that there is romance in the middle of a murder involving children.

These stories are NOT the murder cases they are the romance and the people dealing with the murders. There is no Law and Order or any recent crime shows where the characters develop some connection with the murdered and get heavily involved.

These are people here to solve a case while mostly dealing with their own shit. Their own shit is the main point of the stories in each book — they just so happen to be solving crimes along the way due to being part of the Black Hat Bureau.

It’s stated multiple times that most of these people in the bureau do not care. We know her grandpa, the guy who runs the bureau doesn’t care AT ALL. His focus is on maintaining power over others and the bureau.. And wanting to stay in control over Rue.

We know the characters of this story aren’t heavily involved emotionally with these cases. They’re paranormal creatures trying to survive in a position placed on them due to being paranormal in a human-filled world.

Their life is being dictated by her grandpa because of the bureau – she thinks the Black Hat is a great thing because it allows those unwanted or whatever a place to survive/live in.

But based on context and how she’s handling him trying to control her life — we know that it is bullshit. They are building up to either destroying the bureau or her taking it over and becoming her grandpa… or both in a way.

All Rue cares about are the people in her life. The cases are sidequests to pull her away and cause chaos in her hometown while she’s away — then allow us to get yanked back into her family drama.

The story is meant to be about the characters and not the crimes or murders they are solving. The murder mysteries — well the LACK of mystery .. they’re easy to solve as you’re reading it. The WhoDunIt is typically in your face… you just have to wait for the characters to catch on with who did it…while you’re like, “Well okay it’s that person”.

If you’re looking for a great whodunit, mystery, or story where the characters give a damn emotionally about the crimes they’re helping to solve– this is the wrong story.

She’s only gave a shit about ONE case she was on and that kid, Colby, is now her moth familiar. The only crimes or possible issues she’s cared about after are anything that involve her town and the girls, and the men in her life. It’s plainly stated several time about how …that’s what she is concerned with.

These books are to build up the relationship her and Asa have, and the slow build to destroying (probably) the Black Hat Bureau as Rue realizes that .. it’s probably NOT the best option and there could be other great options for paranormal creatures to work at…

#Dragonbreath

This was published in 2009. We read this in first grade. This is a higher grade level read than first grade. But when I do read alouds I try to mix it up with high and low reads. I have students who are at 3rd-4th grade reading level AND COMPREHENSION level but also kids on the lower end of the spectrum. Try to introduce my low readers to things but also entertain my higher level students.

This book is very dry. You feel every moment that you are reading a book and not that you’re stepping into the story and living vicariously by the words. If that makes any sense.

My students retained a lot of the story and enjoyed it for the most part. They learn new words and engaged with it somewhat. I did have my very vocal boy complain EVERY time we read it.

Pete the Cat’s Groovy Guide to Love

Popular character in first grade (which I teach). So, I picked this up thinking it was a story. But it’s just quotes about love. That is what I get for downloading a book and not previewing it.

The kids enjoyed the artwork because IT IS PETE THE CAT. But it being quotes about love was really confusing for them..when it’s usually some kind of sing-songy text attached when reading Pete.

Black Truth White Lies Hailey Edwards

Title: Black Truth White Lies
Author: Hailey Edwards
Published day: December 7, 2021
Page length: 272
Rating: 🥄🥄🥄

This is the third book. You do have to read them in order. Otherwise, you’re just stepping into a black witch who turned white witch being horny about a half demon/fae person.

“Hearts were so much simpler to figure out when you held them in your hand.”
― Hailey Edwards, Black Truth, White Lies

Rue is trying to balance life as an ex-black witch, handling the Black Hat Bureau, and being in “fascination” with Asa. They also solve crime on the side — since that is their jobs for the most part.

The story is good. Enjoy the characters. It runs like a TV show in my mind as I am reading. There’s magic, there’s brooding, there’s corny jokes, and a found family developing as they go.

Legends & Lattes

Title: Legends & Lattes
Author: Travis Baldree
Publish: June 7, 2022
Page Count: 296
Rating: 🥄🥄🥄🥄

This is the COZIEST COZY. Do not come into this book thinking you’re going to get something fast pace. I listened to this during my workouts over the summer. I use libby and listened through my library. Thankfully due to it being summer and this audio is barely over 7 hours long — I was able to finish listening to this before my turn in time.

Due to the pace of the story it helped with working out. I have struggled with exercising due to disability life – so sometimes I stress over things. What if I exercise too much and turn it into a week flare? What if I stop being able to walk again? Things like that, while they are legitimate worries to have. While you’re trying to focus on working out — not the best time to be focusing on worries. Then, y’know, the worries become truths.

Viv is an orc who has retired from life of warring — so she decides to take what she’s saved up during that part of her life…and build a coffee shop. Through this coffee shop she builds her found family and customers.

This is a low-stakes, move to a new town and try to start over life kind of story. Which I felt related hard to -wanting to start over and living in a new area. I found the characters adorable and worth reading. Not great for someone wanting to read something adjacent to Games of Throne .. or anything else with high stakes and stresses.

There are elements in the story that are meant to be stresses on Viv and other characters. But the way it’s formatted, the read doesn’t stress you the reader out. But it is a great book to “dig in” and experience when you want to chill out and relax. Definitely not your read if you’re wanting anything fast pace or heavy on the heroic/fighting/battles.


Trick Shot by Kayla Grosse

Title: Trick Shot
Author: Kayla Grosse
Publish Date: November 1, 2023
Page length: 195 pages
Rating: 🥄🥄🥄
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I have started using this rating system for the Chili emoji. Spoon emoji is still just me and my biases toward things. I am using both covers for this novella.

This Review Contains Spoilers

While this has sport term in it – it’s only Hockey Adjacent erotica/romance

Ideky I finished this. I already met my reading goal for the year. For some reason, they get a HEA ??? There is a lot of self-confidence boosting conversation pieces in this. But they start out with an extreme (imo) lie that started this whole thing.

Also, the sister who’s like, “I give out a fake name it’s totally the same thing” …to appease thing was wild 😂. But she’s also not masquerading as someone else they were expecting to meet with. Like that comparison is two things.

Another thing why would a woman coming into their life….solidify their relationship. That was a weird component to place into their relationship. Only realizing they wanted a real relationship after …? I mean people do come to realization at weird times …so I guess it could happen.

“I knew I should have left yesterday.” She groans. “Stupid Chad!” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “Chads are usually stupid.”

– Trick Shot

Tentacles & Triathlons Review

Title: Tentacles & Triathlons
Author: Ashley Bennett
Publication Date: October 4, 2022
Length: 218
Rating: 🥄🥄🥄
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I read this in January 2023. I did not write a review here or even Goodreads. I was annoyed with how this relationship. I am comparing it to the first book in the series very harshly. But the two in that one was very fluff and sugary compared to this. But it’s the end of the year, Winter break, and I have time to myself to think about books I read through the year.

I ABSOLUTELY did NOT enjoy this much as I did the first one. I like the characters presented to us. But I did NOT like that Cyrus mate was REECE? I know she changed up things from the previous book. But it’s basically pairing a character with a racist. There was an attempt at justification for why he was the way he was. But it was in line with what my racist relatives used as to justify not liking certain groups. I couldn’t shake that. My rating of the book is writing and at work put in to the story.

I felt the characters weren’t fleshed out as well as they could have. You could have switched names and see no difference (minus any mention of tentacles). Cyrus did not feel like a character who should have been paired off with someone who actively hated monsters. Like, these are written as more fluff than dark monster romance so that threw me off. If I am reading a Hallmark rip-off, I would like a more satisfying ending with a partner I felt aligned with the characters.. y’know?

The story misses some things that you would want developed due to how short the story is. So, there is a need for speeding through some elements to get to the ending. But I think I was a little pro-Cyrus having a better mate that I was not thrilled about finishing the story.

But it is a novella, so you do lose out on a lot of things that fit into your “it could have been…” pile. I do accept that. But usually the best part of romances/erotica is getting to know the characters and their intentions, the way they feel through everything…and that it makes sense that they are “mated lovers” or whatever. As I read this I understood why there are fanfiction writers who go, “I can fix this” and then proceed to do so.


“Man or monster, who gives a fuck. Love is love.”

― Ashley Bennett, Tentacles & Triathlons

“That’s because I have three hearts.” And they all beat for you.”

― Ashley Bennett, Tentacles & Triathlons

“Oh, hey Cyrus! Nice tentacles you’ve got there. Wanna shove them up my ass?”

            - Ashley Bennett, Tentacles & Triathlons

What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?

Daily writing prompt
What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?
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I am on summer break so my sleep schedule is extremely busted. July is the month I start correcting my sleep schedule. Which my school schedule is 10-11pm and waking up between 5:30-6.

I was sick yesterday for two hours straight of pure pain. My stomach was still hurting when I fell asleep last night – woke up to Waldo jumping onto my stomach. I’ve been trying to fall back to sleep since midnight. I do not know what time I fell asleep but I don’t feel like I was asleep very long.

I gave up around an hour ago. I took an 800mg Ibuprofen and a muscle relaxer to see if I can either fall asleep and catch some z’s or kill this headache for once. I’ve had a consist headache of some type since January.

So .. overall, my sleep schedule has been a bit wonky for several months.

Not A Book Entry

Well, in a way it is. I am in the middle of LETRS training. The website we have to use to watch videos and take quizzes is the most aggravating website.. I’ve experienced so far.

The book is fine, it’s easy to read and understand. We can read it digitally on the website — we also have access to it physically. It just drives me nuts that the quizzes and everything gets tracked on the website.

Only does deleting history help with certain issues I have with the website. Sometimes if I sit on it too long — even though I am interacting with it. It’ll log me out or videos die due to no interaction. I’m just.. I hit play and move my mouse around the website, how is that not enough interaciton? There is nothing to click in the video .. you’re just watching/listening to the information.