Make Your Bed, Finding Audrey, and Fantastic Beasts: 2018 Reading Challenge

I love using OverDrive. When I was younger, I was judgmental of ebooks and audiobooks; however, I have since grown up and love using both. When I work or exercise, I get tired of listening to TV shows, so audiobooks are great for shaking things up. You can listen to them on your computer or on your phone if you have the app.

The first book of the year from OverDrive was Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I thought initially that I was going to be listening to the screenplay that had come out, but this was the textbook that was written. Surprisingly, I loved it. It did help that the guy who plays Newt in the movie was doing the reading and he was super into it. If you need something light, funny, and fast,  this book is perfect.

The second audiobook was Finding Audrey. I normally don't read realistic fiction books, but I was intrigued and downloaded it. This was immensely enjoyable. It is a glimpse into Audrey's life and her family, while she learns to live with her anxiety and depression. I've struggled with anxiety and depression for years and have started down the path to try and live better and not just survive with it. The story does avoid talking about what started Audrey's journey, which can get frustrating, but more real in a way. She is still trying to get better, so it is understandable that she wouldn't want to talk about it yet.

This book was recommended to me by my mom. She read it for a book club and she really enjoyed it. It's an expansion of a speech given at the University of Texas by Admiral William H. McRaven. He goes over different principles that he learned while serving in the Navy SEALS. His points are:
                1. Start your day with a task completed
                2. You can't go it alone
                3. Only the size of your heart matters
                4. Life's not fair, drive on!
                5. Failure can make you stronger
                6. You must dare greatly
                7. Stand up to bullies
                8. Rise up to the occasion
                9. Give people hope
               10. Never, ever quit!
It's a quick read and pretty interesting. Definitely a good book while you're waiting for the doctor or on a short flight.

What are some of your favorite audiobooks or inspirational stories that you've read?

The Way of Kings: 2018 Reading Challenge

I finally finished this 1200 page behemoth...

This is officially the longest book that I have ever read. It took so long, but I am proud of myself for finishing.

Goodreads Preview
From Goodreads: "Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war."

My Thoughts
I'm glad that I've read other stories by Brandon Sanderson before reading this one. It would've been harder to keep up with this one if I hadn't read and enjoyed others. Before reading this one, consider reading other books by this author first.

The only thing I always enjoy was the jumping between characters. There are several characters that get a section of the story and I found myself getting frustrated with the changes because I would want to keep reading about the character. Also, a few of the characters were seen for about a chapter and then not seen again. Why give them that much focus if you aren't going to use them? However, the book is well written enough that if I put the book down for a few days, I could start up again and not forget what was going on (my problem with the Wheel of Time). For me, I can't always read every day so it's important that I don't have to restart multiple times.

There was a lot to enjoy with this story. The scenery is colorful and easy to picture. The characters a varied and interesting. There are even female characters that are exciting to follow. Usually, with books like this, the girls are a bit of a letdown. I didn't particularly like Shallan, but my husband has read the next book and is reading the most recent story and he has said that she gets way better.

Kaladin and Dalinar are probably my top favorite characters so far. Their development is amazing, but they still have their struggles. I love the final scene with Kaladin and Dalinar the best.

What books have you read so far this year?

2018 Reading Challenge Level 3 and 2017 in review

Like many, I can't believe that this year is almost over. It didn't really hit me until I looked over my Goodreads challenge books in review. I didn't quite make the level 3 challenge of last year because I kept getting distracted by other books that I want to read. However, I still have one for the upcoming year. This level has 50 books and two separate versions.

This list can keep even the most book hungry person occupied throughout the year.

With the file size, I have to break it down into separate lists instead of everything on the same list.

How did the challenge go for people this past year? Any favorites I should stick on my radar?

Many of these were re-reads and some were for work.

Worth listening to on audiobook: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
I've read this before with my students and enjoyed it. I get tired of listening to Netflix while I work, so this was a very nice change.

Worth multiple reads: Mistborn Trilogy 1 and 2
The first set of books are on the long side, but they are pretty fun to read and definitely a step up from the usual YA novels floating around. If anything, read part 1 to be able to read Wax's and Wayne's adventures. Steris is reason enough alone to read those books. I haven't related to a character quite that much before.

Worth checking out: The Lunar Chronicles & The Heart of Deception books
All the books in this series are great for at least one read through, except for Fairest. This novella is more than worth skipping and I regret reading it. I can summarize it with this:

Worth skipping...kind of: Caraval
This book was a letdown. The idea of the sisters going into a magical game was intriguing, but the execution fell flat. However, it was good enough that I'd be willing to read the sequel when it comes out.

My list seems to be growing by the day of books to read. I have a couple cued up to finish at the beginning of the new year and have several that I may try. Is Wheel of Time worth the investment? I've tried a couple times, but the book requires an astounding amount of focus that I can't quite give to a book.

Hoping to hear about your year of reading!

2018 Reading Challenge: Level 2 Jogging

I can't believe how crazy life has gotten the last several months. It's been a brutal whirlwind most days. I am hoping that Christmas will be a much-needed break for everyone.

Here is level 2 of the 2018 Reading Challenge. You can start at any level or try to read through all of the levels. Has anyone managed that for 2017?

I've found reading challenges tricky to keep up with, but they are a fun thought. My problem is that I get sidetracked. What are some tips for people who get distracted by other books than ones that fit these lists?

Sometime next week, I will be posting the final level of the challenge. What's a good amount of books for the last level?

Still working through The Way of Kings here, but I also started reading a book my mom recommending called "Make Your Bed." I'll be posting here as soon as I finish, so stay tuned!

2018 Reading Challenge: Walking and Christmas Decimal Multiplication and Division

Last year's reading challenge seemed to be very popular! I am going to hold off on reviewing the year as a whole since we still have a few weeks ahead of us. However, I do want to begin introducing the new challenge.

I like having the kids' options too on these challenges. Parents, grandparents, or whoever can choose to read with a kid in their lives or have their kids do the challenge and go against them trying to see who finishes first. There are a number of ways to use these.

I will continue to use Goodreads to track what I have been reading. If you'd like to continue book discussions or see what I am reading before I post here, add me here (I think).

Next week, I will post about level 2 for this year!

Teachers Pay Teachers
I continue to be amazed by the growth I am seeing on Teachers Pay Teachers. Not only is it fun to do, but I love seeing feedback on how much students have been enjoying the pages.

I semi-recently finished a set of decimal multiplication and division pages that I am quite proud of. These puzzles help keep math review fun instead of repeated practice and problems.

If anyone on here is ever interested in a free sample, shoot me a message and I'll send you a page with the answer key. Consider it a blog-reader only special!

2018 LDS Primary Planning Pages, Christmas Multiplication and Division , and Reading Challenge Update

Primary Presidency Planner
Life has been a bit of a kick in the pants lately. I was called as primary president about 2 months ago and we are still getting things in order. I think once the program is out of the way, I'll be able to rest a bit easier.

I've been on the hunt for a primary planning binder for my presidency and me to use, but I haven't found any that I particularly love. There are some super cute ones on Etsy, but they just don't seem like ones I'd really use. So, I've taken bits and pieces from free planners that I liked and have been working on building my own.

I want to be sure that we keep the scripture for the month in mind, so I made sure to include it a few times throughout the pages.

I found a pretty similar idea here at Little LDS Ideas and modified it a bit so that it is more my style.

I also have a basic notes page with spaces to track presidency goals, important dates, and other things that you may want to keep track of.

This is still a work in progress. I am hoping to have it ready for our kick off in January. I'm pretty excited to use it.

What are some of your favorite ways to stay organized as a presidency? If you are interested in having the binder pages, email me at ashtonsmith026@gmail.com and I'll happily send what I've got!

A TPT Christmas

I've been getting a lot of great feedback from teachers that have purchased my mystery picture activities. Seeing the feedback is pretty encouraging and I'm glad to be providing something that is useful to teachers that students enjoy.

When I've taught in the past, I always had a handful of students that struggled with mastering their multiplication and division facts. The only way I could get them to learn them was to have some sort of practice every day in a variety of ways. For the holidays, I have put together a pack of Christmas sheets for multiplication and division practice, plus two sheets that combine both multiplication and division.

What are other ways you incorporate multiplication and division into your classroom?

2017 Reading Challenge: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
I really wish I liked this book more. I've seen Fangirl recommended on a bunch of Pinterest boards and finally gave in to picking it. Full disclosure, I listened to the audiobook since I haven't been able to hit the library. Also, I'm not going to hide any spoilers so if you continue, you've been warned.

What I liked:
I liked the overall premise of the book. Cath is a fanfiction writer about to start college. She is introverted and deals with anxiety. The story is about her navigating college, family, and friends. I've been reading a lot of dystopian fantasy lately, so this was a nice change.

The characters and their relationships were interesting for the most part. Cath and Wren's complicated relationship kept me hoping that they would patch things up. Reagan's and Levi's interactions with Cath were also fun to read. Both are nice to Cath and help her to open up more. Cath's and Wren's relationship with their father was also a draw for me.

The scenes with the fiction professor were also enjoyable. I like that she didn't just favor Cath, but made her work for her grades. I also appreciated that she gives Cath a second chance with the final project when Cath doesn't turn it in during finals week.

What I hated:
I absolutely hated the descriptions of Levi and Nick. Nick sounded like he needed a good pluck job on his eyebrows. Levi's description made me think of this:

but with a badly receding hairline. Whenever their looks were brought up, I wasn't convinced that Cath liked either of them.

Simon Snow was dumb and did nothing for the plot. The sections of fan fiction that we got were pointless. Also, if it was supposed to be the book version of Harry Potter, why does Harry Potter exist in that universe too? Makes no sense.

This book had absolutely no plot. It was just Cath being thrown into situations and having her react to those situations.

This book doesn't really show what it means to be part of a fandom. It was just Cath and her fans. The book doesn't show the community behind it. I had trouble believing the series was as big as the book made it seem. All we see is Cath.

I also couldn't stand Cath's character development. She is a bit winy at different parts of the book and she was too stuck on fanfiction. Seriously, if your professor gives you a second chance on a project, you take it. Who would be like, no way I am meant to write fanfiction and I do it better than the actual author, anyway? You can't make money off fan fiction. You can't have a real career out of fanfiction.

In the end, this book deserved 2 1/2 stars from me.

2018 Reading Challenge
In the next several weeks, I'll be posting a 2018 Reading Challenge and an overall review of the books I've read this past year. Keep an eye out!

Murder on the Orient Express Review and Thanksgiving Multiplication and Division Mystery Pics

There has been a lot going on lately, which everyone will probably be hearing about in later posts. Baby A and I got back from visiting my parents in Chicago. While we were there, I went with my mom and sister to see the new version of Murder on the Orient Express (my dad babysat).

About six months ago, my mom introduced C and me to Hercule Poirot and Murder on the Orient Express as done by David Suchet. I found it slow but intriguing. I was hooked on the character and the series. When I heard they were remaking the movie, I was ecstatic. The cast was interesting and I enjoyed the first, so why not this one?

My biggest shock was that Hercule Poirot....

is also....

Gilderoy Lockhart.

I didn't actually know until my mom and sister were talking about it afterward. He's aged pretty well!.

I should warn that I did fall asleep for a few minutes during the movie. In defense of the movie, I have not had a good night's sleep in years and it has been worse due to my anxiety with my new church calling. The theater was also switching between super hot and icy cold. I fell asleep during the warm part.

The soundtrack of the movie was well done. I feel like it fit and blended with each scene nicely. It stuck out just enough to add more to the scene, but it wasn't overbearing.

The overall cast performance was great! I should warn that you shouldn't compare this against past versions of the movie. Each edition should be enjoyed separately and on their own merits. It's like trying to compare an apple, an orange, and a banana. All 3 are great fruits, but they aren't truly the same thing and should be enjoyed for what they have.

I really liked the one David Suchet version. He is a phenomenal Poirot and does fit the image I had in my head as I read the book.

I really enjoyed Kenneth Branagh's performance too. I felt like more of Poirot's sense of humor came through. I also liked seeing Poirot's love of food come through. With Suchet's Poirot, you knew about the interest in food, but you didn't always see it. With Branagh's performance, I felt like some of the smaller things about Poirot came through nicely.

In the end, is the movie worth seeing? I'd say yes and I would definitely add this movie to our ever-growing movie collection.

Is it worth seeing in the movie theater? It's hard for me to say for sure. I do enjoy the movie theater experience, but I also like being able to watch from home. It's nice to be able to pause the movie if we need to, eat dinner while we watch, etc.

Does this movie deserve the scores it has been getting? Not at all! This is a very well done movie and worth the watch. People have become desensitized from all of the destruction and sex-laden films. This is a show great for anyone.

What are your thoughts on Murder on the Orient Express? Share them below.

Teachers Pay Teachers: Thanksgiving Edition

I've been developing more math coloring worksheets for my TPT store. I've been getting a lot of great feedback from teachers and the pages seem to be helping, which is wonderful. It's not worth it to make and post these sheets if they don't add to instruction.

Check it out here!

I am excited about my new design for my higher level math sheets. I think it makes it easier to make them and I think they are easier to solve.

What are some of your favorite things to do in class during Thanksgiving? Share below!