Hello!

So, I have this current problem in my dreaming state that I KNOW I'm dreaming because things are there in my dream that in my normal waking life, isn't there. I'll supply you with an example from last night. Last night, I had a dream that was researching a volcano that when it erupted, a large black rock (like from the ABC show, The Whispers) came out from the top standing straight up. Some of my partners on the case were none other than the (2003 version) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But, the thing is, is that I can feel my subconscious in the veeeery back of my mind saying, 'Hey, this isn't right. The TMNT's aren't real! I must be dreaming!' But, as I've read on many other websites, I don't get that sudden spark that causes me to do a reality check, or puts me in the dream when I realize that I am dreaming. Instead, the dream just continues on like normal.

Now, my question is, how do I 'tap' into my dream by acknowledging that I am indeed dreaming? Like I said, I know I am sometimes, but I never become lucid with it, therefore I can't do a reality check to make sure. I remember 98% of my dreams, write in a dream journal, and I do about 10 reality checks a day, and I do various ones. I do the blocking nose technique, the finger through the palm one, the double checking the clock one, and if I'm alone, hopping in the air and willing myself to float. I've been told that I'm doing my reality checks wrong, but I don't know how else to do them. In short, I ask myself if I'm dreaming, do the action, WILL it to happen and observe my surroundings, then conclude that I am not dreaming at the moment. What am I doing wrong?

Can anybody please help me out? c: