Bags of appeal...

   I find that one bag isn't enough so I like a different one for different occasions. I rarely carry a 'typical' handbag outside of work as my staples at these times are cross-body bags. They force me to only carry the essentials and they look cute. I bought these from ASOS as they're sturdy and surprisingly roomy inside. The chain detail and quilted finish also add a chic twist. They can even be turned into big clutches by stuffing the straps inside.

Chick (pea) teacher...

   Remember how I said I'd be trying some new lunch ideas this year? I'm managing to stick to my end of the deal by bringing you my second new lunch experiment of 2015. This has fast become one of my favourite school lunches:

   This colourful concoction comprises chick peas, black-eyed beans/peas, feta, olives, thinly sliced red pepper, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach leaves. A dressing would be a welcome addition, if you're that way inclined. I find that a good sprinkling of black pepper and lemon juice is enough. You could experiment with all sorts of additions to suit your tastebuds.

   I worked my way through this hearty salad while having a lunchtime planning meeting with my colleague. I think the high protein aspect got my creative juices flowing because we had a very productive session!

   As a result, this Chic Teacher has been converted to Chick Teacher for now...

Pre-reading with panache!

  Many of us English teachers live in constant fear of ‘killing' Shakespeare, ‘demolishing' Dickens or ‘crucifying' the classics (is this subconsciously linked to how we experienced the classics in school?). I've found that using drama as a pre-reading activity, before learners grapple with the actual text itself, can generate a buzz and make youngsters more receptive. 

    I am currently creating and teaching units of work on ‘Macbeth' and ‘Frankenstein' with two of my classes (12-14 year olds). I instructed the students to get themselves into small groups. Each group was given a set of cards that contained key words/symbols/ideas from the text. They had to create a drama around these words. To incorporate challenge and differentiation, each group was given a quotation from the novel/play too.They had to interpret this (without my assistance) and incorporate it in any way they saw fit. Those of a higher ability got to grips with more complex quotes and vice-versa applied to those who needed more assistance with their learning. 

    The students got to flex their creative muscles while engaging with important concepts and themes. Some of the learners were miles from the direction of the original text but that really doesn't matter. They were able to connect with these classic stories and make them their own in some way. They were enthused before they'd even read a word of the original, which made them far more receptive. 
     In others words, a job well done!

New year, new look...

I thought I'd welcome the new year with a blog makeover. The happenings of Chic Teacher remain the same but I've just had the equivalent of a fresh lick of paint!

All credit must go to my younger sister who tapped away and made the magic happen. I must also give THE CUTEST BLOG ON THE BLOCK a special mention.

Little improvements and updates will continue to happen until I'm 100% happy with the new look blog (no mean feat). In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the new packaging.

Barmy for sarnies...

First and foremost, I'd like to wish the readers of Chic Teacher a happy new year. Hopefully this year is already gearing up to be the best one yet.

Secondly, let's start as we mean to go on by getting a food fix! I'd like to branch out this year and trial some new school lunch ideas and share the more successful ones with you. Dining options are limited for me as I have wheat and cow's milk intolerances. Making my own lunch gets me round this pesky problem.

This sandwich idea is so simple. You place generous helpings of houmous between lightly toasted slices of bread (mine are wheat-free). Into that goes diced tomato, rocket and a sprinkling of black pepper. You may wish to add avocado and thinly sliced red onion too.

So light. So fresh. So chic.

Festive fuss and frills...

I previously created a post about adding embellishments to envelope seals, the idea being to put a little smile on someone's face before they got to the contents.

During the festive break, I made some apt labels and placed these on the seal of Christmas card envelopes. They were ridiculously simple to make. All you need are white sticky labels, some festive ideas and a steady hand. Once you've unleashed your inner Picasso, cut them out and stick. The best bit is when the recipient is convinced that they are shop bought and crafted by some professional type.

Think again because these are Chic Teacher originals!