Hello everyone! I will be beginning my first job as a Kindergarten teacher this August. Any tips on what to wear? I want to look professional (esp. since I'm young looking), but I also be comfortable and weather appropriate (it will be pretty hot for the first month or so of school). What do you typically wear to school during the hot months?
Right now, on Sunday afternoon, hit Penneys or Kohls or wherever you shop. The post- 4th of July sales are on, and those summer clothes will get you from the start of school until fall. (Around here that means September until Columbus day.) I'm in high school, and I frequently wear suits-- probably not the kind of wardrobe you'll want I'm thinking that long cotton skirts and T's would be comfortable, professional, and suitable for a Kindergarten teacher. Don't forget shoes. You'll want to maintain that professional image, but you'll be on your feet all day.
I am not a very fashionable person, so you don't need to take my advice, but I wear capris and short sleeved shirts (plain cotton t-shirts or other casual shirts) or slacks and casual shirts. I dress it up with jewelry sometimes. I used to wear lots of skirts (long, not short so you don't have to worry when you're sitting on the floor). When I first started teaching I wore those jumper dresses but I'm pretty sure they went out of style and I haven't worn them in years. I wear Keens sandals exclusively until the weather turns cold. On Fridays I wear jeans and a school t-shirt and tennis shoes. Whatever you wear, remember you'll be doing lots of bending, leaning, and moving around. And lots of little hands are likely to be touching you.
I wear a lot if capris with dressy ts or short sleeve button down shirts. I wear Clark's brand or Sofft shoes, both have great sandals that I can wear all day with no hurting feet. If you wear skirts/dresses, get them on the long side, between sitting and bending over short stuff is out. Also, make sure nothing is low cut, bending over little tables makes your shirt gape. Spend your money more on comfortable shoes and pants that fit and fill in the shirts with sales and stores like Target and Old Navy. While you're our, pick up a few camisoles to wear under anything low cut.
Find out your school's dress code! At my school capris are not appropriate & neither are sandals or any open-toed shoe. We also cannot have bare legs or tank tops. I tend to wear pants with a nice top. I use to wear long skirts, but I stopped wearing them.
Good tips! Thank you! I'll look into what the school's dress code is too- probably a smart thing to do!
After you get in, check out what the other teachers are wearing, and take some tips from there. Whatever you choose to wear, make sure you are comfty and professional looking. Congrats on your first teaching job! Rebel1
I like Alice's suggestion. Also on the skirts, make sure they're not TOO long either. I bought two ankle length ones last year b/c I was teaching pre-k in summer school- I thought I was being smart, but BAD idea. I was always stepping on them when I tried to get up off the floor, and if I knelt down the kids would step on them when they got close to me- I was always worried they were going to get pulled down! In the winter I like to wear dresses with tights and flat boots- super comfortable and with the tights you know you're definitely covered, lol.
You've had some great suggestions so far! Most of the year I wear dress pants and nice short sleeved tops. I get a lot of my tops from Maurices or JCP. Kohls is good too. There's a lot of bending over, leaning down, etc. in K so make sure you have well-fitting clothes to allow for all that movement. In other words, make sure if you're reaching up or bending down that your shirts aren't riding up or pants are staying where they should. Capris are great for beginning and end of year when it gets hot, if your school allows it. The ones I usually wear are not denim, more of a khaki. Comfortable flats are good and during the winter I mostly wear some comfy black Dr. Scholl's shoes. Even if you have just basics, it's sometimes fun to dress it up with a little jewelry. The kids always love my fun necklaces too!! Have fun back-to-school shopping!!
My typical teacher wardrobe is a clean hoodie or tshirt and jeans, and some comfy ugg-style boots I love my not-so-formal small town school!
I wear a lot of capris in the fall and spring. I love comfy dress pants and nice short sleeve shirts...I have some sweaters, but my room gets very hot, so I don't wear them often For shoes, I wear kids' sizes )) so I'm probably no help, but I agree on going for comfort. As a 2nd grade teacher, I am often on the floor (although probably not as much as you!) and being comfy but looking professional is a must!
I would love to come work in Alaska with you Puff!!! Capri's and a nice shirt were typical wear for me when I taught K. I hated skirts because no matter what length you were constantly worried about what was happening to your clothes. I usually wore Clark's too for shoes, mainly sandels. I met a K teacher once who wore heels daily. The two inch kind too. She was short without them so I always say to each his or her own.
Keep an apron at school for messy activities. Wear whatever is professional and appropriate for your school.
I'll be teaching prek this year. I live in Florida and plan to start the school year in nice capris and shirts. I like New York and Company because they have great sales and bright clothes. I'll wear a lot of comfortable flats.. brown and black leather flats are my staple shoes, but I also like to mix it up with funky/multi-colored flats sometimes... I think they look cute with slacks and a solid shirt in a coordinating color. I also need to find a cute apron to protect my clothes during crafts. I taught 2nd grade before taking a 3 year break to stay home with my babies... this is what I wore then too.
I am feeling incredibly lucky that we were allowed to wear jeans when we wanted, and sneakers! However, who knows with our new principal
That's how it was at my old school. The new school where I am going has a much more formal dress code. No jeans allowed. I also think open-toed shoes (I just accidentally wrote "open-toad"...lol) are not allowed either.
Don't forget to check your school's policy on capri length if there is any. At my school, the capris must be long enough to still cover your knee while sitting. Have you checked Pinterest? There are some wonderful professional looks that can give you some ideas.
I go for a lot of shirts that are made of the polyester/cotton mix... these are great because you dont have to iron them. I base the majority of my clothes choices around very lil prep time such as ironing them for late mornings! I wear a lot of funky colorful shirts... and I have basic bottoms of black, brown, grey and khaki color pants and capri pants. My shirts vary from short sleeves to long sleeves for the summer. Occassionally I dress it up with bracelets, necklaces, earrings. Comfy shoes and sandals and you should be off to a great start.
I teach pre-k and I usually wear a dress with leggings and flats. Comfy and it works for me, but dresses aren't for everyone.
I wear mostly capris in the spring and fall and then pants in the cooler weather. I spend all of my time on the floor and find that pants are the best for me.
We dont have a dress code at my school, anything goes! A few K teachers wear jeans and sloppy t's every day. Then a few more of us like to dress up. It's very hot here when we start in mid August, so we wear capri's (I have about 12, all colors) and bermuda shorts that almost hit the knee. Both look professional with sleeveless or short sleeved cool tops, sandals, and cute jewelry. We can wear any kind of shoes, most of us wear tennis shoes, but I hate them! I wear sandals, but the kind that have at least a strap in the back, and not the kind that go between your toes. Also make sure your toes are done! I agree with everyone above. Nothing worse than bending over and having to hold your blouse to your chest all day. I used to wear skirts too, but got to be a pain. Have fun! Kindergarten is the best grade to teach!!
I taught Kindergarten this past year and the school let kinder teachers wear jeans everyday. I usually wore jeans, a pair of converse (I have them in like 7 different colors), and a school shirt (spirit tshirt or collared shirt with school logo). Very comfortable... But I know all schools aren't like this.
The other thing that drives me crazy about teachers of young children is when they bend over and their pants slip down in the back revealing the plumbers crack. SO frustrating.
Since you will be very active, comfort is key. I am young (23), and in order to remain appropriate, I had to realize that some of those "trendier" stores were not going to cut it for a school wardrobe. Places like Ann Taylor Loft, Gap, Banana Republic, Kohls and Marshalls/TJ Maxx are all great places to find more modest attire while still being stylish and hip. I wear flats pretty much everyday, and I make sure they have a cushy, thick sole and arch support. Born, Clarks and Sofft all make great comfy shoes. Since you're teaching kinder, I recommend keeping a stash of hair ties in your desk (if your hair is longer). I work with eighth graders now, but when I worked with little ones, I was always leaning over to help them and my hair would get in the way. Pinterest has some great ideas for styling your hair into non-boring ponytails.
The hair tie stash is a pretty good idea. Some days I am without and end up pulling mine back with a rubber band if it starts to drive me crazy!! I'll have to remember to stash some this year!
Also make sure your skirts aren't too short. If you sit in a chair with the kids at your feet and your skirt isn't long enough to cover your knees, the kids will have a straight shot up your skirt.
