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DD got the job! Starts Monday. Teachers, please advise

shiny

Veteran

My DD got a middle school teaching assistant job and she starts on Monday! She's been working at a summer camp for years, making it up to Camp Director, and was offered the TA job just a few weeks ago through her camp connections.

We are going shopping for a work wardrobe this weekend. Teachers, teaching assistants, please advise where we should shop, what basic pieces we should acquire, to build a capsule.... bonus points for links to specific items in the stores now so we can shop efficiently!

She does have some basic work items already from her college internships, but those internships were in publishing, and may be a bit dressy. Whereas her summer camp clothes (jeans and tee shirts) may not be dressy enough.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from VioletMyra

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

That's great- congrats to her! My own DD just did her first summer as a junior counselor at a camp. It's nice to hear that the connections made through that can lead somewhere.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Not a teacher, but...
How old is she/does she look? If she looks young, it is more important to look a little more put together/older so that she gets respect.

If she looks young I'd go for pants over jeans, etc.

I've seen/heard middle schoolers both railroad over young teachers and ask them out!

If she doesn't look really young you should still check whether or not jeans are okay.
It also may differ depending on geography.

Nice slacks and a shirt that isn't sheer/short/plunging. Skirts that aren't short even if you bend to talk with a student who is sitting at a desk. Same test to make sure tops don't show too much in that position.

Maybe mix some of her internship clothing with some more nice casual elements to extend her wardrobe.

shiny

Veteran

She does look young (baby face) but she's super curvy, 34DD... no mistaking she's an adult in that regard! She knows she needs to cover up the cleavage for this job, and that's a struggle as higher necklines aren't as flattering.

She is an IT with very broad swimmer's shoulders (she swam for years), big upper arms, tiny waist, and muscular thighs. Fit-wise, she has the most trouble fitting her arms, shoulders, and chest. If something fits her upper arms, it is likely to be too low under the arms. She's about 5'4" so on the cusp with petites, but generally does better in regular department. She likes to show off her waist and feels shapeless in anything that doesn't show it off.

I am thinking we should focus on a simple capsule for September that includes:

1) One pair of black pants
2) One black skirt
3) 3-4 blouses (augmented or including ones she already owns from her internship)
4) 1-2 dresses
5) New pair of comfortable, flat shoes that will go with above

All machine washable....

She's being advised no jeans but she has plenty of nice jeans in the event it turns out it's okay to wear them, like on Friday...

shiny

Veteran

Chewy, DD started as junior counselor way back when... at the same camp that she'd been a camper. So did her sister. The two of them continued onward working at the camp every summer. This DD (my younger, aka DD#2) got promoted eventually into Camp Director position and has been doing that every summer in college.

She's not sure she wants to go on to get her Masters but doing this TA job for a year will allow her to explore that possibility.

She's just a little stressed right now as it came together pretty fast and she goes from the camp job to the TA job without any time in between! Hence we need to be super efficient this weekend and have a solid game plan for shopping!

L'Abeille

Veteran

I had the identical questions for the forum regarding my daughter 2 years ago. She discovered that middle school teachers (at least in her small Quebec city) dressed more casually than we had expected. I think she ended up wearing a blazer with everything, but she is a proto-hipster.

Edited to add, here is the link.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....obe-wanted

Becky

Veteran

She will need VERY comfortable shoes for many hours on her feet. Ideally, at least 3 pairs to rotate, not only for the longevity of the shoes, but also because each pair of shoes makes the feet sit a slightly different way, and you have less long-term fatigue if this changes day to day.

Depending on the building and how much control they have over the temperature, she may want to make sure she has cardigans and/or jackets that coordinate with outfits so she always has a topper for extra warmth.

My teaching uniform includes stretchy jersey dresses, which I wear with bare legs in warmer weather, capri leggings in transitional weather, and leggings with knee-high boots in cold weather. I have coordinating cardigans and/or jackets for extra warmth if needed. I also have a few basic colors of trousers (black, gray) that coordinate with a number of tops each.

El Cee

Veteran

Shiny -- I am not, myself, a teacher. However, a close friend's daughter just finished her first year in a high school aide/mentor type position with AmeriCorps. If I recall, she did quite well with Express, Loft and Gap. You may want to start with those stores. Express and Loft have lots of good basic business casual options at affordable prices. Banana Republic might also have some nice selections.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

My one question is does the school have a dress code?
Lots of good advice already!

I teach at a private school and 2 of my neighbors teach at middle schools. Causal is very much the norm in all of our teaching environments, jeans are worn by almost everyone at some point. We also have teachers that wear aloha shirts and shorts (nearly all year), knits, sports wear, and lots of fleece. I'm in a creative dept, so creative clothing is almost required and I wear lots of accessories, I generally dress up more than the average instructor. We are a college prep school, but very independent, with no real dress code.

Comfortable is key, and clothing that moves as we are always running around with students. I wear jeans of all types, but no holes, and more often darker denim.
I prefer V-necks & boat necks, (but I make sure there is no cleavage, which can be a challenge sometimes)
A graphic T-shirt is fun to wear, but I will typically pair it with jeans and a blazer jacket just for a bit more structure.

I generally wear:
-jeans/knit top/jacket, cardigan or blazer, scarf
-jersey black skirts or skirted leggings, jewelry, various tops
-knit dress, vest, leather jackets
-low boots, booties, sneakers, oxfords

Comfortable shoes are of course a must. Popular styles: Nike, NB sneakers, Dansko, Merrells, ankle boots

Susie

Veteran

My younger DD also works as Program Director at a camp! She worked there part time through college and grad school. It is also a conference center- and this year they added a preschool- so since she graduated it's a full time year round position and she loves it.

I think your list is a great start. Maybe add a couple of lightweight toppers, either cardigans or soft jackets. A vest would be a fun and trendy addition too.

Lenni A

Different schools can have quite different "school cultures" with regards to formality of dress. I taught at two schools in the same state, within about 30 miles of each other. One was much more casual than the other. At the more formal school, many teachers wore suits, blazers, men in ties. Jeans were allowed on Friday but I was only comfortable with dark wash trouser styles paired with a blazer and dressy shoes. At the casual school, some teachers even wore casual khaki shorts, polo-type shirts and gear-sandals in the classroom. Both were public schools with no uniform for students. I couldn't believe the difference! Your daughter may want to wait a few weeks to see what styles are typical, or frowned upon, at her new job.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Congrats to your daughter! I am a teacher, and most of us dress very casually (a little too casually if you ask me). Teaching Assistant's generally dress more casually than the teachers.

The most important thing is to wear comfortable shoes! Other than that, it's wear whatever looks somewhat professional and is comfortable. Most teachers and TA's don't get too dressy. I wear a lot of skirts and cropped pants in fall and spring, and sweater dresses in the winter. Tops that don't gape open when you lean over a student's desk are pretty important too. My school has a "dress down day" during which you can wear jeans, but most teachers and TA's wear them other days too. I like to wear dark wash jeans as I think it looks more professional.

Is the school where she will be working an old building? Mine is, and temperatures in those old buildings can fluctuate greatly. Blasting hot in one part, freezing in another. She might find herself having to wear sleeveless shirts in the middle of winter. And if there's no air conditioning, it can be very hot in autumn or spring. Sleeveless tops, a cardigan or blazer, anything you can layer is always a good idea.

I put a link to some of the things I'll be wearing this fall and some of the items I wore last school year.

Banana Republic

Ryan-Fit Denim Pant

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

3

Alfani Petite Skinny Zip-Pocket Pants, Only at Macy's

View Info

Top Pick

1

View Info

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2

Colourblock Skirt

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Top Pick

8

Tommy Hilfiger Plaid V-Neck Sweater Dress

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Top Pick

8

Calvin Klein Cowl-Neck Marled Sweater Dress

View Info

Top Pick

2

Factory printed drapey sleeveless popover shirt

View Info

Top Pick

6

Banana Republic

Factory Print V-Hem Blouse

View Info

Top Pick

2

Brooks Brothers

Non-Iron Tailored Fit Dress Shirt

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Top Pick

12

Vince Camuto Midi Tube Skirt (Regular & Petite)

View Info

Top Pick

10

Halogen Long Side Slit Cardigan (Regular & Petite)

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

8

Jen W

Congratulations to your DD! When I was first in the classroom, I favored a small capsule like this as well. As an IT I wore a lot of sleeveless tops with high necklines, sometimes even sleeveless turtlenecks if I could find them. That way my shoulders had enough room and I looked less like the high necklines were strangling me (for me, sleeves plus high neckline equals visible discomfort). I'd pair these with a skirt or slacks, a cardigan or a ponte blazer, and very comfortable wedge shoes. Flats are very hard to stand in all day and a 1" heel can be much more comfortable. I also used scarves to fill in any necklines that were below my collar bones. Good luck shopping!

shiny

Veteran

Karie - thanks for those links!!!

Vix

Veteran

Shiny -- congrats to your daughter!

Not much to add to the great advice upthread, but wanted to say that as someone who tends to find high necklines unflattering except when a lot of other conditions are present BUT who wants to avoid exposure I wear a high-/higher-necked demi-cami under almost everything. I swear loose shirts that seem the most proper are the worst offenders when bending slightly....Anyway, a contrasting color will carve out that upper torso a bit to prevent total boxiness.

Second Base is the spendier brand (and I'm a fan) but Amazon has knockoffs IIRC.

Good luck to her!

tulle

Veteran

Congratulations to your daughter, Shiny! My daughter taught middle school with TFA a few years ago, and we did a shopping spree before she left for her new job: J. Crew and local consignment shops were the most helpful. She bought knee-length skirts and dresses and good tailored shirts & trousers that were fashionable without being too trendy. Teachers are on their feet most of the day, so comfortable shoes were paramount--wedges seemed to suit her needs best. I remember that she put a lot of emphasis on looking approachable, but professional (you don't want to dress like your students) and on practicality; everything in her teaching wardrobe was washable.

Echo

Veteran

I have to agree that so much depends on the school culture and dress code. The position also makes a huge difference. It goes without saying that the phy ed department wears more casual clothing in our building than everyone else. The younger grade elementary teachers are also much more casual because they are finger-painting and on the floor with students. Our building also seems to become much more casual when warm weather hits.

Our building has an unwritten code that jeans and/or sneakers are not allowed except on Fridays. But ponte pants are fine, as are leggings as long as the rest of the outfit is appropriate, and shoes can be very casual as long as they are not out-and-out lace up sneakers. Oh, and depending on the climate, her building may run hot or cold or it may depend on the season. The teachers on our second floor are hot all year 'round, while our 4th and 5th grade rooms are near an exit door and get very chilly in the winter. Our building currently does not have a/c, so the first weeks back and the last weeks before school lets out in the spring can be very warm.

Good luck to your DD! I hope she loves her new position and loves her students!

Gaylene

Veteran

Over 30 years in classrooms from elementary to university. My tips:

Really comfortable shoes with support are essential because you'll be on your feet for hours. This is where to spend $$$; otherwise you'll be miserable and so will your students.

No club wear (obviously), but it's also wise to avoid anything that resembles something that might be worn by your middle-school students. Your life will be easier if your clothes identify you as a teacher instead of a student; once your students respect you in your role as a teacher, your appearance becomes less critical.

Check your clothes from ALL angles, including the rear view. Kids WILL notice everything.

Don't be afraid of color. It can set the tone for your interactions with students. An all black outfit might look chic, but can be awfully depressing and even intimidating. On the other hand, a pretty blue sweater can make a dull topic seem more bearable from a student perspective. Be careful of patterns, though. Kids can read weird things into seemingly abstract patterns.

Lastly, the most important tip: Wear clothes that you don't need to think about once you've put them on. You want to put your focus on your students instead of fussing with your clothes. And only wear clothes with a high happiness factor--teaching adolescents is hard work and happy teachers are good teachers.

viva

Veteran

Congrats to your daughter, Shiny! My older daughter is a teacher in a charter school in NYC with a very strict teacher dress code (modest, professional, etc.). She dresses like Karie but on a tighter budget. I think you've gotten really good advice here. Good luck!

Momo

Veteran

Congratulations to her!
Good advice here
I just second the check every angle ( kids do indeed notice everything)
And make sure nothing reads as sexy .
I think at first a little more severe is fine. Then one can loosen up as you gain your footing with classroom management,

April

Veteran

Virtually all public school districts have dress codes for their teachers. My district's basic rules for women were no denim (even though the stretch pants that many of the teachers wore were far less dressy than trouser jeans would have been) and no open-toed shoes (though, again, open-toed pumps would have been far dressier than some of the closed-toed shoes I saw.)

For the men, either dress shirt and tie or polo shirt. Dress pants or khakis.

You're getting good advice about avoiding anything resembling clubwear or exercise clothing. Those were the biggest mistakes I saw the young staff making in schools: too sexy or too yoga.

If DD would like to be offered a full-time staff position eventually, it would be wise to dress slightly more professionally than most of the female staff. Find a stylish (but NOT overly sexy) teacher or other professional (school psychologist, principal, guidance counselor) and emulate her wardrobe.

shiny

Veteran

Thanks all!

To those who mentioned dress codes, the school district from what I perceive is a bit upscale but it's still a public school, not private. It is comparable to the school she attended growing up, and the camp she's worked at for years.

She got some guidance to hold off a bit on Fall clothes like sweaters until she knows what classrooms she'll be assigned to, and whether they are hot or drafty. She runs hot generally anyway, so sweaters aren't on our shopping list right now.

I think the plan of attack will be shoes first, then pants that aren't jeans. She has a much easier time finding pants compared to me, so that shouldn't be too difficult. I think I'd like to get her to try some ponte knit pants since she already loves leggings for their comfort.

Tops are trickier to fit, but she does already have a wardrobe of cami's since she's used to layering to cover up already, and has a few dressier blouses from her prior internships.

Wish us luck!

unfrumped

Veteran

Good luck!
I wish teachers and office workers would be less casual than they are, when casual looks like Saturday loungewear!
You've gotten great advice.
I think the key will be to do this small capsule that feels good and confident, and a bit conservative, for the first couple of weeks and tolerate repeats of good basics, and plan a second trip in 2-4 weeks. Use this weekend as scouting and make some mental ( or smartphone!) notes, too so that she knows, if item A turns out to be really appropriate, she knows where to get a dupe or go back for the second color and such, or if there were a spendier item you passed up but later find out it would be perfect you can get it then. Also trying some things on for Retail Reaseach for sizing is good because can order later online during a sale.

VioletMyra

I worked in two different school districts in CA and both had similar dress codes for all staff regardless of position/role - no jeans for either gender, no sleeveless tops or belly baring tops for women, closed in shoes for reasons of OH&S.
The most popular garments were A-line and straight skirts with a nice blouse worn with wedges or a low heel. Garments were knee length or just below.
Best wishes
Denise