Dressing for Teacher Success!

I am not paid by these businesses.  I linked them because I liked their designs and hoped it would make it easier for you to find them online. ​

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Teacher Fit
As an elementary school teacher  you might picture the classic overalls adorned with apples.  Although I never had a teacher wear anything like this, it’s what I image a later in life teacher wearing.  So when you walk into my classroom and see me sporting a funny teaching tee, matching dangly earrings, popping a ponytail, and striding the room in my best athletic shoes, you might think you have the wrong room.  I’ve got some great teaching fit!  

Everything is strategic, from my math partners to my outfits.  The most important part to my attire has to be the signature buy in piece.  This is the item that kids look at first thing in the morning when I greet them.  It tells them what we are learning for the day or some exciting event they are about to participate in.  This is the item that builds excitement and gets the kids predicting what amazing things they are going to experience for the day.  

So what has the power to bring the magic to your class without saying a word?  It can be as simple as the cool tee I made the week before or the earrings I designed and painted.  Make it funny!  Use symbols!  Find or make a tee that matches what you are teaching but make sure it is creative or humorous!  Working on geometry - “If you were an angle, you’d be acute one!”  Did the kids earn a Water Day reward?  Pop in a pair of shark earrings.  Keep them guessing and keep it fun. ​

I’m super cheap so I make my own tees and earrings.  I don’t sell the shirts but I do sell my earrings at www.delaneycation.etsy.com.  There are a million and one ideas out there for you to use as inspiration.  When you first start out with your teacher fit you will probably want to space out the gear you buy so you can slowly add to your collection throughout the years.   When I first started, I would sport a new tee one week and a new pair of earrings the next.  The kids love it.  ​

What about the ponytail and athletic shoes?  I work the entire room all day long so having supportive shoes is a must.  Plus you never know when your kids might need an extra player on the field during recess and wearing the right shoes is key.  The ponytail comes into play when I have a side by side helper session with a student, the last thing they want is my massive amount of locks brushing up against their bare arm.  I keep myself to myself. ​

Middle and High School Teachers
Is this too kiddy for you?  No way!  They love it at this age too!  Some of the best teacher shirts are for high school.  They are the funniest ones I have seen on Etsy.  Whenever I go straight to one of my middle school kids' events wearing my fit, my kid’s cringe but their friends think my outfits are funny as hell!  My son wore one of my math shirts for extra credit.  ​

Happy Teaching,
​Karen Delaney