Starting teaching can bring on anxiety, but I find a bit of prep in certain ways helps ease those nerves. One of which is making sure you are dressed to teach.
I try to wear yellow when I can in the classroom so that my personality and happiness can infect my students.
Important note before I provide advice:
In this day and age, things are a little more flexible and openminded in terms of the way teachers and employers choose to portray themselves or see themselves, and this is why I would like to point out from the get-go that I am always open and encouraging with how people wish to do this. My advice should be read with an understanding this comes from ten years+ teaching and what I personally see as a professional manner that I would like to portray myself as.
1. Wear clothes that you cannot see up, down and through
This piece of advice was given to me during my training, and it has stuck with me. It is something I always remember when purchasing new clothes.
What I mean by 'up' is:
I look for a dress, shorts, pants or skirts that I cannot see up when sitting down, in particular. At knee level or below is suitable, in my opinion.
What I mean by 'down' is:
I look for tops and dresses that do not have a low cut revealing a lot of my chest area. I try to find outfits that sit around the clavicle area and aren't too baggy where it would fall open and expose my chest too much if I am bending over.
What I mean by 'through' is:
I look for tops, pants, dresses, skirts and shorts that I cannot see through so students can't see my underwear or body.
2. Wear clothes that you won't fidget with
It's important to feel comfortable in your outfit. If you are constantly pulling your top up or adjusting your pants, you are distracting the students for a moment. When I say this, it isn't a sexual matter, it's just that when you move an object, naturally the eye will divert its attention to that place instinctually to make sure that the body isn't being threatened. When the students do that, they have to have the ability to bring their focus back to their work, and sometimes this doesn't happen. Imagine fidgeting with your clothes 50 times in class, that is 50 times when a student briefly looks and then has to bring their attention back to their work.
As a dancer teacher as well, it is quite important that you wear suitable gear to dance in. If you are fidgeting with your clothes, the students see this rather than the dance shapes you want to express to them. It also role models to them that their own outfit isn't important, and they will likely wear clothes that they fidget with when dancing and they will lose the shapes and sequences that they should be applying to their dance.
I've always liked how teachers wear flowy skirts and t-shirts. It is a less formal look, but if you pair it with a blazer or tidy cardigan, it can look really tidy and professional.
3. A T-shirt tucked into a long flowy skirt can be dressed up and dressed down
I've always liked how teachers wear flowy skirts and t-shirts. It is a less formal look, but if you pair it with a blazer or tidy cardigan, it can look really tidy and professional. It isn't particularly suitable for active subjects, but I do think it is a great way to show a flowy and fun personality.
4. Be prepared that you will blend in if you are young, short and/or trendy
I had this issue a lot when first starting out as a teacher and it is ok to be a young and trendy teacher, however when students are trying to identify the leader in the classroom, they have to look around for them or ask where they are. I think when you learn to command a room and are known as the trusted expert in the classroom, appearance has some influence on developing that (when you first start off as a teacher). So, I think, it is ok to be trendy and wear the clothes that depicts who you are, but also add details that can help separate you from the students e.g., a blazer, lanyards
Owning a black blazer or coloured blazer is a fantastic item to have on your teaching toolbelt. It is an item of clothing that always looks like formal wear but can be paired well with something less formal and balances out the appearance of the entire outfit.
5. Have a go-to-item of clothing that can be worn over anything e.g., a blazer or cardigan
Owning a black blazer or coloured blazer is a fantastic item to have on your teaching toolbelt. It is an item of clothing that always looks like formal wear but can be paired well with something less formal and balances out the appearance of the entire outfit. If I have a spaghetti strapped dress which doesn't follow the rules of the school, I will add the blazer, so I am not showing off too much of my skin and it looks really nice together.
6. Colours represent emotions and are a great way to represent your personality
When going to an interview or when at school, I like to wear bright colours. It is a proven fact that colours represent different moods and emotions and when you wear these colours you can make you and others feel a certain mood or emotion. Yellow in particular, like my company's colours, is bright and it represents happiness, cheerfulness and sunshine. I try to wear yellow when I can in the classroom so that my personality and happiness can infect my students.
Red = Danger, angry, love and lust
Orange = Harvest and autumn
Yellow = Happiness and sunshine
Green = Education, life, growth, envy, greed
Blue = The ocean, expansion, calm
Purple = Royalty and power
Black = Mystery and formality
Grey = Gloom, stagnant, age, righteousness
Gold = Rich, powerful, warmth, happiness
Silver = Strength and stability
White = Peace, cleanliness, and innocence
7. Second hand shops are amazing for finding professional clothes!
When you start out as a teacher, it is obvious that your wage is quite low. To save on money and to find the look that works for you on a budget, second hand shops are fantastic for finding professional attire for cheap! I love second hand shops and lots of my most favourite outfits are mix and matched from different second-hand shops. A helpful tip for second hand shopping, shop at second hand shops in nice areas of town. You'll find better quality donated gear in nice areas. Sometimes you can find beautiful things in second hand shops in low decile areas too. All trash is someone else's treasure. You are also doing more for the environment by shopping second hand too.
8. Wear clothes that suit the type of subject you are teaching
It is really important to be able to teach the best that you can, so if you are in an active subject and like to be hands-on or have a monkey-see-monkey-do approach to your teaching, wear clothes that you can move in comfortably and don't have to worry about. I find three quarter formal shorts are great for active subjects and for looking formal too.
The next two tips are in regard to your self-esteem ...
9. Make sure you are happy as you are being your authentic self
It is important to learn who you are as a teacher and that may include experimentation of clothing and styles, however more importantly, it is good to know who you are so that you can be happy in your workplace. The students are smart too, they can pick up on your happiness and sadness, and they will use it to their advantage sometimes.
10. Make sure you wear something that shines your own personality, you don't need to portray or pretend to be someone you aren't
You have a better chance at teaching effectively when you can be who you really are as a teacher. Keeping a firm, safe and inviting environment comes from your confidence. So, if you are happy as you are and are not being someone that you wish to be, you will find yourself creating the safe environment you desire naturally. The things you wear portray your personality. If you like baggy things, you tend to have a casual relaxed personality and if you are someone that likes to dress tidy, you tend to be someone that needs order and precision. There are other influences that can determine outfits too like trauma and role models as well.
So, when you consider the outfits, you'd like to wear, think what part of your personality you would like to showcase in your professional workplace.
Check your contract:
Lastly, which is an important tip to know, check your contract and see whether or not there are clothing/uniform requirements for your job. Some places might require ties, no jeans, no jandals policies. Be aware of them and follow them well, if you wish to be employed at the school.
Be happy, be you.
If you are a beginner teacher starting out in your profession, best of luck and enjoy the happiness teaching will give you.
Time, Experience, Manaakitanga.
Tovah O'Neill
Tovah's Tutoring Company Ltd
Online tutoring available for 2023 for high school students. Book now!
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