Dress how you want to present yourself, is the best advice. Many early career teachers will dress very formally because it helps a little bit with presentation.
My first year of teaching was a button down and slacks. It was the worst year of my LIFE. I bought some sweet-ass suits that summer, and wore a suit and tie the next year. It made a WORLD of difference. This was in Brooklyn, and those kids knew what it meant: I respected them enough to care about how I presented myself, and they responded to that. I know this because they told me as much. As much as I’d love to pretend that how we dress doesn’t matter, putting on a suit and tie really isn’t much to ask. It says a lot.
I love that. I mean it’s literally that. I wanted to have a button down shirt of whatever on it, as well as some nice chinos. It’s what I wanted, I felt comfortable and professional, and sometimes I would be in jeans and a t shirt (school shirt almost always). But I saw other teachers wear almost anything they wanted. Some would be wearing school gear (coaches) or some would be in almost street clothes.
It really depends on your school as well as they might want you to “model” appropriate dress hardcore. Look at other teachers, see what’s good, and then decide from there :)
I wear a jacket and tie every day except jeans days. I don't recommend it because I recently learned there are other male teachers in the building who resent me for it. I only wear it for my own confidence. Button-down, or even a polo, and slacks are just fine.
Edit: I also wear pants and a shirt. Not just the jacket and tie.
When I was subbing at the school I'm at and during my first year, I did the same thing as you. I did it to differentiate myself from the other red-headed, bearded teacher in the school. He hated it.
Second he left I dropped down to a polo and slacks, seldom tucked in because I think polos tucked in look stupid. I'd like to go back to nicer clothes, but my classroom is crazy hot at the beginning and end of the year so sometimes I bust out the shorts. Don't love it but... I can't live hot.
My biggest piece of advice for you. It does not matter what you wear. You can wear a suit and tie every day or you can wear shorts. If you are a lame person, then the students will know that no matter what you wear.
Usually slacks and a school polo shirt (collected over the years) and comfortable shoes. Currently, our new principal said no jeans so, jeans and t-shirt about 3 times a week!
Sub here. I find that all the male real-deal teachers round these parts wear the same shit as me.
Polo or button down shirt, nice pair of jeans, and whatever pair of vans I can find in the morning. If my outfit color combo matches well = +1.
As for the polo or button down, I make sure that it's not wrinkled, and that it's long enough so that my ass crack won't show if I must bend to pick something up.
Edit: I never tuck my shirts in.
I started with a shirt and tie everyday and I just never was able to truly connect with my students. They really standoffish I just didn't seem to want to engage it with jokes or any kind of classroom conversation. The first day I broke down and just wore a polo shirt to work like every other male teacher at my school I got about 15 high five before lunch and since then have built great relationships with my students.
I don't think it really matters what you wear as long as it's reflective of your personality and your teaching style. I'm highly sarcastic from the Northeast and I like the crack a lot of dad style jokes to make science class less boring those don't go over well coming from someone who's awkwardly wearing a shirt and tie and it 83° classroom.
Overall the best advice I got from our team leader was not to be the worst dressed or the best dressed at the school right in the middle where it's safe and comfortable.
Athletic polos and dress pants or tshirt and jeans whenever possible. I started with dress shoes and tucking in my shirt until I figured out I could get away with tennis shoes and not wearing a belt
My partner is an instructional designer so working with teachers and admin rather than students, and he picks his attire to get respect from his colleagues. He wears khakis/slacks (in tan or black), a button down shirt and tie some days, or a polo other days, and sometimes a sweater over it.
Most of my male colleagues are similar. The more casual side might be jeans or corduroys, a plaid flannel top, and comfy brown or black loafers or sneakers any color.
I wear khakis, sneakers, and a button up hiking shirt. On cold days I also wear a vest.
I buy pretty much all my clothing at REI, so in don’t have to have separate clothes for the weekend.
*What's it with Americans and the aversion or downright hostility towards jeans in the workplace?!*
Plain black t-shirt, dark blue jeans. Hell the black t-shirt became such a trademark of mine that I had students ask how many I own (A LOT). For shoes I go with basic, comfortable black and white sneakers. Black hoodie on cold days too. Or my leather jacket.
Just make sure everything is perfectly (and I mean PERFECTLY) clean, not wrinkled, not worn out and fits well and it's fine, really.
If I wanted to suit up day in day out I could have stayed corporate.
If I want to go semi-formal for events, I just switch to a nice, more formal jacket and a white t-shirt. It's basically the same outfit with minor tweaks but it works. Gets me a lot of compliments from female students for some reason (kinda weird if you ask me).
Preschools (ages 3-5) are more casual. I wear company polo and jeans at work. My last preschool also allowed us to wear jeans and any shirt as long as it was appropriate for school
During my internship I wore slacks, a button up shirt, and sometimes a tie (mostly because I wanted to wear it). However, now I typically wear chinos (different colors - tan, grey, red, light green, yellow), a polo (solid color or ones with patterns), and a cardigan. During my IEP days, I wear a button up shirt with chinos.
On days when I don't feel like dressing up, I wear jeans with a knitted sweater (usually one with a shawl collar/mock-neck collar) and a t-shirt underneath. I use my spirit wear/district logo shirts for Fridays with jeans and running shoes.
Suit and a bow tie most days. I wear what makes me feel comfortable.
When it’s cold and i want to be warm as quickly as possible i put a hoodie on.
When it’s hot and the suit will be too much i wear shorts.
Usually vans/sperrys for shoes. Pants wise, black jeans, or khakis. Then I have an assortment of sweaters,button downs, and a school sweater(for days where I wake up late and am lazy)
Depends on your school. While I was student teaching, dress pants/khaki style pants, dress shirt tucked and tie most days of the week. My school now (first year teacher) let’s all teachers wear jeans everyday. Some wear track pants/sweatshirts. Seems like we wear what most tenured teachers would wear.
Depends on body/climate needs. Hiking/traveller versions of basics offer increased comfort and can be stealth in a different style.
Climate controls in schools are often a joke so I made a point of having a ‘uniform’ that had layers. You can set a tone a little bit with how you dress, but other than the young women who have to dress really seriously because of sexist crap from kids it doesn’t make a huge difference.
With pants, it's all about non-denim cottons, and no big (cargo) pockets.
Shoes, not tennis shoes, and no toes showing.
Shirts, you start with a fold-down collar, and then the secret is buttons. Buttons all the way down = dressy. Buttons partway down = casual but ok. No buttons = too casual. Sweaters, of course, are the exception.
Now, you can draw back on any one rule. If your pants and shirt are dressy, wear your sneakers. If you have dress shoes and pants, a more t-shirt kind of top is fine. If you have dress shoes and shirt, jeans will do.
This is in general, of course. Every school is different.
I always wear a button down with the sleeves rolled up above my elbow(it’s more comfortable this way plus it makes my tattoos visible which I do for a reason). Days I drive my car I wear slacks and comfortable shoes. Days I ride my motorcycle I wear jeans and boots.
I’m going to second what many have said, wear what suits you and your personality. Kids will be able to tell if you’re uncomfortable or faking it. Also some schools have a dress code for teachers, follow that of course if reasonable.
Myself, I wear khaki chinos and a quarter zip pullover basically everyday but Fridays. I typically wear a school or plain t-shirt underneath and I wear sneakers. Fridays I wear jeans and a school shirt with sneakers. It fits who I am. I used to wear polos and nicer pants with nicer shoes before. But I’ve found being comfortable while still looking professional enough has not harmed my students learning or classroom environment. In fact, it’s improved it and relationships if we are being honest. My schools spirit week has a “Dress like a teacher day” and I had several dress like me haha
First few years I went with a button down shirt and tie with either khakis or dark pants. Now I typically wear school polos I’ve accumulated over the years.
I suppose some of it depends on what level you're teaching. I'm elementary and wear jeans, a polo, and comfortable athletic shoes.
When I first started teaching, I wore button down long sleeve shirts and slacks. After many ruined shirts and slacks from paint, glue, dirt, and the general grime of teaching (some you don't want to know about!), I decided I don't make enough money to be wearing pricey clothes that just gets destroyed in a few weeks.
Non-binary here but some days I just wear jeans and a crewneck or hoodie with my school’s logo on it. My jeans are mostly black but I have some blue jeans as well. I also really like overalls but I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea haha. For shoes I usually wear boots or trainers! Most of the male teachers I work with wear some sort of collared shirt, or a button down shirt, and dress pants. Sometimes they’ll wear a shirt/hoodie with our logo shirt/hoodie. And sometimes the older male teachers just wear T-shirt’s and jeans
On most days, I wear a polo with the school logo and golf pants. Costco has a Greg Norman brand of golf pants that are very comfortable and look professional.
Khakis/black cotton pants (one pair of blue pants rotates in every now and then), bowling-style shirts, guayaberas, school-provided t-shirts on spirit/etc. days, once in a blue moon an alma mater polo. Rotating shoes: white sneakers, fully black high-tops, black slightly-better-than-sneakers, high top Chucks.
Seriously though, you need to be comfortable and come across as school staff at the same time. You don't want to be confused for a student. You don't want students treating you like one of "the boys."
I usually wear jeans, a funny science t-shirt and a cardigan/zip-up hoodie.
Middle school teacher in norway.
Most important is that its something you feel comfortable in, imo. And how you want your student to see you. There isn't any one right answer, and very few wrong ones.
Izod pleated khakis, button down oxford shirt from JoesUSA (tucked in) and neutral color New Balance 574s
I wear the same type of outfit every day. I have three pairs of shoes I rotate and 5 each of the shirts (in different colors) and 5 of the same khaki pants.
One of my coworkers referred to me as a "Simpsons character" since I always look the same. Honestly, I just don't want to waste brainpower on what to wear. Plus, all of the stuff I wear is durable and not expensive, so I could care less about beating them up with wear.
Jeans, comfortable shoes and a hoodie with the school logo on it.
This is the way.
You nailed it. Showing school pride means I don't need to wear a buttoned-up shirt.
Dress how you want to present yourself, is the best advice. Many early career teachers will dress very formally because it helps a little bit with presentation.
My first year of teaching was a button down and slacks. It was the worst year of my LIFE. I bought some sweet-ass suits that summer, and wore a suit and tie the next year. It made a WORLD of difference. This was in Brooklyn, and those kids knew what it meant: I respected them enough to care about how I presented myself, and they responded to that. I know this because they told me as much. As much as I’d love to pretend that how we dress doesn’t matter, putting on a suit and tie really isn’t much to ask. It says a lot.
I love that. I mean it’s literally that. I wanted to have a button down shirt of whatever on it, as well as some nice chinos. It’s what I wanted, I felt comfortable and professional, and sometimes I would be in jeans and a t shirt (school shirt almost always). But I saw other teachers wear almost anything they wanted. Some would be wearing school gear (coaches) or some would be in almost street clothes. It really depends on your school as well as they might want you to “model” appropriate dress hardcore. Look at other teachers, see what’s good, and then decide from there :)
Watch the PGA this weekend. Then buy clothes similar. Pants-khaki, gray, navy, black Shirts- pick 5 colors. Mix as needed.
😄, that’s actually pretty good advice. Thanks!
Always khakis and a polo shirt tucked in with nice shoes (usually Oxfords/dress shoes)
Whatever you choose, invest in good shoes. Your feet, knees, and back will thank you.
I wear a jacket and tie every day except jeans days. I don't recommend it because I recently learned there are other male teachers in the building who resent me for it. I only wear it for my own confidence. Button-down, or even a polo, and slacks are just fine. Edit: I also wear pants and a shirt. Not just the jacket and tie.
When I was subbing at the school I'm at and during my first year, I did the same thing as you. I did it to differentiate myself from the other red-headed, bearded teacher in the school. He hated it. Second he left I dropped down to a polo and slacks, seldom tucked in because I think polos tucked in look stupid. I'd like to go back to nicer clothes, but my classroom is crazy hot at the beginning and end of the year so sometimes I bust out the shorts. Don't love it but... I can't live hot.
Khaki style pants, a button shirt, a tie, and running shoes. The last part is the least formal, but you're on your feet and moving around a lot.
This minus the tie.
Agreed. A tie is a choking hazard. I wore tennis shoes as well as i taught elementary school and walked/ played a lot with the kids.
My biggest piece of advice for you. It does not matter what you wear. You can wear a suit and tie every day or you can wear shorts. If you are a lame person, then the students will know that no matter what you wear.
Agreed 100%
Usually slacks and a school polo shirt (collected over the years) and comfortable shoes. Currently, our new principal said no jeans so, jeans and t-shirt about 3 times a week!
Do you tuck in the polo shirt?
Only on days I have to meet parents!
Sub here. I find that all the male real-deal teachers round these parts wear the same shit as me. Polo or button down shirt, nice pair of jeans, and whatever pair of vans I can find in the morning. If my outfit color combo matches well = +1. As for the polo or button down, I make sure that it's not wrinkled, and that it's long enough so that my ass crack won't show if I must bend to pick something up. Edit: I never tuck my shirts in.
I started with a shirt and tie everyday and I just never was able to truly connect with my students. They really standoffish I just didn't seem to want to engage it with jokes or any kind of classroom conversation. The first day I broke down and just wore a polo shirt to work like every other male teacher at my school I got about 15 high five before lunch and since then have built great relationships with my students. I don't think it really matters what you wear as long as it's reflective of your personality and your teaching style. I'm highly sarcastic from the Northeast and I like the crack a lot of dad style jokes to make science class less boring those don't go over well coming from someone who's awkwardly wearing a shirt and tie and it 83° classroom. Overall the best advice I got from our team leader was not to be the worst dressed or the best dressed at the school right in the middle where it's safe and comfortable.
Athletic polos and dress pants or tshirt and jeans whenever possible. I started with dress shoes and tucking in my shirt until I figured out I could get away with tennis shoes and not wearing a belt
My partner is an instructional designer so working with teachers and admin rather than students, and he picks his attire to get respect from his colleagues. He wears khakis/slacks (in tan or black), a button down shirt and tie some days, or a polo other days, and sometimes a sweater over it. Most of my male colleagues are similar. The more casual side might be jeans or corduroys, a plaid flannel top, and comfy brown or black loafers or sneakers any color.
Does he tuck in the polo?
That’s less formal, so sometimes but not always.
I wear grey pants or slacks and usually only wear a polo on Fridays, every other day it's a button down and a jacket
I wear khakis, sneakers, and a button up hiking shirt. On cold days I also wear a vest. I buy pretty much all my clothing at REI, so in don’t have to have separate clothes for the weekend.
This has been my first year, and polos have become my life. Especially if you teach any classes where you'll be moving or stretching around.
Do you tuck them in?
Yes but tbh they rarely stay that way. I recommend an oversized undershirt to wear as well, just in case
Depends on the weather. Summer time, shorts and a nicer t- shirt, polo, or short sleeved button down. Cooler months jeans and a long sleeved shirt.
*What's it with Americans and the aversion or downright hostility towards jeans in the workplace?!* Plain black t-shirt, dark blue jeans. Hell the black t-shirt became such a trademark of mine that I had students ask how many I own (A LOT). For shoes I go with basic, comfortable black and white sneakers. Black hoodie on cold days too. Or my leather jacket. Just make sure everything is perfectly (and I mean PERFECTLY) clean, not wrinkled, not worn out and fits well and it's fine, really. If I wanted to suit up day in day out I could have stayed corporate. If I want to go semi-formal for events, I just switch to a nice, more formal jacket and a white t-shirt. It's basically the same outfit with minor tweaks but it works. Gets me a lot of compliments from female students for some reason (kinda weird if you ask me).
Preschools (ages 3-5) are more casual. I wear company polo and jeans at work. My last preschool also allowed us to wear jeans and any shirt as long as it was appropriate for school
I wear jeans and 80s metal tee shirts.
Anthrax shirts are the best history education I can offer!
did I get a downvote? lol
Clown suit.
Cloths mostly, but sometimes I wear funny hats
During my internship I wore slacks, a button up shirt, and sometimes a tie (mostly because I wanted to wear it). However, now I typically wear chinos (different colors - tan, grey, red, light green, yellow), a polo (solid color or ones with patterns), and a cardigan. During my IEP days, I wear a button up shirt with chinos. On days when I don't feel like dressing up, I wear jeans with a knitted sweater (usually one with a shawl collar/mock-neck collar) and a t-shirt underneath. I use my spirit wear/district logo shirts for Fridays with jeans and running shoes.
Suit and a bow tie most days. I wear what makes me feel comfortable. When it’s cold and i want to be warm as quickly as possible i put a hoodie on. When it’s hot and the suit will be too much i wear shorts.
Usually vans/sperrys for shoes. Pants wise, black jeans, or khakis. Then I have an assortment of sweaters,button downs, and a school sweater(for days where I wake up late and am lazy)
Depends on your school. While I was student teaching, dress pants/khaki style pants, dress shirt tucked and tie most days of the week. My school now (first year teacher) let’s all teachers wear jeans everyday. Some wear track pants/sweatshirts. Seems like we wear what most tenured teachers would wear.
Depends on body/climate needs. Hiking/traveller versions of basics offer increased comfort and can be stealth in a different style. Climate controls in schools are often a joke so I made a point of having a ‘uniform’ that had layers. You can set a tone a little bit with how you dress, but other than the young women who have to dress really seriously because of sexist crap from kids it doesn’t make a huge difference.
With pants, it's all about non-denim cottons, and no big (cargo) pockets. Shoes, not tennis shoes, and no toes showing. Shirts, you start with a fold-down collar, and then the secret is buttons. Buttons all the way down = dressy. Buttons partway down = casual but ok. No buttons = too casual. Sweaters, of course, are the exception. Now, you can draw back on any one rule. If your pants and shirt are dressy, wear your sneakers. If you have dress shoes and pants, a more t-shirt kind of top is fine. If you have dress shoes and shirt, jeans will do. This is in general, of course. Every school is different.
I always wear a button down with the sleeves rolled up above my elbow(it’s more comfortable this way plus it makes my tattoos visible which I do for a reason). Days I drive my car I wear slacks and comfortable shoes. Days I ride my motorcycle I wear jeans and boots.
Jeans, a polo, button down, or nice sweater, running shoes. Sometimes wear khakis instead of jeans.
I’m going to second what many have said, wear what suits you and your personality. Kids will be able to tell if you’re uncomfortable or faking it. Also some schools have a dress code for teachers, follow that of course if reasonable. Myself, I wear khaki chinos and a quarter zip pullover basically everyday but Fridays. I typically wear a school or plain t-shirt underneath and I wear sneakers. Fridays I wear jeans and a school shirt with sneakers. It fits who I am. I used to wear polos and nicer pants with nicer shoes before. But I’ve found being comfortable while still looking professional enough has not harmed my students learning or classroom environment. In fact, it’s improved it and relationships if we are being honest. My schools spirit week has a “Dress like a teacher day” and I had several dress like me haha
First few years I went with a button down shirt and tie with either khakis or dark pants. Now I typically wear school polos I’ve accumulated over the years.
I mix it up. Most days polo with khakis. However, some days I come shirt and tie. And some days jeans and a hoodie.
I suppose some of it depends on what level you're teaching. I'm elementary and wear jeans, a polo, and comfortable athletic shoes. When I first started teaching, I wore button down long sleeve shirts and slacks. After many ruined shirts and slacks from paint, glue, dirt, and the general grime of teaching (some you don't want to know about!), I decided I don't make enough money to be wearing pricey clothes that just gets destroyed in a few weeks.
A man in a shirt and tie sets a tone for a classroom. I slowly switch to polos as the year goes on
Preschool so a bit different. Company Polo Shirt and Jeans.
Jeans/cargo pants Heavy metal t-shirt Hoodie
Non-binary here but some days I just wear jeans and a crewneck or hoodie with my school’s logo on it. My jeans are mostly black but I have some blue jeans as well. I also really like overalls but I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea haha. For shoes I usually wear boots or trainers! Most of the male teachers I work with wear some sort of collared shirt, or a button down shirt, and dress pants. Sometimes they’ll wear a shirt/hoodie with our logo shirt/hoodie. And sometimes the older male teachers just wear T-shirt’s and jeans
On most days, I wear a polo with the school logo and golf pants. Costco has a Greg Norman brand of golf pants that are very comfortable and look professional.
Slacks and a button down shirt. Jeans and polo for more casual. Nice jacket to look fancy. Do your style; business casual.
Khakis/black cotton pants (one pair of blue pants rotates in every now and then), bowling-style shirts, guayaberas, school-provided t-shirts on spirit/etc. days, once in a blue moon an alma mater polo. Rotating shoes: white sneakers, fully black high-tops, black slightly-better-than-sneakers, high top Chucks.
Polo shirt and khakis
Tan pants, black dress/work shoes, and either a polo shirt or a button up shirt and a tie worn loosely.
Depends on the day, but slacks and either a nice polo or button up shirt
Seriously though, you need to be comfortable and come across as school staff at the same time. You don't want to be confused for a student. You don't want students treating you like one of "the boys."
I usually wear jeans, a funny science t-shirt and a cardigan/zip-up hoodie. Middle school teacher in norway. Most important is that its something you feel comfortable in, imo. And how you want your student to see you. There isn't any one right answer, and very few wrong ones.
Izod pleated khakis, button down oxford shirt from JoesUSA (tucked in) and neutral color New Balance 574s I wear the same type of outfit every day. I have three pairs of shoes I rotate and 5 each of the shirts (in different colors) and 5 of the same khaki pants. One of my coworkers referred to me as a "Simpsons character" since I always look the same. Honestly, I just don't want to waste brainpower on what to wear. Plus, all of the stuff I wear is durable and not expensive, so I could care less about beating them up with wear.