I teach high school freshmen, and my uniform is as follows:
-back to school night, PT conference, etc.- I wear slacks and a blouse and cardigan with short boots or flats.
-normal school day- I wear chinos, khakis, or (very sometimes) jeans with a blouse and nice Toms or boots. I make sure I wear a belt or a long shirt.
-Friday and end of school- I wear a school or otherwise logo-ed t-shirt and jeans.
-summer (when it's REALLY hot out)- Sometimes I'll wear a skirt, but only knee-length and below. Shorts only on the casualest of days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a fan of pants because I agree with the PPs that flats are essential, but the way fabric pools around the feet of my flat-wearing colleagues looks frumpy: this is the classic dowdy school ma'arm uniform, I think. "Nice" pants do NOT look good with flats, even if they are "tailored". Sorry.

Maybe ankle pants OP?

That comment wasn't me! (OP) I wear flats with skinny pants that end at the ankle all the time.

Loose pullovers and long sweaters are always a good purchase for teachers. As PPs have stayed -- when you write on the board, your shirt rides up a few inches. When you lean over a student's desk to check/help with work, your backside is right over the desk of the kids behind that kid -- and gaps in any low rise pants will show and will show off your underwear. Longish sweaters are always good bc they hide both of these problem areas.

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that when you raise your arm to write on the board, any top or dress will slide up a few inches. Proceed with caution.

This too.

Anonymous wrote:jeans and a blazer, maybe? jeans and a cute shirt? Definitely make sure they ride pretty high. Teachers put their butts in students' faces more than one would think.

Jeans only on Fridays.

Keep in mind that when you raise your arm to write on the board, any top or dress will slide up a few inches. Proceed with caution.

Anonymous wrote:I recommend the no-iron machine washable button downs from Brooks Brothers. They retail for $90-something but go on sale all the time for half that.

Comfy ankle length black pants. High waisted (you bend over a lot) skinny corduroys or jeans in different colors.

Flats.

They have some at Chico's too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm beginning my practicum placement soon and will be doing 20 hours of classroom observation/co teaching at a local high school. Teachers- what do I wear? This environment feels tricky- I don't want to go too casual and look like I'm trying to fit in with the kids, but I'm not walking in in a suit and heels either like this is a corporate environment. Any tips? I'm 30, FWIW.

In a high school think Casual Friday in a corporate environment. You need all of the essential covered up. Make sure when you bend over that everything stays in place because all it takes is for one time for some kid to run with it. You don't have to wear heels, casual flats are more practical. Button down shirts, slacks or Khakis, and nice accessories are all you need. Skip the skirts and dresses unless it is something that you need to dress up for like conferences.

You don't think a fall dress is appropriate?

As others have stated as long as it isn't thigh high. Most male teachers overdress so it isn't necessarily sexist to expect a young woman to dress professionally.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a fan of pants because I agree with the PPs that flats are essential, but the way fabric pools around the feet of my flat-wearing colleagues looks frumpy: this is the classic dowdy school ma'arm uniform, I think. "Nice" pants do NOT look good with flats, even if they are "tailored". Sorry.

Maybe ankle pants OP?

Anonymous wrote: I know I'm probably overthinking it but I really didn't want to go in there looking inappropriate or too casual or like I was trying to be "cool teacher."

OP, I agree with needing not to be too casual. I do think they take some (not all) of their cues on how seriously you take the job from your clothes. The other cues will come from your speech and demeanor. (For example, working with young people who said, "like" all the time, I had to fight hard not to pick it up in my own speech.) What you bought so far is more casual than I'd have suggested. I'd stick with flats, but I would have gone up a notch in formality from cords. I agree on the cleavage, but more specifically you need clothes that won't reveal under your clothes when you lean over a students' desk.