teacher outfits – Page 15 – Teachers Have Lives Too!

10/04/2012 Erika S. outfits

Hulk Out.

Some kid asked me during Living Environment (Bio) class today if the Hulk turns green because he has chloroplasts in his skin.

True story. I think my faux-army jacket inspired him.

top: madewell – jacket: old h&m – jeans – f21 – flats: frye – necklaces: marc by marc jacobs and f21

I’ve been having a hard time with things to say lately. Also, I haven’t been brave enough to ask my new coworkers to snap outfit photos for me. You know, worries and all that they’ll think it’s stupid and vapid. So thus there haven’t been many posts lately of my daily teaching armor.

But here’s a nugget of truth: I work with some amazingly smart, deeply caring and empathetic people. These fellow teachers (and teachers of the past but not forgotten) help keep you sane and they help quell the rage you feel when your day was mad crazy and a select few kids shit all over your lesson. They help put things into perspective – my life is a cake walk compared to what our kids deal with at home.

09/13/201209/13/2012 Erika S. outfits, teaching

striper, not stripper

I bought this dress a while ago, and decided the weather was just cool enough today to wear it again. The material is cheap polyester that doesn’t breathe, so if it’s too hot out, it sticks. Can’t ask for too much though, it’s from Forever 21 and it was ridiculously cheap at $15 or something. I got loads of compliments on it today, so I figured I needed to take the time to put it on here…and I don’t have to lesson plan for tomorrow. yay!!!! It’s like a free night! I still have an albeit smallish stack of grading/giving feedback though so it’s not entirely free–it’s just discounted. The did-you-catch-that-bio-joke-I-just-made face, and the you-better-check-yourself face. I’m covering organic compounds in class right now, and I made a joke about carbon being the elemental popular kid. I think I was the only one who chuckled at the joke. I also had 3 almost blow ups in class today. I was able to diffuse 2 of them, but I’m pretty sure I now have at least one teacher-student relationship to mend. One thing’s for sure though, that mending is going to start with this kid actually doing some work in class.

glasses: bonlook – necklace: unicorn crafts (btw, how cute is this? seriously!!) – dress with belt: f21 – shoes: madewell

09/12/2012 Erika S. teaching

The First Week

It’s been surprisingly smooth. I love my new kids so far and have yet to have any real blow ups in class. It’s no surprise that school culture plays a huge role in the happiness of the teachers and students alike. My old school had a terrible school culture, though it was starting to change my last year there (not necessarily for the better, but more authoritative and therefore sightly more cohesive from the outside). My new school has a great positive school culture, and as a result (or because of), has a highly functional staff.

On the other hand, I’ve been largely uninspired with fashion lately. Ironic since it’s currently New York Fashion Week. My new school has a uniform for students and the unspoken rule is that staff also dress professionally. Huge change from my old school where socks with sandals were the norm. So no outfit posts, I’ve had bigger fish to fry lately with getting my classes going.

Here’s a pretty picture in the meantime. I’m going to copy it someday.

09/06/201209/06/2012 Erika S. outfits, teaching

a first day for everything

There is a first for everything. Today was the first day of school, the first day of many to come as the leader of room 267 at Leader’s High School in Brooklyn. I met my Crew (our version of a hardcore homeroom, meant for character building, teaching of social and literacy skills) for the first time, 15 timid little 9th graders who will blossom into grown men and women in 4 short years with me. I already love them.

I also met my 80-odd Living Environment (New York’s name for Biology) students, freaking them all out as the crazy ass science teacher who eats dirt on the first day of school. It was a quick run through on observations and inferences, a common lesson done by science teachers around the world on the first day of school. Kids were buzzing about it in the hallways and to other teachers, an indication of success! The real measure of success is if they start making inferences on their own without me resorting to tricks.

First day of school outfit, taken at the end of the night. It’s 9:30 right now and I’ve yet to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. I’m running on stress and coffee fumes. Everything but the goofy grin is meant to convey the sense that I know exactly what I’m doing at all times and that I am to be taken seriously. Until I eat dirt.

08/07/201208/07/2012 Erika S. outfits

Willoughby

Dip dye stuff has been a huge trend this past year, and I’m jumping on the bandwagon. I dig the dip dye, and I’m starting to come around to the dip bleach, as long as it’s not so severe. I really liked this¹ look and even this² one (though I would lump it in the severe category). I definitely plan on trying out this³ DIY dip dye and this one too eventually. And just for reference here is a dip bleach.

¹ I love this look (and this blog) and I’m seriously going to recreate it one day. ² Amazing blog and I want to steal her design sensibilities. ³ I love Wit & Whistle paper goods and now I love the blog. I bought B this card for Valentines day this past year, and I really love this one also. Super cheeky and “awww” inducing stuff.

This dip dye tank is by a label called Willoughby. As in John Willoughby (Maybe not, but who cares) from Sense and Sensibility, one of my favorite book to movie adaptations of all time. When I tried this on at Anthropiologie, all I could think about was this scene:

tank: anthropologie (on sale now) – skirt: hella old DKNY – tote: freitag – sandals: worishofer (I swear they were just on sale, but not anymore)

05/16/2012 Erika S. outfits, teaching

evaluative

I made my seniors evaluate my teaching this year. A simple survey and with a few short answer questions. I got some real gems of advice from these ‘adults’, so I just have to share them.

If you could say anything about this teacher to the students who will take this class next year, what would you say?

“As long as you don’t mouth off, nothing bad will happen”

“Don’t procrastinate like a fool.”

“Don’t take it your senior year because you will slack off.”

“Ms. Schenck is an awesome teacher!! Forget all the bad things others say about her!!” (omg, what bad things?)

“Ms. Schenck is a very interesting person, she’s funny (that’s wassup!), open-minded, friendly and fashionable!” (I got props for fashion!)

On that note, here is a camera awesome photo of my outfit today. Pants were last seen here and sweater last seen here and the flats are by Frye. Oldies but goodies.

04/25/2012 Erika S. outfits, teaching

little victories

I have a student who is super shy. So shy and unsure of herself that all year, she has barely said more than a few sentences in class. I was also a very shy kid, so I can empathize with her. Well, this shy kid had to do a solo power point presentation last week on the integumentary system. She could have chosen to do a mini-book project instead, but alas, she opted to challenge herself and speak in front of the class, all by herself. The day came, and she froze on the spot. Really froze!

My class, as good as they are, kept encouraging her with “Don’t worry C__, you don’t have to be shy in front of us” and “you can do it C___, just pretend we’re not here at all” and other supportive things. Still didn’t help. She was still standing there frozen with large eyes. I suggested that everyone in the class turn around so that C_____ wouldn’t feel like all the eyes were on her, every single student whipped around in their seats and stared at the wall. After a 3 minutes of tortured silence, C____ began to speak, read her note cards and did her presentation, switching slides for the backs of heads. It was a mini victory. I wanted to hug each one of my 5th period students that day and stick them all in my pocket so that I could pull them out routinely and tell them how proud they make me.

On an outfit note, I bought these black jeans this past weekend at Uniqlo in NYC. Love that store. Cheap, good quality basics with a touch of designeyness (I just made up that word). Just when I plan on moving to the only US city that has a Uniqlo, they announce that they’re opening one up in SF. Bah. I have two paris of the same jeans, black and blue, mid-rise skinny tapered. They are super stretchy, thick, super comfortable and holds its shape well for at least 3 wears. All for $40. Can’t beat it. other than the jeans, my teaching outfit was pretty boring and basic. T-shirt and jeans.

glasses: warby parker – jacket: h&m (old) – v-neck: thread for thought via nordstrom rack – belt: gap – jeans: uniqlo – shoes: bass – bag: j.crew

04/19/2012 Erika S. outfits

my friday

Today is my friday….and friday for seniors (12th graders). Tomorrow is senior cut day. Senior cut day is supposed to be a secret, but of course we teachers find out eventually. Usually it’s the meek straight A student asking for the work she/he will be missing because “uhh, I’m going to be sick. cough. cough.” We all had a senior cut day when we were in high school right? No big deal kid, I wasn’t planning to teach an empty classroom! When I told my health class kids (mostly 9th graders) that they were going to have a sub tomorrow and that I expected them to behave and do the work I’m leaving for them, some kid yelled out, “it must be teacher cut day tomorrow!” No, it’s not teacher cut day, I’m just going out of town….to New York! Just for the weekend.

My favorite booties of all time. I just got them back from the cobbler, heels refreshed. I had worn them down to lopsided stubs in the years I’ve worn them. I love them so much and have yet to find any other black bootie to even come close to how awesome these are. Durable (the top still looks good!), comfy (I’ve walked all over Philly, DC and LA in these on various trips), and of course hella cute. If there was a fire and I could save only one pair of shoes, these would be it. I’ve searched high and low for a pair just like them but without any luck. I’ve even purchased other black booties hoping I would like them as much as these. But nothing comes even close to the awesomeness that are these booties.

glasses: warby parker – blazer and jeans: madewell – shirt: anthropologie (old) – belt: jcrew – booties: BP by Nordstrom (old) – bag: f21

04/18/201204/18/2012 Erika S. outfits

three days strong

I’ve worn these sandals three days in a row now. Still comfy. score.

I really have nothing else to say today. Except that I sent a kid (well, two kids) out from health class today because I just couldn’t take their behavior anymore. I have mixed feelings when I send kids out. First off, sending kids out is not a punishment to them, but a reprieve for me. It doesn’t help them see the error of their ways, instead it denies them access to the lesson. So in order to keep MY sanity, I have to take away their learning opportunity. I feel bad about that. But not until my blood pressure drops back down to normal. These pictures were taken at lunch time, before I developed the perma-scowl that is inhabiting my face for the rest of the day.

sunnies and bag: f21 – v neck and belt: jcrew – skirt (last seen here), blazer and shoes: madewell

04/17/201204/18/2012 Erika S. outfits

blown to bits

My school is on top of a hill in SF, in the southeast section of SF. This means it’s really windy up here, all the time. So photographer Aimee and I were blown all over the place. It was hella cold. That’s right, I said hella. I am a Northern Cali native after all. Hella.

Those of you who follow me on pinterest (specifically my “things I lust after” board) know that I’ve been wanting these Madewell Whistlestop sandals for a little while now. I saw them online when Madewell came out with them, and they are muuuch cuter in person. B had to listen to me whine about how cute they were but how expensive they were at $138 for a few weeks. I finally broke down and forked over the hard earned cash for them. Are these really worth a half a day’s pay? The jury is still out on whether they were worth the $$. They are cute, they are super comfy and they will be perfect for summer. But I guess I could have settled with these or these that I already own or even Madewell’s own cheaper sandal here. These better last at least 2 summers! On Another note, I love my new bag!