Wednesday, August 18, 2010

How Dedicated Are You?

When I was hired at my current school (just shy of a (gasp) decade ago), I was in good company with several other spring chickens who were part of that year's new recruits.  We went through the new teacher training week and became friendly.

We vowed to stay young and fun and pledged to hold an intervention should one of us start to morph into the wooden jewelry paired with a seasonal sweater type.
We have since been displaced from our roles by a crop of younger, hipper teachers.  However, we have held true to our word and have not yet ventured into the world of track suits on casual Fridays.

I consider myself to be very lucky because one of my closest friends is also my partner teacher.  We only have 2 teachers at each grade level at my school and we make up the "third grade team."  She proven to be an above and beyond friend and is a great ally as a teacher.

She initiated the jungle theme and I was fine with that.

But, give me a theme and I'm going to go all out.

Which is why I suggested we both wear animal print outfits for the first day.
Calm down folks.  I wasn't suggesting leopard print unmentionables or a loincloth.  I was thinking of pairing a subtle animal print skirt with a solid black shirt.  

I called dibs on the zebra print.


She claims I'm bordering on thematic sweaters and wooden jewelry.  

Your thoughts?

How dedicated are you to YOUR theme?

Will you be sporting a feather boa and sunglasses to enhance your Hollywood theme?

How about making the folks at the coffee shop question if you are going to school or a Jimmy Buffett concert to go with your beach theme?

Are you going to show up in khakis and a hiking vest to prove you really love your camping theme?

Perhaps denim and a bandana for those of you who are having a boot stomping good time with the western theme?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am wearing a bee cap that is decked with yellow and black stripes big eyes and two red antennae to kick off my bee theme. I just couldn't resist when I found it! Are we going to finish up the sub plans soon?

Minnesota Rocks! said...

Wow! I never even thought of matching my theme! I love the stereotypical "teacher" wear and how I might deny all of those tendencies, until I just don't care anymore! Thanks for the good laugh!

Times that I have stepped it up a notch is reading Skippy jon Jones with sombrero and for all of my small reading groups I wear a headband or a hat to tell the other students that I am busy!

I would have loved to see my teacher dress up with their theme, what a fun way to start the year!

A. Graham said...

I'm doing a space theme and have planet earrings, a NASA shirt... and I hate to admit but I bought a space helmet!!

Mr. Catania said...

I think it is a fun way to show your love and dedication to your theme. As long as you keep it simple ahah. I was thinking of sporting some red, white an blue on our first day in honor of my patriotic theme so I'm all about the idea!

Anonymous said...

I wore a sensible animal print dress on day one this year to match my jungle theme. :) It was subtle... only a few caught on.

Finding Normal said...

I'm sporty spice and am not dressing to match the theme. And I'm sorry to say this, but yes...I think that is a little close to the sweaters and the wooden jewelry. Or maybe I'm just not dedicated enough!

School Day Love said...

I say go for it! With some themes it may be a little over the top to dress the part, but I think a little animal print for the jungle theme would be just fine. :)

Teach2Reach said...

I did the jungle them last year and I dressed as a safari tour guide. It was so much fun. I teach 6th graders and they got a kick out of it.

Ginger Snaps said...

Obviously, I'm not dedicated enough! haha Good for you!

Miss JoAnne said...

I'm in love with our bee theme but I promise I did not show up with wings or a stinger on the first day ;) not sure if animal print is going to far or not. I'm glad you are enjoying your theme, I hope you have a wonderful first day!

Courtney said...

I will confess- I did polka dots in my room and I I had polka dots on my shirt for open house.

TeacherFromTN said...

We used to have a theme every year in third grade, and we did go all out. One year, it was a camping theme, so we did the khaki shorts, boots, etc. Another year, we did NASCAR, and we dressed as a pit crew! It was fun back in the "good old days", but it's so serious now! We haven't had a real theme in years, but this year, we are reading "How Full Is Your Bucket?", so many of us did our hallway boards to go along. I love the animal print!!!

Jessica said...

OMG! I am doing a wild animal/ safari theme this year.. and I have already purchased that skirt from Target... but I can't decide on whether to wear it to open house or on the first day of school!

Jessica said...

Let me just say that I love your Blog! Also, I am doing a wild animal/safari theme this year and I have already purchased the zebra skirt from Target, but I can't decide if I want to wear it to open house or on the first day of school. I'm thinking open house. What do you think?

Miss M. said...

I've never thought about dressing to go with my theme (sports)!!!

I love the idea and love the zebra print skirt--I think you should go for it!

terrie said...

Yes I found a Hawiian/tropical shirt at Goodwill and plan to wear that with some pants. My principal nixed the hula skirt idea! I also have a straw hat if I get that brave and will wear a lei.

Tara Singley said...

Oh, I totally matched my theme! I am pretty much as crazy as you seem to be and go ALL out!!!! I'm doing a camping theme this year and EVERY aspect of my classroom and parent handbook goes along with the theme down to my business cards that say I'm the "Camp Director". I ordered a matching tshirt from vistaprint to wear for open house. Go for it. I'm just not sure if a patterned skirt and solid shirt might not be a bit too subtle??? Go wild!

Tawnya said...

I will be wearing a flower print dress the first day to go with my blooming in Kinder-"Garden" theme. :) But that is not too outrageous is it. :)