Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Faux summer days

Faux summer

Greetings from TCC Northeast (yes, we are riffing off our buddies at IPF, who have so many regions covered). While it's been cool enough to wear tweed pants in the Great Lakes area, today, the subway is air conditioned to a frigid temp. And there are shorts, sandals, and lots of mild summer in the city type outfits on the streets. It took me way too long to get dressed this morning, as I could not find the pants I had in mind (hence I am taking the office outfit shot. The lack of any natural light and the greenish glow of the overhead lights are part of the charm of working in a converted midtown shoe factory space). Since I commuted with this bright magenta folder out of the bag, and I've been drowning in my usual neutrals, I'm using my prop as a pop of color. (Taking prop cues from Style Underdog and A-Dubs). All the pieces of this outfit are from my 6xAugust challenge. I guess when I was pressed for time, old standards work in a pinch.
I am giving myself until the end of next week to really learn my students' names (I have about 90 so that's no small feat). Blokey has about 65, and he knows them already. How? He takes his time when he calls roll (we are legally supposed to take attendance). I tend to rush through, but he makes mental notes about students names during that time. Why is he so smart?

Also, for your viewing pleasure, what Buster likes to do on my lap in the mornings (when Blokey isn't there because he's teaching):


Shirt: Rodarte for Target
Cardigan: Jcrew (thrifted)
Skirt: Muji
Shoes: Aerosoles (thrifted)
Bag: Brooklyn Industries
Folder: Office Max
(posters from Northern Sun)

15 comments:

  1. Aw, Buster :) I love today's outfit, especially with the props! You look like you're SO ready for school.

    And it's supposed to be 75 here today, so it's not too chilly - it's about 10 degrees warmer than it was yesterday. I'll gladly take this over 90 degrees with humidity, or Chicago's other weather alternative of snow.

    I had a professor last year who had us fill out the obligatory first-day index cards (with important info, like our favorite movies and bands) and when taking roll, would comment on some piece of trivia from every single student's card. Like, Anne Shepwell, oh, I see you like Radiohead! Talk about time-consuming roll calls!

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  2. Buster is so cute. :)

    I love your simple classic outfits.

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  3. Silly Buster!

    I like how you mixed neutrals for this outfit. So classic!

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  4. Aw, lookit teh little wooby wooby. So cute. You look good too, but right now my brain is going "squee! kitteh!"

    This totally sprung fully formed from my brain while squee'ing at your kitteh -- I wonder if my mom messed me up by giving me a giant array of stuffed cat toys to play with as a kid instead of dolls. Did she accidentally program a little crazy cat lady? Are baby dolls actually fundamental to creating the "mommy drive" in girls and that's why they're so culturally universal? There's a fundable study in that for sure.

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  5. Great, effortless-looking outfit, Rad.
    I've found that if I try to conjure the faces when I'm reading their papers, that helps me to remember the students' names. Also, if I look at the roll the day after I teach, and re-envision the faces, that helps, too.

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  6. I love the simplicity of this outfit!

    I try to learn all of my students' names during the first week of classes. This semester, since I have about 120 students, it took me into the third week. And there are still two guys who I keep confusing in one class.

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  7. @LaHistoriadora: You're my hero.
    @Charlotte: I do that too. It's hard for the ones who don't attend regularly and don't hand in work.
    @Sheila: Thanks! I wanted to go with something less simple but couldn't find my pants. Next time!
    @Anne: Maybe I'll do that next time... That's pretty smart.
    @Rebecca: Glad to hear that you like the neutrals.

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  8. I think this is a great outfit -- particularly at this point of the term. It's a little more casual than earlier but still put together. Also, if I had actually worn my outfit today, we would totally have been twins with striped tees & khaki skirts.

    I'm still working on my students' names in my undergrad class of 35. I've got most of them but there are still a few silent ones who I have just about no clue what their names are.

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  9. Hi Rad, you look so cool. Another Rad outfit that I must duplicate. Thanks! (Photo taking is a little more fun when have something in your hand, eh?)

    Thanks for the shout out. That will be worth an extra zero for sure.

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  10. This is a great outfit, and perfect for the rather strange weather we're having in the NE this week.

    As for learning names, I TA's for a prof who did what Anne's did. He went through a few of the index cards at the beginning of each class and had little conversations with each student. He remembered students' names years after he'd taught them. I was amazed. I'm still amazed.

    Nice folder, by the way! Prop as pop.

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  11. I noticed that on the subway too! I was wearing a scarf and jacket, and thank God--it was so muggy that I couldn't wear them outside, but I was sure glad to have them on the train.

    I like your easy, comfy neutrals. Students always like a stylish prof, too, so I'm sure you're making excellent impressions!

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  12. I love the bit of stripes sticking out of the cardigan sleeves and your mix of neutrals! Guh, there are 600 students at my school, and I'd say I know about 80% of their names (though this is my 3rd year at this school, so some of them I know from before!)

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  13. I noticed that on the subway too! I was wearing a scarf and jacket, and thank God--it was so muggy that I couldn't wear them outside, but I was sure glad to have them on the train.

    I like your easy, comfy neutrals. Students always like a stylish prof, too, so I'm sure you're making excellent impressions!

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  14. Great, effortless-looking outfit, Rad.
    I've found that if I try to conjure the faces when I'm reading their papers, that helps me to remember the students' names. Also, if I look at the roll the day after I teach, and re-envision the faces, that helps, too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Aw, lookit teh little wooby wooby. So cute. You look good too, but right now my brain is going "squee! kitteh!"

    This totally sprung fully formed from my brain while squee'ing at your kitteh -- I wonder if my mom messed me up by giving me a giant array of stuffed cat toys to play with as a kid instead of dolls. Did she accidentally program a little crazy cat lady? Are baby dolls actually fundamental to creating the "mommy drive" in girls and that's why they're so culturally universal? There's a fundable study in that for sure.

    ReplyDelete