These Embarrassing Teacher Moments Have Happened to Us All

Ever have one of those moments? You know, one of those I-want-to-bury-myself-in-the-sand moments?
Those can-I-just-get-my-bag-and-head-home moments? We’ve all been there. Every teacher worth their
salt has a few painfully embarrassing stories to tell. If it hasn’t yet, it’s bound to happen to you
sooner or later. And there’s really not that much you can do about it other than have a good laugh
along with everyone else and move on. We’ve rounded up a few hilariously embarrassing teacher
moments from Instagram and our friends on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group
on Facebook. These will make you laugh, feel better, and nod your head in recognition—and empathy.

The classic wardrobe malfunction.

I once slipped on ice and ended up doing the splits, which tore the
crotch of my pants … in front of the entire carline! A few parents cracked up, but some tried
to help me. SOOOO embarrassing! —SS

The downside of
being a local celebrity.

Did I really just say that?

I was running a recess in the gym, and I’d blown the whistle for kids
to pause and be silent. A couple kids were still dribbling basketballs, so without thinking I
yelled, “Everybody hold your balls!” I teach eighth grade. —KR

Oops, I didn’t consider
that option.

Okay, this teacher wins!

One day I stopped at the restroom before lunch duty. I walked
around the cafeteria for a few minutes until finally one student told me I had a long trail of
toilet paper hanging out the back of my pants! What could I do but just laugh along with the
kids? —TD

It happens to the best of
us.

You weren’t supposed to see that.

Walking around with an armload of tests in my hands, I didn’t look
down and caught myself on a crate of textbooks in the aisle. I flopped right over onto my belly with my feet in the air, like a
teenager on the phone! Three beats of silence, then the sixth grader next to me says, “I thought
you said we’d never see your tattoo.” (Butterfly on my lower back.) —JE

Guess smelling like whipped
cream all day might not be the worst thing ever.

They’re faster than they look.

Last year, I was playing basketball with my fourth graders when this
little dude busted out a wicked crossover dribble. Two hours later, my ankle was in a brace, and
my ski season was over. —DK

I wore my slippers to
work—again.

Now that’s just mean!

I threw up in front of a group of fifth graders during one of my
university fieldwork placements, and my awful supervising teacher did nothing to help me. I had
to walk through the school to the office covered in vomit to let them know there was a mess to
clean up! —SG

It’s in the school
handbook: Do not pet the children.

The hazards of being a newbie.

Last year, on the second day of my first year teaching, I was walking with the students to an
assembly when I fell on the stairs going into the auditorium. Instead of asking me if I was okay or
helping me up, they just stepped over me. They all thought I was just another new student! —SM

Brave enough to reveal your embarrassing teacher moments? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out epic teacher
fails and Pinterest
projects gone wrong.