Señorita Ripped Pants

The success of my new stamp participation method has me moving a lot more all over my classroom. I'm crossing the room, crossing back, stopping to re-ink my stamp, traveling up and down aisles. I am everywhere. I had been keeping up with increased participation from students and I was on such a roll until...

On Wednesday morning I was seriously slowed down when my new corduroy (read: not as sturdy or trustworthy as jeans) pants caught onto a previously unnoticed jagged piece of closet. I know what you're thinking...jagged piece of closet? In a place where children are present? Sharp enough to rip pants? You read correctly folks, I apparently work in a place that requires one to wear clothes made of industrial strength fabric.

I unhooked myself from the closet to survey the damage. I was left with a sizable hole towards the top of the side of my pants. I assessed the situation and cheek was definitely visible. I quick sent a student to "please get a sweater" from my work bestie whose classroom is next door to mine. I pulled down my stretchy shirt until she got back, tied the sweater around my waist as a backup method, and was back on my merry way, stamping away the morning.

I was able to change into gray workout pants during lunch (strangely the same color as my corduroys) that I had brought with me for my after school trip to the gym. Due to quick action on the part of my student and my colleague, no one knew about the incident at all.

Since I'm a teacher and by default a huge fan of teachable moments I now realize the importance of a back-up method, be it extra pants, a sweater, who knows. I guess flexibility is also a plus.

Any embarrassing or potentially embarrassing classroom stories to share?

P.S. The corduroys were from Old Navy.