When I first started out, I tried to make sure my sub would do everything that I would do if I was there. This was probably pretty stressful for the sub, and it was frustrating for me to return to work and see that things were not completed or hadn’t even been started at all. DON’T MAKE IT COMPLICATED. Your sub isn’t you. I Here's a helpful checklist I like to use to make sure all of my sub bases are covered! I run a very scheduled ship, but one or two off days won’t kill my class. Even when I had two students with autism that thrived on my routine, I just wrote them a note, left them a treat, and provided them with a new visual schedule. I also provide the entire class and sub with a huge schedule on chart paper. I use sub days for my kids to still learn of course, but they also have a lighter load than if I was present. I incorporate a lot of whole group activities to involve the sub and help him/her get to know the class. I also plan a lot of activities where my students work independently or in pairs, and then share out with the class. We don’t always have time during our regular days to have everyone share out, so they really enjoy it. Writing about what you might be doing while you are missing from class is always a hit with the kids, and fun to read when you return! I make sure to leave a fun incentive behind for the students to work towards and be rewarded for upon my return. In addition to what I typically do (tickets), I also have the entire class working towards a goal. It’s something the substitute announces at the beginning of the day, and just another helpful management tool for them to have in their back pocket. What I do is leave behind tickets announcing that anyone who receives a ticket will earn a special surprise when I return. They LOVE it! I think it’s important to leave additional work or suggestions for what early finishers can do. I let my substitutes know that early finishers can read a book, or go work on the extra activities that I left behind. Make sure your expectations are clear of what they may or may not do. I ask my teacher neighbor to check in on my sub in the morning, or just let them know that there will be a sub to possibly have to assist. If I have a particularly hard to control student, I see if I can leave that student with another teacher with plenty of work to keep them busy. I also like to let my subs know what do in case an emergency situation happens. I leave them little cards so that they can quickly ask another employee or the office for help. Don't forget to leave plans for what to do if someone gets hurt, sick, or has a bathroom related accident. Also think about how you want your sub to handle serious incidents in your classroom. I leave an incident report behind. P.S. Another great tip is to make sure you have Band-Aids available for the sub, so they don't have to send more kids than necessary out of the room for something small. Missing a day of work is the worst, hopefully you find this helpful when planning! XOXO, Mrs. O'Brien Click here to find out more about this resource!
Hello! I’m Nicole from Teaching With Style and I’m so excited to be over here on Melissa’s new blog, Inspire Me, ASAP! Melissa has some amazing ideas and her units have come in handy MANY times! When I moved from 1st to 3rd a few years ago, my new team wasn’t as strong as my […]
I recently learned that this time of the year is when folks in Alaska are the sickest because people don’t pick up their dog poop from the yard all winter. Now that temperatures are finally above freezing, the poo is mushy and ready for kids that are excited to play outside to track it into…
As a teacher you know it is more stressful to take a day off than it is to be at school with your students. Planning lessons for a sub is...
The prompt hierarchy can help you implement an effective learning environment where students can master skills and gain independence.
It inevitably happens to every music teacher at some point in their teaching career: you have to call out absent. Whether it’s to attend a conference,
Free Music Substitute Lesson Plan (for a non-music sub). Teach meter with short, fun video clips, "script" for the teacher and movement activities for kids.
Discover 15 invaluable classroom management tips for subs in upper elementary classrooms. Be prepared and succeed! 🍎
Prepping for a sub got you down? Check out these go-to, easy, low prep activities you can use over and over again for a substitute!
10 Creative Art Activities for Kids, including free printable drawing prompts and art collages, plus many more creative art ideas!
Find a complete list of the best natural sugar substitutes here! Click for a list of the best natural alternatives. (+sweeteners for coffee & recipes!)
Looking for no tech sub plans for the music room? Check out this blog post, with five ideas for music sub plans without technology.
A low carb keto pasta that only requires 3 ingredients! It's a totally delicious substitute for regular pasta and goes perfectly with your favorite pasta sauce.
Do you leave what you think are very clear Spanish sub plans or French sub plans only to return to chaos the next day? Have any of the following happened to you? The substitute didn't do any of the Spanish sub plans that you left, but just played games with the kids. The sub gave
A few weeks ago, when I posted my lesson plan template, I was asked to show how I would actually use this template in planning. With that ...
I am officially starting my substitute teaching job next week! Super nervous and excited! I can't wait to get back into the district that I student taught. I have been printing out some emergency plans to be extra prepared. Here is the sub report that I made this morning. I hope you may get some use out of it, too! Click here to download the pdf
Whether you are trying to land your dream job or just survive your first few weeks, here are some ways to thrive as a substitute teacher!
If you love Japanese cuisine, mirin is a must-have pantry staple, but there are other options you can use as a mirin substitute.
Here is a sub lesson adapted from a handout in Ande Cook's Art Starters book called "A Fun Game." Basically, the artist is being asked to draw their interpretations of several different things. It's fun! It's a Fun Game! I wrote out all the directions and everything a sub would need to know to teach this lesson. I used this for grades 2nd grade and up. The Ande Cook handouts were part of a SchoolArts subscription, or you can get her book: Art Starters
This vegan nacho cheese is made from healthy plant-based ingredients yet satisfies any cheesy comfort food craving! Have this oil-free, gluten-free vegan cheese ready in just 30 minutes and serve with your favorite tacos, burritos, nachos, tortilla chips and more.
I have seen many plans over the years that give students an opportunity to show their work ethic and social skills by completing creative tasks together. My sub plans were not like this. I spent most of my years in a middle school with large classes of 35 squirrely, defiant pre-teens and teens, and sub…
To make the kids master problem solving, you can come up with a puzzle. For the 1st graders, apply the puzzle with the simple form. Consider using the word search as the tool..
What is the Marginal Rate of Substitution? Marginal rate of substitution (MRS) is an economic concept that helps in understanding human behavior. MRS is basi
Yuba Katsu. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!
What is Aromat seasoning? How much do you know about it? Are there substitutes that can replace Aromat seasoning in your recipe?
Visit the post for more.
The Giving Tree is the perfect story for integrating literacy and economics for first grade. We use this trade book to learn scarcity, cost, resources, and more!
New academics can use this pattern lesson plan on mythology as a template for making ready their very own classes. Our Requirements-based lesson plans are designed for busy academics. We characteristic all kinds of Ok-12 classes. Click on on an image to view a bigger preview. Residence; About Our College. Information; College Info; Who We
Hoi, Welkom terug bij leren met Anita en Suzanne. Vandaag een leuk en leerzaam spelletje namelijk Boggle. Je kunt met deze download alle kan...
Tidbits and treats for teachers
We've compiled a list of three Essential Resources for Casual Relief Teachers with the help of Nikki Tester from Oceanview Resources. Build the ultimate relief teaching kid so that you always feel prepped and ready to go at a moment's notice!
This FREE handout is a great activity for warm-ups or even early finishers. This handout was inspired by the book Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg. Here is the BLANK version. This is a good opti…
You can grab these geometric art printable...and let your kids imaginations run wild! A perfect free printable to let the creativity flow.
Here is another lesson I made inspired by a worksheet in Ande Cook's book Art Starters. Here is the lesson and here is the page to help your students out. The Ande Cook handouts were part of a SchoolArts subscription, or you can get her book: Art Starters
Try out this ESL Speaking lesson plan template. It's basic, but robust enough to use in all TEFL speaking or conversation classes.
The 3 day Military Diet Claims that you can lose up to 10 Lbs. in 3 days. But does that claim hold up? 9 people tried it. Check out their results.
Use our free printable music activity as a boredom buster with kids stuck at home or as a fun part of music education in a classroom.
