Taking a day off as a teacher means writing sub plans. We all know how much that weighs on whether or not we take that day! In my little world, life has been in the way a lot recently and that has resulted in quite a few sub days. For these days, I am so thankful for the things that make planning for a day I can’t be in the classroom so much easier.
SUB PLAN TEMPLATE
I’ve made it a little easier on myself by always prepping a month of materials at a time, saving my plans digitally in DropBox so I can access them from home without a problem, and by using a Sub Plan template (also saved in DropBox) so that I only have to type up the few things that are changing for the day.
My template always contains the usual routine and structure of the day. Because the plans are almost completely written, typing up the things that pertain to just that day doesn’t take too much time.
My sub plan template include:
- emergency information
- duty information
- routine regarding bathroom and drinks
- discipline policy/routine
- daily routine
Having this information already typed in saves me a lot of time. I took some time setting it up initially because I wanted it to look good and be helpful. Now it literally takes just a few minutes to add in what needs to be done that day. I just use my weekly plans to fill in the information.
Many teachers have asked for my sub plans template. I am happy to share. I like to use Excel because it allows me to keep simply columns and easily delineate sections of my day.
Send me your info and I’ll drop the file into your inbox!
FLEXIBLE AND UNCOMPLICATED
I do make my sub days easier to teach and remove any huge lessons that I would normally do with the kids. I try to make the substitute’s day as uncomplicated and flexible as possible.
Firstly, I always tell the sub not to worry if things don’t get done. I leave plenty of work, just in case something takes less time than I think it might.
Second, although I lean more on worksheets and journals on those days than I normally would. The simple fact is those things are easier to explain, require no prep, and can take a little or a lot of time depending on how they are introduced. They allow for independent, whole group, small group or partner work so that my substitute can utilize the activities in a way that suits his/her teaching style.
EASY SUB PLANNING WITH SCHOLASTIC NEWS
One of the resources in my room that I always like to leave for a substitute is Scholastic News. These fantastic non-fiction magazines always fit into what we are discussing during the month and hit so many of our standards!
Throughout January we were fully immersed in our polar habitat study and spending all kinds of times with the lives of penguins.
Scholastic News was living in that space, too!
Leaving this fantastic resource for my substitute on one of the days I was gone in January simplified my life and hers. My little peeps were invested in the subject matter so they had a lot to add to the discussion.
AMAZING SCHOLASTIC
Teacher friends, I truly love Scholastic News and use it in my room all month every month. Not only are the articles in each magazine engaging, the photographs are fantastic! The kids can’t get enough of them. My newest favorite are the little videos available online for each magazine. The kids love them so much because they show real images and don’t talk down to them.
Scholastic is fantastic at addressing topics fully and artfully, creating meaningful connections to content. Scholastic offers an assortment of ways to support our grade level standards through meaningful activities. These little worksheets allow me to extend the magazines even farther – and are another fantastic thing to leave for a sub.
Scholastic News hits several key factors that ensure it is an important and useful learning tool.
- great CONTENT
- COMPLEX yet not unapproachable text
- dynamic VOCABULARY
- INTERACTIVE and COLLABORATIVE opportunities
- STANDARDS driven
Because we use Scholastic News in class so often, the kiddos know my expectations with the material, even when I’m not there.
Check out all of the ways we use Scholastic News in my classroom on this post.
Scholastic News is a definite must have for easy-peasy, but still engaging, sub planning!
A SPECIAL GIVEAWAY
I love partnering with Scholastic. They truly “get” today’s teacher and our need to have rigorous, engaging, yet simple to incorporate materials. I especially appreciate that they offer fantastic non-fiction resources for various reading abilities and grade-levels. I look forward to my monthly shipment of Scholastic News because I know it will cover the concepts we are covering in class and bring my students vibrant, meaningful photographs and text.
Scholastic News offers a 30-day FREE trial on their magazines! Seriously – GO CHECK IT OUT!
You can subscribe to Scholastic News here.
You can subscribe to Scholastic News Science Readers here.
I’m thrilled that Scholastic has offered to give one of my followers a FREE subscription to the winner’s choice of one of the many amazing Scholastic Magazines! Complete the giveaway entry requirements below for a chance to win!!
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