how to organize for a substitute

​This Sub Station has been THE easiest way for me to organize for a Substitute! We all know how difficult it can be to miss a school day or worse, plan for extended leave. Isn't that the reason most of us have come into work sick?! It's actually easier to power through the day then to gather and prepare all the things required for missing a full day of work. What I love about this Sub Station is that I set it up at the beginning of the year and then it's done! I just make sure to keep it stocked with a fresh set of sub plans.

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You can see just how easy it is to assemble a Sub Station here:​ SUB STATION VIDEO
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I created this Sub Station because I NEEDED it! I had "write sub plans" on my to-do list for way too long! The motivation to actually cross it off my list came when I saw the black caddy (pictured above) for sale at Target. I knew immediately what I wanted to use it for. You see, at my school we were required to have our sub plans visible. If a teacher missed work due to an emergency, admin could walk in and find plans for the sub to take over. With this caddy I could accomplish just that, plus make it cute! Thus, the Sub Station was born.

So what's in the Sub Station?

• Emergency Sub Plans - Age appropriate, engaging activities that can be done on ANY day regardless of where we are in the curriculum. I like to create Sub Plans using my favorite read alouds. The substitute shares a story with the class and the rest of the day includes activities for each subject that coincide with the book. It makes for a fun and engaging day for all! You can find Ready to print, Emergency Sub Plans in my TpT store HERE.

 

• Substitute Survival Guide - A LIFESAVER!!!! This is a handy little flip booklet filled with all the essential info a Sub needs for the day. It includes the daily schedule, class list, emergency procedures, management tricks, and MORE! It's a condensed version of a Sub Binder. The beauty of this little booklet is that it's portable and user friendly. The Sub can quickly flip through and find what they need to know if a hurry. No more having to fumble through a binder and search through extraneous info.  (NOTE: I also have a large Sub Binder stored in my classroom, in the case of a long term emergency or leave of absence. The full binder contains more details as to how my classroom runs. If a long term sub had to take over, they would have all they need to know in that binder. This is particularly useful for maternity leave!)

 

• Brag Tags - I have emoji brag tags included in my Sub Station. It's a great way for the Sub to encourage & reward good behavior! 

 

• Other Ideas - I've found that including a treat helps set the tone for the day. When a sub shows up to a new class and unfamiliar surroundings, a little treat can make a BIG difference. Also, a school map can be helpful for subs who are new to the school. Pens and a notepad or sticky notes are also make a great addition.

IF you teach K-2, my SUB STATION KIT has everything you need to organize for a Sub, minus the chocolate ;) If you teach upper grades, you can purchase the SUB SURVIVAL GUIDE separately by clicking HERE. This resource is editable so you can tailor it to your specific classroom. The template it filled with prompts that help you organize your info quickly so you don't have to sit around all day and think about what to add. You can see some of the pages included below:

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​If you've already made a Sub Station and want to dress it up, I've recently created Sub Station Decor Sets to match several different themes. You can see them all by clicking HERE. The one pictured above is from the Black & White Floral Set. While these decor sets may seem silly to some, I found it incredibly motivating to get this Sub Station completed! Dare I say, it even got me excited to do Sub Plans! How do you prepare for a Sub? And what tips or tricks do you find the most useful?

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