Taking a day out of the classroom, whether it is because you're sick, on a trip or a course, is always a double edged sword: on one hand you may desperately need the day off, but on the other there is the stress of having to set cover work for your classes (which is always 100 times worse when you're ill!).
I am often on both sides of the teacher's desk: a teacher who needs to leave work for subs every now and then and a teacher who sometimes covers lessons for colleagues. In fact, I recently covered a Spanish lesson which was a last minute emergency and so no work had been left. When I got to the classroom I let the students in, they unpacked their equipment and looked up at me expectantly. I looked back at them and said "hola!", they smiled openly and greeted me back the same way. There was a pause before I blurted out, "That's all I've got, guys - that's the only word I know!". Their little confused faces were hilarious - but I'm very open with my students and they actually found it really funny! A Spanish lesson wasn't even something I could even attempt to teach as I know NOTHING! Fortunately, after years of experience in these kinds of predicaments, I created my own kit of emergency sub plans that are handy activities that can be used for any subject - it saved my bacon that day!
So if you're taking a day out of the classroom for whatever reason, here are my top tips for easily and effectively preparing for a substitute teacher:
So if you're taking a day out of the classroom for whatever reason, here are my top tips for easily and effectively preparing for a substitute teacher:
1) If you know you are going to be away in advance, ensure the cover work is taped to the desk or board so it's easy for the sub to find. I have had many experiences of having to fumble around someone's desk wading through piles of paper and books trying to find the work. It's not very appreciated, I have to say - the work should be easy to find and simple to understand.
If you're calling in absent, you could email the work to a reliable colleague so it can be printed for you and left on your desk or if you can get access to the school network from home, you could also upload work there too.
If you're calling in absent, you could email the work to a reliable colleague so it can be printed for you and left on your desk or if you can get access to the school network from home, you could also upload work there too.
Upload your sub work to your school network for staff to access easily
2) Leave a register and a seating chart with the cover work or have them on display in your room at all times. Some cheeky students will often try it on with a sub and take advantage - it's important the teacher covering has all the information so they can't be played!
3) Set cover work that doesn't involve learning new material. When I first started teaching I remember I had to cover a French lesson (why all the languages?!) and the cover work actually requested I teach them French and get students at the front having conversations. In all honesty I wouldn't understand or know if they were even accurate, so I had to adapt the plans a bit - I didn't need that extra stress in a "foreign" subject (pun intended!). Personally, I like to set creative tasks that are enjoyable, calming and reinforce previous learning in fun ways that also won't involve a heavy marking load.
Avoid asking your sub to teach new material
4) Always have plenty of extension work available. There's nothing worse than students racing through the tasks and finishing early with nothing else to do for the next 30 minutes! Have more than you think they'll need to ensure they will be kept nice and busy.
5) Keep the number of resources required to a minimum. It can get quite stressful ensuring equipment and textbooks etc. are available, and even worse if it's a last minute cover and the sub arrives and can't find any resources or equipment. (Yep, this has also happened to me - a task required text books, except no one knew where the textbooks were...) Keep it simple - just grab paper and go.
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6) Finally, here is the pack of emergency sub plans I created and use often. I reach for it for when I need to set sub work for my own classes and I also keep it in my arsenal for when I am covering lessons myself, just in case I am left teaching another language again ;)
​ This pack has 10 different themes that can be used for any subject and it includes lots of variations of lessons ideas within each theme! |
You can just leave the "theme sheet" and your sub can choose the activities, or alternatively you can select what your students do, but at least there is plenty of extension work available. Also there are worksheets included which go with each theme if you choose, but all activities can just be done on plain paper or computer depending on what you have available. The idea is that they can be used in any circumstance and with limited resources - perfect for no prep emergencies!
I have a sample of one theme from this pack which you can use for free here to get you started, I hope it is helpful for you! Our job is hard enough as it is; we shouldn't be working even harder when we need to be off, especially if we are ill and need to relax!
I hope these tips help you out and I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with subbing (preparing or doing!).
I have a sample of one theme from this pack which you can use for free here to get you started, I hope it is helpful for you! Our job is hard enough as it is; we shouldn't be working even harder when we need to be off, especially if we are ill and need to relax!
I hope these tips help you out and I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with subbing (preparing or doing!).
Check out these other sub plans for secondary school:
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