6 Things You Should Have for a Sub

“That’s not the way our teacher does it…”

I can’t even imagine the number of times a substitute teacher will hear that phrase upon entering my classroom in my stead. I give them props! I try to be super detailed for my subs, and have worked on how I put my materials together for them over the years.

Here are six things that I include because I think they make prepping for a sub so much easier on me. And I think they help a sub go from surviving our classroom to thriving in it!

Currently I have a multi-page clear folder that I snagged from the Dollar Tree that holds all of my sub tools.

Welcome substitute!

In the very front window pocket of the entire folder, I tuck in this welcome note and then proceed to fill the rest of the pockets inside the folder with the sheets below.

Mail & lesson plans

Using a binder clip – I clip a label the front cover for subs to clip all papers/notes together that happen float into their possession during the day.

I tuck in my detailed lesson plans and label them too for quick reference. I set these at the front so the sub can grab them right away if they happen to walk in late… because that never happens.

Class list

This one may be obvious, but I include a class list with photos. I also hand this out to our specials teachers the first week of school and they are very grateful.

I normally keep a set of name labels in the pocket with this list to make calling students by name a matter of “peel and stick”. Since I mention students by name in my plans, I think this helps give a heads up before the day begins.

Contacts list

I like to mention helpful people by name that would be the top three a sub might come in contact with on any given day. This includes our secretary, our school nurse and my favorite teacher down the hall. I’d want to be able to call someone by their name if I could… names are important!
Plus we all know how valuable it is to make great friends with the school secretary! {wink}

Procedures

If I want my high expectations held throughout my half day, whole day or multiple day absence… I figure I’d better shed the light on them. This is a “sub-ified” version of our parent/student behavior agreement plan for our classroom.

Emergency procedures

This one is my least favorite, so I try to make it easy on the eyes. Our normal one that hangs by our door is so not user-friendly but is mandated.

So, I keep this one in the folder to make it easy to grab and go and understand my version of how I explain things to students.

The day’s materials

I like to spread out the day’s materials and place a label card on top of each set of materials. It allows me to do one final check that I’ve set out everything they need to match the plans I’ve made.

I adhere a library card pocket to hold all of these 3×5 cards in the back of my sub folder so I don’t have to wonder where I put them the next time I’m prepping for a sub.

Do you want the quick way to get this done for yourself? Set up your own substitute folder using this ready to go template. It’s editable so you can plug and play your own classroom information and you’re good to go!

Purchase the Substitute Survival Editable Packet

What’s something you do to try and make a substitute’s life {and yours} easier?

Check out how I like to leave my stuff out for a sub.

And if you teach kindergarten, grab these free emergency sub plans that’ll make being ready in a pinch soooo much easier.

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.

More on teacher organization

• How to Prepare for a Substitute Teacher
• Organizing digital teacher files 
• Organizing teacher materials for the week and quarter