First Grade Emergency Sub Plans

Teachers may be the only professionals that spend hours preparing to take a day off. So, let’s make things easier! In this post I’ve put together some tips and resources for creating a first-grade sub plan. 

My Lucky Seven First Grade Sub Plan Tips:
(Remember.. do this before you actually need to. You’ll be so glad you did)

1.) QUALITY WORK that takes a while to complete:

I know, I know, worksheets are bad right now… but for first grade sub plans, a worksheet can be the perfect thing for a sub. It’s easy for you to prepare. When you choose for your students to do an activity, you have to write all of the directions out for the sub, making the preparation process take even longer. A well thought-out worksheet can keep the kids busy. Busy kids can be quiet kids. Kids that aren’t in trouble. So, get some engaging WORKSHEETS together. Here are some I made for my first grade class. I like something that most any kid can do, any time of year.

I like to leave something for the sub to put on the desks first thing in the morning. Something fun and different that says, “My teacher’s not here, but it is going to be okay. We are going to have fun.” Like the word search below. Remember to always leave answer keys for your sub, even if it seems like it’s easy work. Having answer keys take the questions away that your sub might have.

These Color By Code Worksheets make excellent Early Finishers work.

Discussing School Rules is appropriate any time of year and provides good reminders for students.

The worksheets should basically be self-explanatory and not require any new teaching. But, they should take a while to complete. That’s why I chose: Word Searches with Kid Friendly Vocabulary, Color By Code with Sight Words, Basic Number Sense and School Rules. They are basic, fun and take time to finish!

2.) GET ORGANIZED:

Organize your worksheets and activities so that they are easy to read. You can use sticky notes or place a schedule on top. Just make sure the sub knows exactly what to do and at what time to do it. Check out this “Dear Substitute” letter. I made one of these for each worksheet in my First Grade Sub Plans.

Having a letter like this for every worksheet/activity can help tremendously. I like that the sub is given information one item at a time. Once she’s finished with the subject, she will put the letter away and grab the next activity. It is also a great reminder on what to do while the kids are working.
**To make sure you have enough work for the students, have something for EVERY SUBJECT, plus work for EARLY FINISHERS**

These special printable sticky notes just for substitutes can be real time savers.

Much less writing goes in to planning when the sticky notes are preprinted.

3.) LEAVE A Detailed SCHEDULE: 

A schedule that tells where to be at what time is a very valuable tool. Recess, Lunch, Specials, and Library Time are key. The sub will need to know when and where the students go to the restroom and what time they have snack. Leave a list of students that love to help and are capable of doing so without being bossy and disrespectful to the substitute. A kind child that can answer her questions can be a great comfort to your substitute. Also, consider leaving name tags or make sure students has name tags on their desk.  You can also leave name tags in your sub folder and the sub can put them out.  

4.) STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS:

This could include kids that need to go to the restroom often, kids that have allergies, kids that go to the nurse, kids with behavior issues, kids that need more support, kids that get In Class Support or get pulled out for support. The substitute will need to have all of that information at her fingertips. It will need to be well organized and easy to read. A Spreadsheet with this information with names highlighted is very helpful. And, easy to change when needed.

5.) BEHAVIOR INCENTIVES:  

Getting your students to read independently while you’re away can be a challenge.  I made these Independent Reading Awards for the sub to give out.  You could also leave stickers, candy corn, skittles. or other types of incentives that your students like.  

If your students can read for 15 to 20 minutes independently for the substitute, that’s easy peasy to prepare. And, if you have some incentives on hand, kids are much more likely to read for an extended period of time to earn something from the sub. These come 6 per page and have a place for the sub to sign.  Want more about reading incentives, check out this blog post. 

Independent Reading Awards

6.) ROUTINES:

Try to keep routines in place. Children do better when they stay on a schedule. Especially the little rascals. Sometimes there is no way around changing your schedule, but if there is a way to keep it BUSINESS as USUAL, then do. Your thank you will come in the form of a GOOD DAY for your kiddos.

7.) DISMISSAL:

So they have survived the day. You’ve left everything needed for everyone to have a wonderful day.
Now it is time to go home. This might be the most important thing. A list of how everyone gets home. If it is the beginning of the year… It is the MOST IMPORTANT THING. It would be worse than awful if someone went home on a bus when they were supposed to go home in a car. So be sure you have this in place.

You likely have this information already in one place, but it needs to be a document especially for the substitute. And it needs to be updated. Imagine the confusion caused when a student argues with a substitute about how they get home… and the student is right because his teacher forgot to update the dismissal information. Also, make sure you add new students as they enroll. I’ve been there! These things are so easy to put off.

You’re Ready for Your Emergency Day Off

So now you have everything listed above in one place. You are ready for a day off. Just getting all of those items together will cause you to need a day off. Ha Ha! Since you are already making copies, why not make a few days’ worth? That way you won’t be scrambling if you need more than one day off at a time.

Finding the Time

You might ask… when will I have time to do all of this? So, here are some ideas to make it less painful.

• If you have volunteers at your school who make copies, put all of the copies in to be made.
• Take your papers home and sit in front of the TV with sticky notes and organize them.
• Grab a glass of wine if you like.  I like to do everything I can at home.
• If you have small children, wait until they are in bed to get started.
• Do a little bit each day until you have completed your task of PREPARING YOUR FIRST GRADE SUB PLANS

Click to see a preview of First Grade Sub Plans.  

 

I hope this information has helped you in some way.

 

Need More Engaging Resources for your substitute?

Don’t forget to pin the image below to your Teaching Resources board on Pinterest for future use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by,
~ Carrie