When to use this plan
Fill out a substitute teacher plan whenever you’ll be out, whether it’s planned or not. A sub walking into an unfamiliar room needs the schedule, the lessons and the routines in one place. The better the plan, the more learning happens and the calmer your return.
Many teachers keep an emergency sub plan in a labeled folder on the desk, with a few days of review activities, ready for unexpected absences.
How to fill it out
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Header | Your name, grade or subject, room, dates, the office extension, and a helpful colleague nearby. |
| Daily schedule | Each period or block: time, class, the lesson in a few clear steps, and where the materials are. |
| Attendance | How and when to take it, and where to send it. |
| Seating charts and class lists | Where to find them. Seating charts help the sub learn names fast. |
| Students who need support | Accommodations and medical notes, kept brief and private. |
| Classroom routines | Bathroom passes, the quiet signal, and what early finishers should do. |
| Emergency procedures | Where the fire, lockdown and evacuation plans are posted. |
| Dismissal | Bus, pickup and walker procedures. |
| Notes for the teacher | Space for the sub to tell you how the day went. |
Filled-in example
| Time | Class / period | Lesson plan | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:15 | Homeroom | Attendance on the computer by 8:25, then morning announcements. | Login card in the top desk drawer |
| 8:30 | Math, grade 5 | Review page 112 together, then students finish page 113 on their own. Collect at the end. | Workbooks in the blue bin |
| 9:30 | Reading | Read chapter 6 of Hatchet aloud, then students answer the 4 questions on the worksheet. | Worksheets in the “Sub” folder |
| 10:30 | Recess | Duty on the north playground. Whistle on the hook by the door. |
Helpful colleague: Ms. Ortiz, Room 14. Quiet signal: raise your hand and count down from five.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Lessons that need your expertise. Plan review, practice or reading activities that any adult can lead, not new material.
- Hard-to-find materials. Put everything in one labeled folder or bin.
- Too much detail on student behavior. Share what the sub needs to keep students safe and supported, and nothing more.
- No plan for early finishers. An idle class is the fastest way to a rough day.
Frequently asked questions
How detailed should a sub plan be?
Detailed enough that someone who has never been in your room could run the day. Short, numbered steps work best.
What should go in an emergency sub folder?
Two or three days of standalone activities, class lists, seating charts, the schedule, and emergency procedures.
Should I include student medical information?
Include only what the sub needs to keep students safe, such as allergies or where an inhaler is kept. Follow your school’s privacy policy.
How do I get feedback from the sub?
Leave the notes section at the end and ask for a short summary of each class. It tells you where to pick up.