It was the first week of school and those back-to-school-germs were no joke. Typically I feel pretty good, maybe a sniffle here and there, but I was so surprised to feel feverish within the first couple of days! Definitely a career first! By the third day of school I was in need of a sub because I couldn't get my fever to go away. Thank goodness a sub picked up my posting (our district is low on subs as I'm sure all districts are), but it was a mad dash at 5am to make sure I had everything she may need for the day.
One thing I made sure to add to my classroom was an Emergency Sub Tub - as many teachers do. Previously I spent a lot of time having to write out plans and prep all the things, but many times I need a sub it's because of an unexpected illness or circumstance. This means little time to actually prep anything and therefore a lot of the effort gets put on my team. I don't like how unfair this can be, so I've made the switch to a Sub Tub.
The Emergency Sub Tub
Making the official switch to the tub has been a game changer for me!
I love that it just sits, with copies and class info ready to go, near my desk and ready for whenever I have a guest teacher in my room.
Here's a peek at what I've put in mine...
I created
this resource as a foundation for my sub tub. Each page is a template where I simply add in my info year after year and print. From there, I have hanging file folders for each subject where I place ahead of time a class set of copies for various activities. I also stick in some read aloud books and for-fun activities. My goal is to make everything easy for my sub and feel as though I'm prepared to be out...
Sub Activities
This is where each teacher at different grade levels can differentiate their tubs.
For me in kinder I have a lot of review pages that are cut/glue, drawing pictures to respond, and activities that they've already done. I also include coloring pages and other fun things that can act as fillers or simply just 'for fun.' I take a peek at my filing cabinet and grab worksheets we've worked on before and are great review. Some of these activities include: handwriting/tracing letters/name work, alphabet/letter sounds, simple math activities like number work/counting, and science/social studies I typically include a behavior sort (i.e. kind/unkind sort).
Here are a few other ideas you could add to your tub:
For older students (and back when I taught 2nd grade) I created
this resource based on the famous story
Miss Nelson is Missing. It's a popular download over at my shop and I'm glad that so many teachers have found it helpful. This could be something you simply print and have on-hand in your own sub tub. You can read all about this resource over on
this blog post.
Freebie Sub Plan Resources
Although you'd have to invest in these resources, they are among my favorite to have on hand!
Be ready with a split-list
One aspect to calling out is the event that a sub does not pick up your posting. In that event, be sure that you have communicated a split-list with your team. For my campus and grade level team, we have pre-made lists where we split our students evenly among the other kinder classes. Whenever this has happened, we each get 3-4 additional students. Having a split-list ready to go (with medical/behavioral/dismissal info included) will help your team ensure your class is ready to go!
I wish you all a healthy school year! I know with these ever present germs it'll be a good idea to prep a sub tub in the event you're having to call out unexpectedly. I know that ever since I made the switch it's been less pressure to get plans ready - with a sub tub it's all sitting and ready to go!
