Emergency Sub Plans for Teachers: How to Prepare for Anything - TPT Blog

4.8K

As every educator knows, sometimes life throws you a curveball (or two). Whether it's an unexpected illness, a family emergency, or an unavoidable last-minute commitment, there are times when you need your substitute to step in and teach. But, how can you prepare for the unexpected?

Having a set of emergency backup plans ready for moments like this can be a lifesaver — both for you and your alternate. Here's a quick guide to creating a foolproof emergency plan that will ensure your classroom runs smoothly and your students stay engaged and productive in the event of an unexpected absence.

Why emergency sub plan is necessary

First, let's chat about why every teacher should take the time to prepare an emergency sub-plan. Unlike pre-planned absences, emergencies don't give you time to make detailed plans for a sub. Without a structured plan, options can feel unplanned and your students may struggle with unexpected changes. By preparing a solid emergency sub-plan, you can help ensure that:

Learning continues with minimal disruption
Students are busy even when you are not there
The substitute teacher has the necessary resources to manage the classroom

What to include in an emergency sub plan

When designing your emergency sub plan, make sure it's simple, accessible, and thorough enough that an alternate can use it without additional context. Here's a breakdown of all the essentials you might want to consider adding to your emergency sub plan

1. Helpful information about the class.

First things first: When creating an emergency sub plan, make sure you write down all the necessary information about your class. These include things like:

Classroom Rules: Briefly list your main classroom rules and the systems you use to manage your classroom or transition from one activity to another.
Daily Routine: Provide a breakdown of each day's schedule, including subject blocks, lunch, and any special activities.
Seating Chart: Make sure you have an updated seating chart available to help subs know where each student sits.
Student Accommodation: If you have students with special needs in your classroom (eg, accommodating food allergies or IEPs), make a short note with relevant details.
List of contacts: Write a list of names and phone numbers — such as the front office or neighborhood teachers — that alternates can call in an emergency or if they need extra help.
Emergency procedures: Outline school protocols for fire drills, lockdowns and medical emergencies.

Pro tip: If you get all of these right at the beginning of the year, you'll knock out a good portion of your emergency backup plan right away!

2. Detailed lesson plans and activities

In your emergency sub plans, it's a good idea to provide straightforward, review-based activities that a substitute teacher can perform with minimal guidance. Here are some recommendations for designing alternative lessons for a range of key subjects.

he: Prepare a few independent reading passages with comprehension questions or simple writing prompts.
Mathematics: Suggest some math games that allow them to practice essential skills and topics they already know.
Science: Provide simple tests or instructional videos with related worksheets. They are great for keeping students interested as well as encouraging independent work.
Social Studies: Print age-appropriate news articles on recent events (related to civics, history, geography or culture). Ask the students to read the article and answer the questions about “who, what, where, when, why and how”.

3. Backup activities

Include some extra activities that your sub can use, if the lessons are a little shorter than expected.

Brain Teaser: Simple math puzzles, word searches, or crosswords related to the current lesson can fill extra time.
Journal Prompt: Prepare some prompts for students to write. These can be fun, open-ended questions or prompts related to recent learning.
Creative Recruitment: Sometimes, creative projects (such as drawing or coloring activities) can help fill extra time and give students a creative outlet.