Is your classroom teeming with coughs, sneezes, and sniffles? For the last couple of weeks, our editorial department has been rattled with hacks, 
ah-choos, and snorts. In fact, on Friday, I found myself back in the sack after an ill-fated attempt to make it into the office. Thankfully, a phone call and a few emails took care of my work-related worries for the day.
This has me wondering about the preparations you make for a substitute. Technology has surely improved this process, right?
Please share—your ideas, not your colds! 🙂
Diane
I think that one of the best preparations is still routine; having clear expectations that you have practiced can really be one of the best strategies. However, it doesn’t hurt that I can text or e-mail my neighbor teacher anything that I forgot!
I communicate my plans by email and any concerns as well. I have a routine and the kids know it well so things go smoothly. But I am always careful to tell the sub to feel free to change my plans if they feel it is not working.
I’m lucky when I’m out my assistant steps up into my place. The children know the routine and the lesson plans are on-site, but she knows that she can change anything that needs to be tweeked. I tell her that I’m just a phone call away if she needs me for anything.
I have an aide in my room, so that really helps along with having a daily routine that the students know to follow.
In case both my aide and I are out, I have an emergency folder filled with information and activities that the sub can use.
I do my best not to miss work. I have gone to work when I haven’t felt very well just to save my days. I have to be extremely ill or have a family emergency in order to miss.
I hate to write sub plans! I don’t want to leave all review because the kids often see it as busy work and don’t do their best. I try to leave something hands on with really specific instructions. However, I always leave my “sub notebook.” It’s full of all the routines and procedures for the classroom. I’ve had a couple subs tell me that was really helpful ~ especially if they’re new to our building.
I hate missing school. It is always so much extra work! I leave so much to do on top of what I already have scheduled. I have to make sure that every change expected for that day is recorded and to make sure that all routines and procedures are spelled out. I have a sub box with four subfolders-routines, procedures, lists of students, seating chart, etc./extra work folders for math and language arts/and extra fun activities. I also put LOTS of sticky notes all over my lesson plans for the day. See? TOO much work! But…sometimes, I just have to be out.