How to Create an Amazing and Effective Sub Folder

You NEED a great sub folder. If it hasn’t happened already, it is going to happen- you are going to be sick or have an unexpected emergency that requires you to be absent from school.  No matter how healthy you are and how strong your immune system, you will be in contact with students who sometimes come to school ill. Beginning teachers have not developed immunity to the germs that float around schools and are particularly susceptible to meeting those germs in person.

Some school require teachers to keep a substitute folder on their desks or in the office at all times. Teachers have been known to come to school late at night, even though they are ill, to prepare plans for the next day. Many teachers send plans to school in the morning with a friend or spouse. Other teachers have learned through experience that it is better to keep a well-planned sub folder than to be caught unprepared.

Trying to prepare good lesson plans when you are not feeling well or when you are in the midst of a family emergency is no fun. We recommend that you prepare a complete and highly usable sub folder.

Here are our steps to creating a good sub folder:

1. Get a file folder with pockets, an accordion file, a binder or even a plastic tub.

2. Label the folder, binder or tub in large, easy to see print.

3. Fill the folder with the following:

Your daily and weekly class schedule

Your class attendance lists and seating charts

Attendance and lunch count procedures

A list of classroom rules and expectations

A list of students with medical concerns (be thoughtful about student privacy issues but share what is necessary)

Location of emergency information for fire drills etc.

A general note to the sub explaining your routines

A list of reliable students and colleagues who can answer questions or be helpful

Include two or three days’ worth of lesson plans and activities that are related to your subject and that provide important skill work. Your emergency lesson plans should not be directly connected to your current unit of study. This allows you to keep emergency sub plans without having to change them in the moment to reflect the current unit.

Include routine classroom activities, such as silent reading time, or work centers or stations.

Include activities that you have used successfully and that students enjoy. Review activities or instructional games that students know how to play and enjoy are often good choices.

Materials such as Weekly Readers or other student magazines (with the teacher’s edition) are self-contained and provide good skill work.

Provide handouts or other materials needed for the lessons.  Label everything with sticky notes.

Try to keep the lessons low tech, as technology often adds a level of complication, but if you do want subs to use the tech in your room be sure to include logins and passwords to things such as your computer and smart board.

Though it does take some time to set up a good sub folder, the time will be well spent when you find yourself suddenly ill or in the midst of a family emergency. You will feel a level of security and comfort knowing that no matter what happens, you have done your best to leave your students in good hands.

Happy planning,

P.S. If you would like our favorite 5 step lesson plan formula template, fill out the form below and we will send it to you!