How to Write a Sub Plan That Actually Works (Templates + Tips)

The Sub Plan Problem

You wake up sick. Or you have a last-minute meeting. Or there's a family emergency. Whatever the reason, you need a sub plan — fast. And it needs to be clear enough that a stranger can walk into your classroom and keep 25 kids on track without calling you.

Most teachers either over-plan (writing a 5-page document no sub will read) or under-plan ("just have them read quietly"). Neither works.

Here's what actually does.

What Every Sub Plan Needs

A substitute teacher has three goals: keep students safe, keep them engaged, and not burn the building down. Your plan should make those three things easy.

The Non-Negotiables

1. Schedule with times

Don't write "do math, then reading." Write "9:00-9:30: Math warm-up (instructions on the whiteboard). 9:30-10:15: Reading groups (see attached group list)." Specific times prevent the most common sub problem: students finishing early and chaos ensuing.

2. Who to call if something goes wrong

Name a specific colleague — not just "ask a teacher." Include their room number. This single line prevents 80% of sub disasters.

3. Important student information

Allergies. Medical needs. Students who leave for services. Behavioral notes (brief, professional, private). This isn't optional.

4. End-of-day instructions

Where to leave attendance. What to leave on your desk. Whether to write a note about how the day went.

What to Include in Activities

The best sub activities share three qualities:

• Clear, step-by-step instructions the sub can read aloud
• Independent work students can do without subject expertise from the sub
• A defined output (students should have X completed by the end)

Great sub activities: review worksheets, independent reading with a response journal, vocabulary practice, drawing/mapping activities, watching a curriculum-aligned video and answering questions.

Bad sub activities: group discussions the sub has to facilitate, new content the sub needs to teach, open-ended creative projects with no clear end point.

The "If Students Finish Early" Section

Always include 2-3 options for early finishers. Otherwise, a fast worker will finish 20 minutes early and derail the whole class. Options:

• Silent reading (independent books or a class novel)
• Free draw or journal writing
• Review packet for an upcoming test
• Khan Academy or another approved website

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