Substitute Teaching 101: A Simple Checklist to Leave for Your Subs

While we know that teachers will do everything in their power to be in their classrooms, the reality is that since the beginning of the pandemic, burnout and lower teacher retention rates have been contributing to a nationwide shortage of qualified substitutes. 

Even for seasoned substitute teachers, walking into a new classroom can be challenging. New kids, new space, new curriculum. And while some subs take it in stride and love that every day is different than the one before, others can find the constant readjustment a little overwhelming. 

The truth is, you often don’t have complete control over who will run your classroom in your absence. You may end up with a retired educator who knows their stuff or a kid who graduated last week. Or you may be lucky enough to have a colleague step in for you. 

No matter who ends up in front of your students when you can’t be there, some things about subbing never change, like establishing a good rapport with students and sticking to the lesson plan as closely as possible. 

With immediately usable tips and tricks for subs, this one-page guide will help make their time in your classroom run smoothly and ensure that your students’ learning stays on track. The next time you need a sub, print out and leave this handy checklist for them.

Your students will still miss you, though!