BECAUSE LIFE HAPPENS: HOW TO PREP FOR A SUB IN A PINCH
The Dreaded "Sub Day" Panic
You wake up feeling awful. Or maybe your kid spikes a fever at 3 AM. Either way, you’re not making it to school today. After scrambling to send an email to your admin, the next thought hits: What on earth are my students going to do today?
If you’ve ever found yourself frantically typing up sub plans between coughs or trying to upload an emergency assignment to Google Classroom while wrangling a sick toddler, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there.
While planned absences allow for thoughtful, structured lessons, unexpected sick days or emergencies often mean teachers are left scrambling. The good news? A little prep work now can save you a lot of stress later. Let’s talk about how to set yourself (and your sub) up for success—whether you have time to plan or not.
1. The "Break Glass in Case of Emergency" Sub Binder
This is your lifeline on days when you can’t make it to school and have zero time to plan. A well-stocked sub folder should include:
- seating charts
- class schedules and bell schedules
- basic classroom procedures and expectations
- simple lesson plans
- answer keys (subs love these!)
- a list of reliable student helpers
- emergency plans and contact info (main office, neighboring teacher bestie, etc.)
- what to do if student behavior goes off the rails
- a place for the sub to leave feedback
If you need one, I have a free template you can get HERE.
2. Low-Stress, High Impact Math Activities for Sub Day Plans
Whether you’re planning in advance or throwing together last-minute plans, these activities work well for math classes with a sub:
- Review Worksheets – Not the most exciting, but effective. Focus on recently covered material to reinforce learning.
- Math Puzzles & Logic Problems – Sudoku, KenKen, crosswords, or “Which One Doesn’t Belong?” tasks keep students engaged.
- Podcasts – Find some thought-provoking podcasts for students to listen to and complete a reflection sheet or activity. My favorite is Brains On! Numbers and I created an accompanying activity which you can get HERE.
- Error Analysis – Give students a problem that’s been solved incorrectly and ask them to find and explain the mistake.
- Choice Boards or Math Menus – Provide a set of tasks students can choose from, like solving problems, writing explanations, or creating their own word problems.
3. What to Avoid When Preparing for a Sub (If Possible)
🚫 New material. A sub likely won’t be able to explain it as well as you can, and students might struggle without direct instruction.
🚫 Tech-based lessons. If it requires any kind of login, navigating new software, or troubleshooting glitches or internet woes, it’s probably more trouble than it’s worth.
🚫 Unstructured “free time.” Even well-behaved classes can devolve into chaos without clear expectations.
4. When you have time to plan
If you know you’ll be out in advance, try to keep students on track with meaningful work:
- Self-paced assignments – Let students work on an ongoing project or digital practice.
- Partner or group work – Assign structured tasks where students can collaborate.
- Spiral review activities – Mix older content with newer skills for reinforcement.
- Video lesson – Assign a video lesson to keep students engaged in learning, even when you aren’t there. Screen record yourself with audio going through a PowerPoint for that day’s lesson with accompanying notes.
Final Thoughts: Make it Easy on Yourself
The goal of sub plans isn’t perfection—it’s survival. Your students will be okay for a day or two. The more you can automate and prepare ahead of time, the easier those unexpected absences will be. Here are some ways to make this happen.
So, take an hour to set up a sub folder, save and print copies of a few go-to activities, and give yourself peace of mind. Because let’s be real—whether it’s a sick day, a conference, or a last-minute emergency, you will be out at some point. And when that happens, Future You will thank you for the prep work.
