Hello teacher friends! I'm so glad you are here! Today, I've got a DIY project that might just change the way you plan for a Sub! Summer is a great time to get caught up on classroom projects and this SUB STATION is my favorite way to organize for a substitute! Today, I want to show you just how easy it is to make your own Sub Station! Making a Sub Station takes a small amount of time but yields a BIG return in terms of stress relief and planning! Today I am breaking down my Sub Station so you can see what's inside! ***All of the LINKS will be shared at the bottom of this post!!  Step 1: Sub Survival GuideMy Sub Survival Guide is my BEST SELLING RESOURCE and is a handy (literally) tool for subs because it condenses the MOST IMPORTANT info into a portable guide!!! Many times, your substitute has never set foot in your school or classroom before. Some are so short notice that they arrive as the students do, with LITTLE to NO prep for the day ahead of them. This small resource provides the most essential information for your sub to get through the day successfully!  Why I STOPPED using a Sub Binder: When I first started teaching, I took the time to make a Sub Binder filled with ALL THE DETAILS I could think of. And as the time progressed, I noticed more often than not, the sub didn't even bother with it. Which makes sense, because who has time to read all of that. Not to mention, that sub may never return again! Surely, they don't need to memorize all my most treasured teaching details when they are only teaching a few hours. So, that's when I decided to change things up! I wanted my sub to find info they needed quickly THAT WAS PERTINENT TO MY STUDENTS! What if there is an EMERGENCY? What if there was LIFE THREATENING medical info? What if there was an unplanned fire drill and my sub needed the class roster! I decided I needed a change. Enter my Sub Survival Guide. No more flipping through a lengthy binder! Sub Survival Guide for the win! What is INSIDE the guide? I compiled the most essential info into an editable template. It's large enough to hold a good amount of information but small enough to fit in the hands of your sub and travel with them throughout the day! It contains pre-made templates for you to easily customize! You'll find pages for your emergency procedures, class roster, schedule, bathroom procedures, tips & tricks and much more! I have questions that will guide you as you think about filling in all the info you need. And I've included blank templates in case you think of something I haven't! I have received SO MUCH FEEDBACK from teachers and their subs about how incredibly helpful it was to them! Teacher Heart Happy!!! *Note -> While I love my Sub Survival Guide for the average missed day of work, I do believe there is a place for a Sub Binder for extended leave or maternity leave. You can CLICK HERE to read more about how I plan for that.  Now, think how helpful this info is for BACK TO SCHOOL! When you are learning your new schedule, specials, student names, lunch numbers, student log-ins, etc. That's why I ALSO included a teacher lanyard version!! I've even had teachers contact me and tell me their paras and assistant teachers LOVED having this info handy!  I've even included a Sub Survival Guide template with tabs, in case you want the info even more visible! As you have probably noticed, I have several different font options available! If you want to get more customized with the design, check out my SUB STATION DECOR sets! Step 2: Emergency Sub PlansIf you aren't ready to get rid of your detailed Sub Binder, no problem! Stick it right inside the caddy! If you are like me and moved on from the Sub Binder, this is where I store my Sub Plans! I keep them printed ahead of time so they are ready to grab. I have created several No Prep Sub Plans that are centered around my FAVORITE read alouds. I grab the book and the plans and stick them in the Sub Station! I also place my COPY FREE sub plans inside in case of a TRUE EMERGENCY.  3. Reward Tags & Notes Reward Tags: Providing your sub with a behavior incentive is always a good idea! Set your students up for success and let them know ahead of time what they can earn or achieve in your absence. Set clear expectations so your students can be successful and your sub can maintain sanity ;) Teacher Notes: I like to leave a "note from the sub" so they can fill me in on things I missed! 4. Pens, Sticky Notes, and Candy! Sharing pens/markers and sticky notes are helpful and handy so subs don't have to go digging around in my personal belongings looking for items they need. I also love to leave a treat like chocolate or gum for them, as a kind gesture. Subbing is NOT easy and I know it! A little treat goes a long way. Throw Kindness like Confetti, right?! Side Note: if the idea of leaving your flairs out makes you cringe, feel free to use something different ;) Questions and Links:I hope this blog post was helpful to you as you plan and organize for the new school year! Check out my links below if you would like to purchase these resources in a KIT or individually! ***The first question I always get... "Where did you purchase the DESK ORGANIZER?" -> It's from Target! They are around $10. I've also purchased them at Home Goods, TJ Maxx, & Ross for around $8-12. You can find beautiful wooden ones on Amazon that are a little more sturdy HERE SUB STATION KIT FOR GRADES K-2: (includes the following)
SUB STATION KIT FOR GRADES 3-4: (includes the following)
SUB STATION DECOR -> This is an add-on! You can customize your sub station if you have a specific theme in your classroom and you want it to match! You'll find different styles such as Farmhouse, Woodland, Happy Camper, Black & White, Coffee Lover, Llama, Cactus, Tropical, and MORE! Click HERE to see all the sets I have available. SUB SURVIVAL GUIDE: for any grade level Not interested in the whole kit, you can also purchase the SUB SURVIVAL GUIDE on its own: (includes the following)
FREE SUB PLANS TEMPLATE! Use this template to quickly type up your lesson plans for your Sub! Save the template and make quick edits each time you're out! EMERGENCY SUB PLANS For a true emergency, I have created Copy Free Sub Plans! (That means you don't have to make ANY copies!!) Copy Free Plans for grades K-2 HERE and grades 3-5 HERE NO PREP SUB PLANS (all based on my favorite read alouds)
Click HERE to shop SUB STATION DECOR
4 Comments
Mrs. Biete
5/8/2022 10:49:44 am
Awesome Ideas
Michelle Briner
7/3/2022 05:59:15 pm
I would love to have your sub kit!!!
Shannon
7/12/2022 12:34:16 pm
Would love to have your sub kit
Jacqueline Glass
9/5/2022 10:58:02 am
Love this idea. It would sure come in handy since I’m out sick for the week. Leave a Reply. |
