Easy Sub Plans for Your ELA Classroom

There is nothing worse than waking up for a day of work…only to discover your not feeling well. As teachers, it means scrambling last minute for that dreaded thing: sub plans. If you just groaned at the thought – same. Whether you have a planned day off coming or want to be prepared for emergencies, having easy sub plans ready at a moment’s notice is a life-saver.

Let’s be honest, the last thing you want to do after a night of restless sleep and belly aches is put together sub plans. Let’s talk about how you can prepare for subs and prep easy sub plans in advance for maximum convenience. 

Preparing for a Substitute

Having a sub folder or binder will save you a huge headache. This is where you store all the important info your sub would need to know about the day and your class. Obviously you can’t go into all the details, so stick to the important, essential items. 

I recommend keeping copies of your class schedule, important numbers (like the nurse or front office), a classroom management plan, student allergies or medical concerns, any emergency plans, and which of your colleagues they can go to if they have a question.

If you want to simplify this prep, and more sure you don’t miss any key information, check out my no-prep editable sub plan resource! I include templates for important information, including emergency drill info, class schedule template, sub plan outlines, and more.

Easy Sub Plan Ideas

Alright, here comes the fun part: making the plans! I know, I know. Probably not actually that fun, but this is where the effort upfront saves yourself stress later. Here are a few ideas to prep for sub plans.

#1 Independent Reading Day

Independent reading is such an overlooked idea for a sub day. It’s simple for a sub to manage, and we all know finding time to incorporate free reading into class is challenging. Why not make use of this time with a sub?

Give students time to read independently and check out books from your classroom library. You could even have them write a review of a recent book they read. These are fun to post around your classroom library to give other students ideas of a book they might like. 

For the sub, make sure you leave instructions about how students can check-out books, where they can get the book review templates, and generally how students should be using this time.

#2 Close Reading Activity

A close reading activity that is simple for a sub to manage. Plus, it’s also quick and easy for your colleague to print off for your class in the case of an emergency. Close reading activities are great because they allow students to practice and review essential reading skills and further their knowledge of a topic.

Because I’m all about working smarter, not harder – I wanted to share the close reading assignment I often leave behind for my students. I have Al Capone and Anne Frank close reading passages, great for 6th-8th grade.

Each close reading passage is enough for a day of lesson plans (possibly two, if you have shorter class periods or your students need extra time). These passages are engaging, and the text-dependent questions included are intended to challenge students while still allowing them to work independently. 

Plus, this close reading resource is intended to be easy sub plans, so I’ve made everything print-and-go, and even included the lesson plan notes for a sub to follow.

#3 Pixar Activity

This idea is dependent on your access to technology in the classroom. If your students have access to 1:1 technology, you can upload Pixar videos and then have students answer related questions. Pixar videos are a great way to practice plot, characterization, make inferences, draw conclusions, make connections, and more.

This can be an easy sub plan because you just need to create a Google Form. Upload the videos and questions there. The best part is that this can all be done from home if you’re out unexpectedly! Students love watching videos, so this assignment will have them hooked.

#4 Review Vocabulary

Another technology-based suggestion is using online games to review vocabulary. We all know that vocabulary is a critical piece of student learning and reviewing vocabulary is never time wasted. 

This is an easy sub plan because you can make this game once – and reuse it again and again (with or without a sub!). Plus, a lot of times you can find premade games. Some websites I like to use are Blooket, Gimkit, Kahoot, or Knoword. 

Just be sure to set the websites to “independent mode” to allow students to practice without the help of a teacher or a classmate. This will keep students on task and engaged in their learning. Games can also help you avoid that feeling of overwhelm when you return from an absence. There won’t be piles of papers for you to grade or sort – just check the stats on the game platform.

#5 Creative Writing Activity

Tapping into your students’ creative writing is a fun way to keep them engaged. Students can complete a creative writing assignment “guessing” where their teacher is for the day, which is bound to make you laugh a few times when you return – because seriously, middle schoolers come up with some crazy stuff. They don’t need to know you’re at a dentist appointment getting a cavity filled…they’ll imagine you’re at an amusement park or flying to space with a billionaire. 

This activity gets students’ creativity flowing, and it’s a low pressure assignment – even your struggling writers can come up with a ridiculous, fun story. The great part, too, is that you can use this prompt more than once throughout the year! My only warning is to make sure you set the expectation that these are school appropriate stories.

Want Ready-to-go Middle School ELA easy sub plans?

It’s time to leave behind the sub planning stress and chaos. If you want to make your days off a breeze and engaging for your students, grab the Middle School ELA Editable Sub Plans with Close Reading Passages. 

This resource makes for super easy grab-and-go emergency sub plans or to help you prep ahead of time for a day off. It includes sub information templates, substitute lesson plans, and two close reading passages: Al Capone and Anne Frank. You’ll thank me later 😉