ELA Seminar Gal: ELA Substitute Plans to the Rescue

One thing I've learned (the hard way) is that 3 critical elements must be included in emergency plans if my classes are going to run smoothly when I’m absent.

This is my go-to formula for creating super sub plans:

The instructions must be simple (so they’re understood by students and substitutes).

The tasks must be relevant (so students know that their work will be revisited or assessed).

The lessons must be fun (so that even the most resistant learner will want to do the assignments).

Simply put: Poorly planned lessons + a day with a substitute = Epic Fail.

So what kinds of assignments set students and guest teachers up for success?

Here are 3 my favorite activities to leave as emergency plans so the substitute is delivering worthy lessons, the students are enjoying high-interest assignments, and I am feeling guilt-free about missing a day of school:

Activity #1: Hink Pink Warm Up (5 minutes)

12 Hink Pink cards are included in the Emergency ELA Sub Plans freebie.

Hink Pinks are designed to be used as teacher-led sessions in which students call out single-syllable rhyming answers.

Example 1: When the teacher announces the clue set, “ARTIFICIAL REPTILE,” a student or students will call out, “FAKE SNAKE!”

Example 2: When the teacher announces the clue set, “BRIEF GRUNT,” a student or students will call out, “SHORT SNORT!”

Activity #2: Point of View Writing (30-40 minutes)

Pick up these interactive point of view sheets in the Emergency ELA Sub Plans freebie.

The title of this lesson is Make Your Characters Jump Off the Page. Students will receive one Slide and Stop direction card and one 60-80 Word Dash task sheet.

The substitute will instruct students to drop their fingers into column #1 and slide their fingers up and down the column (without looking) until they hear the word STOP. This will tell the students what their personality types are. Then onto column #2 to find out who they will become for the writing assignment. And finally, the last slide-and-stop (column #3) will identify their setting.

Students will then write their Slide and Stop combinations on the 60-80 Word Dash task sheets.

If time allows, students get into pairs and ask each other questions. Note: The most important part of this task is that students must answer questions as if they are the characters they selected.

Then students will give us a little peek into their new lives by writing a 60-80 word snapshot. This activity is always a hit with substitutes and students.

Activity #3: Research Simulation Task (40 minutes)

Simulated Research Notes and a Ben Franklin biography frame are included in the Emergency ELA Sub Plans freebie.

Biography Research Frames help students realize how fascinating research can be by giving them nonthreatening paragraph frames that make research projects easy to do and enjoyable to present.

In this final assignment, student pairs will jigsaw information about Benjamin Franklin and come to consensus about what information should be included in the paragraph frame.

Students will present their paragraphs when I return.

You can pick up a set of ELA substitute plans here: