Grades 1–5
How Did Today Go With Our Guest Teacher?
A student reflection for the end of a sub day: a 1 to 5 rating, what went well, what was hard, how I helped and a note for the guest teacher.
Classroom management printable · Substitute teacher activity packets
Sub Day Story Starter
A sub day writing page for 1st to 3rd grade: a story about a mystery visitor in the classroom, with a quick plan, writing lines and a picture.
- Grade level
- Grades 1–3
- Time
- About 25 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Planning for a substitute, Independent work, Classroom routines
What kids do
“Your teacher is away and something strange happens in your classroom… Plan it, write it and draw it.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Story starter: When the guest teacher opened the closet, something surprising was inside…
- Who or what was inside?
- What went wrong?
- How was it fixed?
- Write your story.
- Draw the surprise in the closet.
Teacher tip
Have the sub read a few stories aloud at the end of the day.
How to use it
- Keep a full sub folder ready at all times, not just for planned days off.
- Choose activities kids can do with little help.
- Fill one in with the class the first time so kids see what a finished one looks like.
Watch for
Private student information left in the open. Keep health and family notes in a sealed folder.
Talk about it
- How can we help a guest teacher feel welcome?
- Why do you think we use this in our classroom?
Take it further
Practice a sub-day routine once with another teacher so kids know what to expect.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More substitute teacher activity packets
Grades K–5
Substitute Teacher Info Sheet
One page for the sub folder: the daily schedule, helpers, procedures, students who need extra support and where things are.
Grades K–1
Guest Teacher Fun Pack
A K and 1st grade sub day page: say hello to your guest teacher, count stars, find the missing number, trace a word and draw.
Grades 2–3
Sub Day Puzzle Pack
A 2nd and 3rd grade sub day page: unscramble five school words, solve a number riddle, find the way through a maze and write a note.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.