Grades K–5
Sub Procedures Quick Guide
How we do things in our room, for a guest teacher: attendance, lunch count, bathroom, water, pencils, getting help, line up and dismissal.
Classroom management printable · Substitute teacher activity packets
Sub Plans: Our Day
A sub plan schedule: each time block with the activity, where to find materials and notes, plus the attention signal and early finisher plan.
- Grade level
- Grades K–5
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Planning for a substitute, Independent work, Classroom routines
What kids do
“Walk the guest teacher through the day, block by block: what to teach, where the materials are and any notes.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Early finishers can:
Teacher tip
Write the times exactly as they are on your daily schedule.
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.
- Introduce the sheet once, model it, then make it part of a routine so kids know what to expect.
Watch for
Private student information left in the open. Keep health and family notes in a sealed folder.
Talk about it
- What does a great sub day look like?
- How can this help you be ready to learn?
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
Dismissal Plan for the Sub
A dismissal list for the sub folder: each student, how they go home, bus number or pickup person and notes, plus the end-of-day steps.
Grades K–5
Helpers and Health Notes for the Sub
A private sub folder page: reliable student helpers, students with allergies or medical needs, students who need extra support and staff to call.
Grades K–1
Sub Day Count and Draw Pack
A K and 1st grade sub day page: count stars, find the group with more, trace numbers, a counting pattern and a drawing to finish.
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.