Check out our favorite resources for substitute teachers, including emergency lesson plans, advice from experienced subs, teaching podcast recommendations, and more!

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  <div>
    In honor of
    <a
      href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/american-education-week-november-16-20-2020#:~:text=Friday%2C%20November%2020%3A%20Substitute%20Educators%20Day"
      >Substitute Educators Day</a
    >, established by the National Education Association as part of American
    Education Week, we&rsquo;ve assembled a substitute teacher survival kit,
    complete with our very favorite resources for subs.&nbsp;
  </div>

  <div>
    But first&hellip;here&rsquo;s what we think makes substitute teachers so
    special!
  </div>

  <div>
    <strong
      >Super substitute teachers help kids feel confident and safe.</strong
    >
    Subs keep the classroom organized and running effectively. They maintain a
    sense of calm, continuity, and security for kids when their classroom
    teachers are out for the short or long term.&nbsp;
  </div>

  <div>
    <strong
      >Spectacular substitute teachers make classroom teachers, principals,
      parents, and staff happy.</strong
    >
    Teachers, administrators, and parents love knowing their students are in
    good hands when a skilled, confident professional is in charge. A great sub
    can put the classroom teacher at ease. When a trusty sub is in charge,
    teachers know that when they return, their kids won&rsquo;t be behind, their
    classroom will be as they left it, and everyone will be ready to dive back
    in.
  </div>

  <div>
    <strong
      >Stellar substitute teachers bring individuality and energy to the
      classroom.</strong
    >
    We can all remember having fun, creative, energetic subs we were happy to
    see as kids! Those substitute teachers develop a reputation around the
    school, and everyone is thrilled to find out they&rsquo;ll be taking over
    the class for the day.
  </div>

  <div>
    <strong>Sensational substitute teachers teach!</strong> While some subs are
    able to jump in and teach lessons within subject areas, most are expert in
    teaching life&rsquo;s lessons. Kids can learn how to treat adults, support
    each other, and work as a team with the guidance of an excellent sub.
  </div>

  <h2>Top Resources for Substitute Teachers</h2>

  <div>
    Here are some of our faves to help you on your way as a substitute teacher.
    Don&rsquo;t forget to bookmark the ones you&rsquo;ll use when you&rsquo;re
    on your next assignment.
  </div>

  <div>
    <a href="https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr260.shtml"
      >Substitute Survival: Tools You Can Use</a
    >, published by Education World, has songs, games, templates, and lesson
    activities. This site also features tips for being prepared and advice from
    other subs. You&rsquo;ll also find links to reading activities, writing
    worksheets, prompts, and journal topics. Read about how to be professional,
    how to survive difficult days, and how to make your life as a sub easier.
  </div>

  <div>
    <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/emergency-lesson-plans-8283"
      >Good Emergency Lesson Plans</a
    >&hellip; from Thought.co is an article written for classroom teachers about
    how to leave emergency lesson plans for their subs. It&rsquo;s a must-read
    for substitute teachers, however, because it&rsquo;s inevitable that
    you&rsquo;ll have an assignment and realize the classroom teacher forgot to
    leave you an emergency lesson plan. Tips include avoiding new concepts and
    working on familiar ones, turning to the &ldquo;for further study&rdquo;
    questions in the textbook, using TED-ED Talks or Discovery Ed videos, or
    having students formulate as many questions as possible about a painting,
    photo, infographic, or other visual.
  </div>

  <div>
    <a href="https://www.funbrain.com/">Funbrain</a> can be an excellent
    resource for substitute teachers under the right circumstances. It features
    &ldquo;hundreds of free interactive games, books, videos, and printables
    that help kids develop skills in math, reading, problem-solving, and
    literacy.&rdquo; The games are for kids in grades Pre-K through 8, and the
    site is easy to navigate by subject and skill. There are games focused on
    addition, fractions, vowel sounds, shapes, and more. Be sure Funbrain is
    approved by the classroom teacher and school system. If not, they may have
    access to a similar resource your students will love.
  </div>

  <div>
    <a href="https://www.weareteachers.com/must-listen-podcasts/"
      >Must-Listen Podcasts for Teachers</a
    >
    from We Are Teachers has summaries, reviews, and links to several different
    podcasts. They recommend HMH Learning Moments: Teachers in America, which
    deals with what life is like for today&rsquo;s teachers; Book Love podcast,
    which helps teachers instill a love of reading in students; and The Creative
    Classroom, which focuses on the growth mindset and project-based learning.
  </div>

  <div>
    <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blog"
      >Cross Country Education</a
    >
    has many resources substitute teachers will love. We&rsquo;ve got you
    covered, from
    <a
      href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/supporting-adhd-students"
      >Tips for Supporting Students with ADHD</a
    >
    to
    <a
      href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/bullying-prevention-month"
      >Bullying Prevention Resources</a
    >. You will also find a go-to
    <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/no-lesson-plan"
      >Emergency Lesson Plan</a
    >
    and insight from other subs about what they like about being a
    <a
      href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/barbara-williams-substitute-teacher-of-the-month"
      >substitute teacher with Cross Country Education</a
    >.
  </div>

  <div>
    We hope these resources are a helpful addition to your substitute teaching
    toolbox. And if you&rsquo;re a professional who is considering becoming a
    substitute teacher, don&rsquo;t hesitate to dive in. It&rsquo;s a rewarding
    job with flexibility and freedom. You&rsquo;ll be able to try out different
    schools and grade levels. You won&rsquo;t have the year-long commitment of
    long-term teaching assignments and the stress of ongoing lesson plans and
    grading. Best of all, you&rsquo;ll get to work with kids!
  </div>

  <div>
    Check out our
    <a
      href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/job-search-results?what=substitute&amp;where="
      >substitute teacher jobs</a
    >
    now.
  </div>
</div>


Substitute Teacher Survival Kit