Look, we’ve all been there when middle of the night illness strikes, a family member is ill or an unforeseen emergency happens. We call that a big UH OH moment! It’s easy to prep for a replacement when you know you’ll be away but the reality is, we don’t always have that luxury.

A sub tub is something that I had always wanted to create, but let’s face it…it seemed like a daunting task and my time was better spent actually worrying about what I was teaching, not what some other person might teach. No matter what you call them (TOC, sub, supply teacher…), we are grateful that they’re there to step in for us.

Unfortunately, last spring Miss “I’m never away” got hit with a sudden up all night type illness that left me unable to go to work the next day. YIKES! Technically, I leave a day plan detailed enough that a sub could follow it, but if I had my way, I wouldn’t want them doing my stuff. The things I do aren’t always what would be easy for a replacement to take on because they have no background into it.

The reality when teaching French Immersion is that you never know if 1. you’ll get a sub and 2. if they’ll speak French. Talk about stressful when you have other things to worry about.

So…enough of that nonsense, I started a Sub Tub! It’s an entire week worth of activities that are prepped and ready to go. I have a day plan for each day of the week so there are no surprises. It’s really a one-stop shop for a sub. No need to rummage my cupboards for materials, everything is there.

USING THE TUB

Everything in my tub is fairly self-explanatory. The activities won’t necessarily fit with the unit we’re currently working on and that’s ok, that’s sort of the point! The idea is that you set it up once, and it won’t matter if it’s October or May. Generic is the name of the game.

Whenever it’s needed, I simply send a message to a colleague and ask them to go get the Sub Tub that lives on top of my filing cabinet and put it on my desk for my replacement. Everything is in one place.

At my school, we all have binders in the office that have safety info, medical alerts, class list, emergency procedures etc that get given to our replacement. If you keep that type of thing in your class instead, you could add it to your tub.

But wait…I have an assembly or special event that day that’s not accounted for on the generic day plan! NO PROBLEM! I’d ask my colleague to write a note to add to the plan.

The beauty of these activities is that I don’t really care if they get done or not. I’m not counting on them getting done so that I can continue the next part the next day. There is no pressure to complete anything, or complete it in the way I would want. Use my activities, use your own activities you brought with you, go outside, skip over math…doesn’t matter to me!

If your tub gets used, you just need to add in new activities to fill the gaps of what was taken out, you don’t have to redo the whole thing.

SETTING UP THE TUB

There are so many ways that you can choose to set this up but what I found to be the easiest way is to create a “Sub tub” that has everything in one place. Put the whole week’s worth in there so there’s no worry if your emergency day away turns into two, or three…

I use a file folder tote with a lid from Staples. Inside are hanging file folders for each of my folders. You might have 5 folders for Mon-Fri (see option 1) or you might have it with subject folders (see option 2). I used different colours to differentiate, but there’s no need to.

Resting on top there is a welcome message and my day plans.

SET UP OPTION 1 - Structured

When writing your plans for each day, YOU decide which activities you want them to do. Write your plan to fit your day and choose specific activities. No guess work involved!

You will need 1 folder for each day of the week. Inside each day’s folder you’ll place your day plan, copies, books and materials needed for activities that day. You might also have an extra folder for extra activities for early finishers or for books. It’s up to you!

EXAMPLES OF HOW IT COULD LOOK ON A PLAN:

8:30-9:00 Writing – Hand out the space scene writing page. Go over the vocabulary in the image before starting. They may write about anything that relates to the image. Students may colour once they’ve finished their writing.

10:30-11:00 Math – Review double digit addition with regrouping together. Students may use small whiteboards to practice with you. Then handout “L’addition” worksheet. Please mark this sheet (answer key attached).

SET UP OPTION 2 - FREE CHOICE

The replacement will decide which activities to do. You still provide them with a plan that loosely shapes the day with the “category” of activity to do. Instead of telling them which activity they must do, you’ll say to choose any activity from the math folder, any activity from the writing folder etc. This allows them to choose activities that they’d be comfortable with. This could be very helpful if you get someone who doesn’t speak French. Perhaps they choose the simpler activities with less language on the page.

You will need as many folders as “subjects” you are including in your tub. I have morning work, writing, français, math, science/socials, and art. If you teach ELA, maybe you have a folder for that. You might also have a folder for extra activities for early finishers or for books. It’s up to you! Inside each folder are copies of activities for them to choose from.

The bonus of doing it this way is that if you use it, you don’t have to worry about re-writing plans to fit new activities you add back in. You just need to restock your tub so that you’re back to a full 5 days.

EXAMPLES OF HOW IT COULD LOOK ON A PLAN:

8:30-9:00 Writing

Option A: Journals - Journals are kept in the green bin labelled “Journal”. Students can start a new entry or continue one they were already working on. They may choose any topic. They can use a lexique from the bin “les lexiques thématiques” for vocab support.

Option B: Choose any writing activity from YELLOW folder.

Finished work to go in their “écriture” duotang.

Class should be calm & quiet. Set timer for 20 minutes (on front table).

10:30-11:00 Math – Choose any math activity from the PURPLE folder. Before starting, do a quick review of the skill. Please mark the worksheet (answer keys attached).

EXAMPLE SET UP

This tub is set up using the “free choice” method so that the sub chooses. This means a folder for every subject area. Resting on top is a plastic folder that has a welcome message and inside are the day plans (one for each day to account for preps etc.) and pages for your replacement to write you a note.

While there is no need to add books, I chose to add a few in English and a few in French so they’d have some right there. They are also welcome to read one they brought, or choose any from the bookshelves.

Below is what’s included in each subject area, these activities are from the grade 3 pack. You’ll notice that I also include answer keys for things that require one. There is a class set already photocopied for each activityIf you want to add books, other activities or materials, add them into each folder as well.

Want to save yourself HEAPS of time?

I made a complete Sub Tub that’s print and go, no need to go searching for enough activities to keep your students busy for a week.

You get 34 activities to cover morning work, français, writing, math, science, social studies and art, enough for a week (or more if you stretch it). The activities are ready to go, all you have to do is write the plans to suit days, make copies and sort them into folders. It requires a bit of prep to get it going, but once it’s done, you will be thanking yourself when an uh oh moment happens.

What’s included?