Badge YourClassroom
Strategy guide

Emergency Sub Plans

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Emergency sub plans are written for the morning you wake up with a fever at 5 a.m. They need to work with no notice, no explanation from you, and a substitute who may not know your subject. The best ones are boringly clear: a one-page schedule, seating charts, routines, and self-contained work that reviews skills students already have.

What should be in an emergency sub folder?

Keep a physical folder in an obvious place plus a digital copy the office can access. It should let a stranger run your day without calling you.

  1. Daily schedule with times, room changes and duties
  2. Seating charts for every class, with photos if possible
  3. Class lists and attendance procedure
  4. Students with medical needs, allergies, IEP/504 accommodations (kept confidential)
  5. Emergency procedures and evacuation map
  6. Names of a helpful teacher next door and two reliable students per class
  7. Three days of self-contained lesson plans and copies
  8. Where materials, keys and devices are

Emergency sub folder checklist

ItemWhy it matters
One-page scheduleSub knows where to be
Seating chartsAttendance and names
Medical/allergy infoSafety
RoutinesFewer behavior problems
Lesson plans + copiesNo prep needed
Contact teacher next doorSomeone to ask

What activities work in emergency sub plans?

Choose review work students can do independently: practice sets on skills already taught, reading with response questions, vocabulary puzzles, or a review game the sub can run. Avoid new content, labs, and anything that needs your judgment or technology logins.

  1. Spiral review packet for math
  2. Independent reading + written response
  3. Vocabulary word search or crossword
  4. Review bingo the sub can call
  5. Journal prompts

How do I keep sub plans current?

Review the folder at the start of each quarter: update seating charts, swap lesson plans for current units, and refresh copies. Put a sticky note on the front with the last-updated date.

  1. Set a reminder at the start of each quarter.
  2. Update seating charts and class lists.
  3. Replace lessons with current-unit review.
  4. Make fresh copies.
  5. Check that the office knows where the folder is.

What does one day of emergency sub plans look like?

**Grade level:** 8th grade math, five periods. **Each period (50 min):** Warm-up from the board (5 min) → 'Spiral review packet #2' (30 min, answer key in folder for the sub to collect only, not grade) → Vocabulary crossword for early finishers → Exit: students hand in packets by row. **Notes for the sub:** Period 3 has two students who may leave for speech at 10:15. Ms. Ortiz in Room 214 can help with anything. Fire exit is to the left; map on the door. **After:** The teacher returns to a stack of completed packets and a short note from the sub.

Frequently asked questions about emergency sub plans

How many days of emergency sub plans should I have?
Three days is a common recommendation; it covers a short illness while you prepare regular plans.
Should emergency sub plans include new content?
No. Use review of skills students have already learned so the sub doesn't need to teach.
Where should I keep emergency sub plans?
In a clearly labeled folder on your desk and a copy with the front office or in a shared drive.
Should the substitute grade work?
Generally no—ask them to collect it. You'll get a better read on what students did.

Sources & citations

Claims about pricing, features, privacy, and classroom use are checked against the sources below. Vendor pages are the primary reference for product-specific details.

  1. [1]U.S. Department of Education

    Federal K–12 education policy and student privacy guidance

  2. [2]ISTE Standards for Educators

    Technology integration and instructional design benchmarks

  3. [3]Common Sense Education

    EdTech privacy ratings and classroom implementation reviews

  4. [4]Learning Forward — Standards for Professional Learning

    Evidence-based professional learning practices for teachers

  5. [5]ASCD — Whole Child education resources

    Instructional leadership and classroom practice research

  6. [6]Badge Your Classroom

    Publisher of this guide