| Everyone gets those situations in life where an | | | | even grade your assignments for you if you ask |
| emergency has come up, and you don't have the | | | | them in your plans.Get this done early in the year, |
| time (or sometimes the ability) to get a good | | | | and you can save yourself many headaches later, |
| lesson plan in to school for your students. Maybe | | | | not to mention worries about what will happen in |
| you have a family emergency or a disrupted | | | | your room if you are unable to be |
| travel plan and you just cannot get into school to | | | | there.EMERGENCY LESSON PLAN IDEAS:Language |
| leave detailed lessons. That is why it is essential | | | | Arts: Include short writing activities involving |
| for you to have an emergency lesson plan | | | | students opinions. Thus they don't have to have |
| available and handy.The emergency lesson plan | | | | 'background' information, and they can write from |
| should be able to be used at ANY point in the | | | | their own experiences. Parts of speech review |
| year. It doesn't have to fit in with what you're | | | | can include mad-libs or easy, fun worksheets.Math: |
| currently doing (nor should it - it is to be used | | | | Leave a calculator activity. These could even be |
| when you cannot leave normal sub plans). The | | | | puzzles or partner games. Or give review |
| lesson should be related to your normal | | | | problems.Science: Copy a science article and have |
| curriculum, but it could be a supplement or an | | | | students read carefully and answer questions. |
| enrichment activity.Get a folder (or a three-ring | | | | Make speculations and use the scientific method. |
| binder), and label it appropriately on the outside | | | | Or have students create the plans for a lab |
| cover. There are even folders you can purchase | | | | activity.Reading: Leave students a copy of a short |
| (some schools even make these available to | | | | story or article, and questions to answer. You |
| teachers) labeled 'sub folder' or 'emergency plans'. | | | | could even set up a 'test-taking' exercise, and |
| Also make sure you have an appropriate spot for | | | | discuss appropriate answers and strategies.Social |
| your emergency folder on or in your desk area. | | | | Studies: Map activities are great for emergency |
| Some schools will ask you to keep an emergency | | | | plans. You can even set up a one-day unit on any |
| plan in the office. In either case, make sure it is | | | | area/region of the world, including your own town |
| easily accessible by a substitute teacher.Think | | | | or city.Everyone gets those situations in life |
| about keeping class activities to 10 to 15 minute | | | | where an emergency has come up, and you don't |
| increments. This way the sub will have better | | | | have the time (or sometimes the ability) to get a |
| control of your kids. Students have difficulties | | | | good lesson plan in to school for your students. |
| adjusting to changes in their routines, and you | | | | Maybe you have a family emergency or a |
| don't want to have to return to discipline | | | | disrupted travel plan and you just cannot get into |
| referrals.Keep the information organized and easily | | | | school to leave detailed lessons. That is why it is |
| accessible for a sub. Remember, the sub won't | | | | essential for you to have an emergency lesson |
| know where you normally keep things, and they | | | | plan available and handy.By Frank Holes, Jr.For this |
| can't read your mind. Spell out exactly what you | | | | article, and more on teaching and education, be |
| want done, where it can be found, and what you | | | | sure to check out our website: |
| want done with it when they're finished.Make sure | | | | |
| you have made enough copies of any | | | | Frank Holes, Jr. is the editor of the StarTeaching |
| worksheets so the sub doesn't have to. And be | | | | website and the bi-monthly newsletter, Features |
| sure to leave answer keys. Many subs will actually | | | | for Teachers. |