I’ve got some family stuff going on that is likely to lead to me being absent for several days unexpectedly, so this year I’ve been pretty obsessed with making sure I have a set of solid, successful, and simple sub plans (that was some quality alliteration) ready to go.

Just this week, I got a practice run when I was home for 3 days in a row with a sick kid (gastrointestinal viruses are disgusting).

Having a sub for the EBD teacher makes the entire staff feel edgy. Who’s going to “handle” the kids when you’re gone? ich meine, they barely comply when you’re THERE.

I actually think that having a sub is a golden opportunity for the kids to practice their social appropriateness on someone new and objective. I get so wrapped up in how much progress they’ve made that I tend to need a reality check from an outsider every once in a while. By planning some social interaction activities that are just for when I have a sub, then providing the sub with a social appropriateness rubric for each kid, I can get some exceptional feedback. Having a sub doesn’t have to be a total “blow off” experience.

Here’s what I do to plan for a sub.

1. My daily plan books with schedules, IEP-at-a-glances, usw. is labelled “SUB FOLDER.” It is actually my regular binder that I use every day, so it’s always up to date. I don’t have to keep two separate binders current, and by labeling it “SUB FOLDER,” I ensure that a sub knows it’s okay to look at everything in there. I also keep my hall passes and other daily paperwork in that folder.
2. I have a special shelf in my locking closet labeled “ACTIVITIES TO CHOOSE FROM WHEN THERE’S A SUB.” This makes it really clear to the sub and kids that these are their choices when I’m gone. Most of the stuff on the special shelf is store-bought social skills game sort of stuff that I know is good and that I’ve used with the kids at some point (or is so self-explanatory that prior practice isn’t necessary). Here are the items currently on my sub shelf (I buy it all on Amazon, Zu Ihrer Information):
   • Totika Self-Esteem Game: Klassenstruktur://www.amazon.com/Open-Spaces-LLC-4102403-Self-Esteem/dp/B000JVWPL2
   • Choices in a Jar: Klassenstruktur://www.amazon.com/Choices-Jar-Free-Spirit-Publishing/dp/1575429187/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1KXM0H704WR0Y6Y0XZ9X
   • The Un-Game: Klassenstruktur://www.amazon.com/TaliCor-4101221-The-Ungame/dp/B000QX9Y9O/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1462135731&sr=1-1&keywords=the+ungame
   • Thumballs (here’s one version): Klassenstruktur://www.amazon.com/Thumball-Who-Are-You-4/dp/B001G073QM/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1462135767&sr=1-1&keywords=conversation+balls
   • Conversation Cubes: Klassenstruktur://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-LER7300-Conversation-Cubes/dp/B001SH7SS6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01
   • The Chocolates Game (this is one of mine; it’s on TpT as a stand-alone or in my book)
   • The Skittles Game (versions I’ve made are available for free on my site, enraged2engaged.com)
3. Because my daily class structure is so consistent (gratitude journals, goal updates, activity), the kids tend to come in and do what they’re supposed to, even when the sub is clueless. Ja, even the kids with ODD. Nein, I’m not kidding!
4. I have the sub assess each of the kids after class using my social skills rubric. It gives me a clear picture of how an “outsider” is perceiving the students. I’ll have George put a copy of the rubric up in the freebies section of enraged2engaged.com for you.

Because all the really fun stuff is only available when I’m gone, the kids seem to prefer it when I’m not there.