What are Benchmark Writing Assessments?

Benchmark writing assessments are an assessment tool that teachers administer at pre-determined points throughout the school year. They provide a snapshot of students’ current writing abilities, so teachers can accurately communicate students’ progress towards grade level standards and use the information to design data-driven instruction.

Why are Benchmark Writing Assessments Important?

Writing benchmarks are an essential tool for elementary teachers because of several reasons. First, they provide a snapshot of students’ current writing abilities. This allows teachers to accurately communicate students’ growth in their writing skills throughout the school year to parents and school personnel. It also allows them to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses so they can create data-driven instruction to address misconceptions and areas of need. Pinpointing these areas and planning and delivering intentional instruction helps students grow at a much faster rate. Finally, benchmark assessments prepare students with the skills and experience they need for future writing assessments. They’ll learn time management, independent work skills, and more.

How to Implement Benchmark Writing Assessments

Below are the steps for how to successfully implement benchmark writing assessments.

1. Download the Benchmark Writing Assessments Resource

The first step is to download the benchmark writing assessment resource. It is available in my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store.

What Does the Seasonal Writing Bundle Include?

The seasonal writing bundle includes the following resources:

• 4 seasonal writing activities that help you document student growth throughout the course of a school year
• printables for all parts of the writing process (brainstorm, draft, and final draft) so you don’t need to supplement with additional resources
• multiple stationery options so you can differentiate based on your students’ needs
• 3 versions of photos and illustration templates per season so you can choose which one you like best
• rubrics that help make expectations clear to students and make grading quick and easy for you
• self-assessment activities that help you guide students through reflecting on the experiences
• feedback forms to help you identify student strengths, set goals for each student, and develop future lessons
• teacher guides to walk you through how to implement the resources in your classroom
• digital versions of all the resources so students can access them at home or in school

Why Do Teachers Love this Seasonal Writing Bundle?

Below are 5 reasons elementary teachers love this writing assessment resource:

• The resources document student progress over the course of a school year, which make them great for including in writing portfolios and sharing with families during parent-teacher conferences.
• It includes print and go resources, which saves you lots of time planning and prepping.
• It includes clear instructions, expectations, and rubric guidelines for students, so it makes it easy for students to understand the criteria for quality writing.
• There are digital and printable formats so teachers can access students in class and at home.
• They serve as great formative assessment tools that can be used year after year.

2. Check out the Included Information and Resources

This resource includes helpful information about the resource, as well as about writing instruction in general. Here is a short excerpt from the resource:

“A top-down web is a graphic organizer that presents topics and sub-topics in a hierarchical way, using varied shapes and placement on the page to represent the connections among the topics. It is often used to improve reading comprehension to frame students’ thoughts and help them to understand the information they are reading. They also work amazingly well as a tool for designing the structure of writing.”

As part of this step, select which resources from the seasonal writing bundle you are going to use. It is packed with tons of differentiated resources to choose from. Choose which ones work best for you and your students.

3. Select Dates for When You Will Administer the Assessments

The next step is to select the dates for when you will administer the assessments. When you are creating your curriculum map at the beginning of the school year, be sure to include the assessments you will administer throughout the school year (including these writing benchmark assessments).

4. Print and Prep the Materials for the School Year

These resources are quick and easy to print and prep. By prepping everything at the beginning of the school year, you’ll be able to quickly grab what you need off of the shelf. Consider asking a parent volunteer to print and prep the materials for the school year. This is a helpful time saver!

5. Administer the First Assessment

I recommend administering either the summer writing assessment or fall writing assessment at the beginning of the school year. It will help you get a baseline as well as some insight into what skills your students are entering your classroom with at the start of the school year.

6. Score the Assessments Using the Rubric

Use one of the rubrics included in the seasonal writing packet to analyze and score each writing piece.

7. Provide Feedback to Students

The packet also includes a writing feedback form that provides space for you to document students’ strengths and future goals. There is also a student reflection form that guides students through identifying what they are proud of about their writing piece, what they found challenging, and what their goals are for writing. Consider meeting with students via a one-on-one conference format and using the prompts on these templates to guide the conversation.

8. Organize and Analyze the Class-Wide or Grade-Wide Data

I recommend organizing the information using a data tool like Google Sheets, Numbers, or Airtable. Import all of the information and take time to identify patterns in what students did well with, as well as what they struggled with. You can also use this time to group students by what they need help with. This will be helpful as you work on the next step.

9. Plan Data-Driven Instruction Based on Results

This is a very important step. You are going to use all of the information you gathering and analyzed to design instruction that addresses your students’ needs. If your whole class struggled with a specific writing skill, plan a small series of whole group lessons based on that skill. If you had 4-5 students all struggle with a skill that the rest of the class has mastered, then plan a small group lesson for that group of students that targets that skill.

10. Repeat Steps 5-9 for the Other Assessments

In closing, we hope you found this post about writing benchmark assessments helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Math Benchmark Assessment Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• How to Assess Elementary Students Using Formative Assessments
• How to Teach Writing to Elementary Students Using the 6 Steps of the Writing Process

In addition, you may be interested in the writing benchmark assessment resource I highlighted in this post. It’s available by itself or as part of my Clutter-Free Classroom Writing Collection. Learn about them below!

The post Benchmark Writing Assessments for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is formative assessment?

The definition of a formative assessment in the education field is a type of informal assessment that teachers use to quickly and effectively collect student data and use the results to not only track their students’ progress, but also to inform and drive their instruction. Formative assessments can be graded and counted towards students’ final grades; however, most of them should not. They can be described as a daily progress monitoring tool used in the classroom before, during, or after instruction for teaching and learning purposes. Learn more about formative assessment in the classroom below!

What is the difference between formative assessment and summative assessment?

Formative assessment and summative assessment are both types of assessments, however let’s talk about how they are different from one another. Here are 5 ways they are different:

1. Formative assessments are informal assessments and summative assessments are formal assessments.
2. The goal of formative assessments is to monitor student learning and inform instruction and the goal of summative assessments is to evaluate student learning.
3. Formative assessments are given during a unit of study and summative assessments are given at the end.
4. Formative assessments focus on the individual performance and needs of students, and summative assessments normalize students’ scores and compares them against a predetermined standard of achievement.
5. They have little to no impact on a student’s grade, but summative assessments have a large impact on a student’s grade.

Why is formative assessment important?

There are many benefits to using formative assessments in your elementary classroom. It has become an integral part of best teaching practices. Here are 10 reasons why you need to be using formative assessment in your classroom daily:

Making Data-Driven Decisions

Formative assessments empower you to be able to make data-driven decisions for your classroom. For example, you can determine if a concept or skill needs to be retaught as a whole group, small group, or individual basis, or if you can move on to the next topic or lesson. You will have the information you need at your fingertips to make informed decisions for your individual class.

Delivering Individualized Instruction

The information you collect through formative assessments helps you provide appropriate and individualized instruction to all of your students. After collecting the information, you can analyze it, sort it, and use it to plan and deliver instruction that is appropriate for the various needs in your classroom.

Reflecting on Learning

Formative assessments provide opportunities for students to reflect on their learning, current understanding, and thinking in a stress-free way. 

Reflecting on Teaching

Similar to the previous reason, formative assessments provide teachers the opportunity to pause and reflect on their teaching practices, specifically what strategies are and are not working in their classroom.

Identifying Student Misunderstandings

Formative assessments allow you to quickly identify student misunderstandings while you are teaching or at the end of the school day – depending on the format of the formative. You’ll be able to address these misunderstandings in the moment or at the beginning of the next school day.

Increasing Student Engagement

Questioning techniques and other formative assessment strategies require students to be active participants in their learning. This could involve students simply putting 1, 2, or 3 fingers up in the air, writing their response to a prompt on a white baord, or filling out an exit ticket.  

Increasing Student Achievement

Research has shown that progress monitoring throughout the use of formative assessments has resulted in higher test scores.

Deepening Understanding of Students

Once you start using formative assessments daily, you will be amazed how well you get to know your students, how their brains work, and their current abilities and understandings of your grade level and previous grade level content. Formative assessments are incredibly powerful tools!

Developing a Growth Mindset Culture

Students learn over time that it’s okay if they don’t understand a concept or skill the first time it is taught to them. They will have many opportunities to continue to learn and practice and their teacher will support them throughout this journey. Even if they don’t get it the first time, they need to persevere to reach their goals using a growth mindset.

Empowering Teachers with Flexibility in Teaching

The idea behind using formative assessments is that we need to monitor how well students are learning the content being presented to them. It acknowledges that the teacher should have the autonomy to decide what is best for his or her group of students using the data as the guide.

What are some examples of formative assessment strategies?

Below are 5 formative assessment examples you can use with any lesson

Questioning Techniques with Hand Signals

Pose a problem or ask a question to the class and invite them to respond using their fingers. The number of fingers should represent a specific response. For example, prior to posing the question you could assign that one finger represents yes and two fingers represent no. Another system could be that one finger represents A, two fingers represent B, three fingers represent C, and four fingers represent D in a multiple choice scenario. This technique allows you to quickly assess your group as a whole to gauge student understanding.

Think-Pair-Share

Have students sit next to a partner when sitting on the rug. This serves as a very helpful classroom management strategy, and sets students up for engaging in think-pair-share.  Start think-pair-share by posing a question, situation, or prompt to students. Give them independent “think time.” Next, ask them to share their thinking with their partner. Lastly, invite a handful of students to share out their thoughts with the whole group.

Four Corners

This will likely be a kid favorite, especially for those students who benefit from body breaks. One way to implement this formative assessment strategy is to assemble a list of multiple-choice questions (with four answer choices) and assign a letter (A, B, C and D) to each of the corners of the classroom. Students start each question at the center of the classroom. After saying the prompt, the teacher provides students “think time” before letting them choose their corner. When the teacher says go, students can move to that corner.

Another way to implement this is by assigning the corners numbers or words. For example, you could label the corners of the classroom with 5, 10, 15, and 20 and ask students addition problems. They will move to the corner that is labeled with the sum of the problem prosed. There are tons of ways to implement this strategy. Be creative and have fun with this activity!

Stop Light

Create two-sided cards (a green side and a red side) using construction paper. I recommend laminating them so they last all year long. Pause throughout a given lesson to check student understanding by instructing them to hold up the card displaying how confident they are feeling in the content. Green means they are following along and understand everything they are learning and red means they are feeling stuck and confused. They can also use these when they are working independently by putting the card on the top of their desk displaying the card that represents how they are feeling.

Exit Slips

Exit slips are a highly effective formative assessment tool to give at the end of a lesson. Check out these 20 exit tickets you can use with any lesson. They are a quick way to informally assess how well your students understood what you’ve taught. I designed them to include a simple self-assessment section using a thumbs-up / thumbs down image. As a result, you can tell at a glance which students need your help. These are great for planning future instruction, forming small groups, and preventing misbehavior that can occur when there is downtime at students transition at the end of a lesson.

3 Formative Assessments for Math Specifically

There are tons of awesome math formative assessment tools, strategies, methods, and ideas out there for classroom use, but here are my 3 favorite!

1. Xtra Math

Incorporate technology in your formative assessments approach through the use of Xtra Math, an online math fact fluency practice tool that you can set up for FREE! You can customize it to fit your students’ individual needs. It can be programmed to practice the following operations: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. One great feature is that it provides instant feedback to students when they are playing. It can be used with all students in your classroom, including those who receive support through special education services. For example, there is an American Sign Language version to support students who are deaf.

2. Math Exit Tickets

Use these math quick check assessments as an exit ticket in your small guided math group or during the closing of your math workshop. They are quick and easy to grade (only 3 questions). They are aligned to the Common Core state standards. Learn more about them below!

• 1st Grade Exit Tickets
• 2nd Grade Exit Tickets
• 3rd Grade Exit Tickets
• 4th Grade Exit Tickets
• 5th Grade Exit Tickets

3. Math Benchmark Assessments

These math benchmark assessments have 3 versions. They all have a consistent template. As a result, they can easily be used as benchmark assessments throughout the school year or as a pre-test, mid-test, and post-test during a math unit. Learn more about these formative assessments for the classroom below!

• 1st Grade Math Benchmark Assessments
• 2nd Grade Math Benchmark Assessments
• 3rd Grade Math Benchmark Assessments
• 4th Grade Math Benchmark Assessments
• 5th Grade Math Benchmark Assessments

We hope you found this information about formative assessment in the classroom helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Everything Elementary Teachers Need to Know about Exit Slips
• How to Use Math Exit Tickets in Your Classroom
• Tips for Using Math Benchmark Assessments to Help Your Students Ace Standardized Tests
• Quick and Easy Assessment Strategies for Elementary Teachers
• How to Use Graphic Organizers as Assessment Tools

The post Formative Assessment in the Classroom: How to Assess Elementary Students in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is a Do Now Activity?

A do now activity is a teaching strategy that takes place in the first 3-10 minutes of class. Do nows are warm-up learning activities that allow students to work independently while they connect prior learning and new learning. They are highly effective because they promote independence, motivation, productivity, engagement, and an appropriate mindset at the very beginning of the content area. They are also a great classroom management tool, because students learn and carry out the routine, which maximizes learning time.

What is a Bell Ringer in Education?

Bell ringers are often used synonymously with do nows. The only difference between the two is that students know the end of a bell ringer has come when the teacher rings the bell.

Why Should I Use Do Nows or Bell Ringers in My Classroom?

There are a number of benefits to starting lessons consistently with a do now or bell ringer for both the student and the teacher.

Benefits for the Students

• Know what is expected of them because of the set routine.
• Get in the appropriate mindset for the lesson.
• Sets him or her up for success during the lesson.
• Offers them the opportunity to be independent.
• Gives them the opportunity to engage in a task they feel successful in and confident about.

Benefits for the Teacher

• Gives the teacher time to work with students one-on-one or in a small group.
• Allows the teacher to pull students for an assessment.
• Provides an opportunity for the teacher to connect with individuals with special needs.
• Serves as a classroom management strategy for the teacher because it increases student engagement, creates a smooth transition, and promotes a learning environment where all students are expected to learn and engage.

Examples of Do Nows

Below are examples of do nows, which are fun ways to start a lesson, that you can use in your classroom.

8 Math Do Now Examples

Below are some examples of math do now activities.

1. Number Tracing

Ask students to trace the numbers on the page with their finger, eraser, and then pencil.

2. Number of the Day Activity

Invite students to do a number of the day activity.

3. Problem of the Day

Offer a problem of the day where students need to apply their problem solving skills.

Word Problem of the Day

Open Ended Problem of the Day

4. Vocabulary Match

Ask students to do a worksheet where they read the vocabulary words and match them to the definitions.

5. Math Facts

Math fact fluency is so important! Give students addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division problems to solve.

6. Number Puzzle

Encourage students to use their critical thinking skills to solve math puzzles.

7. Crossword Puzzle

Invite students to do a crossword puzzle with the math vocabulary from the topic you are currently teaching.

8. Word Search

Invite students to do a word search with vocabulary from the topic you are currently teaching.

8 Literacy Do Now Examples

Below are some examples of literacy do now activities.

1. Letter Tracing

Ask students to trace the letters on the page with their finger, eraser, and then pencil.

2. High Frequency Word Tracing

Ask students to trace the letters on the page with their finger, eraser, and then pencil.

3. KWL Chart

Have students fill out part of a KWL chart.

4. Free Write

Give students 5 minutes to write about whatever they want to, but they must keep their pencil moving at all times.

5. Think and Write

Put up an interesting image on the board and ask students to write about what is happening in the image.  Another option is to show a book cover and have them write about what they think the book is about.

6. Read and Write

Give students a reading passage and ask them to respond to open-ended questions/prompts.

7. Crossword Puzzle

Invite students to do a crossword puzzle with the high frequency words you are currently teaching.

8. Word Search

Invite students to do a word search with the high frequency words you are currently teaching.

12 Tips for Successfully Implementing Do Nows

Below are 12 tips for successfully and confidently implementing do nows in your classroom.

1. Maintain consistency in the routine.
2. Think about high engagement when planning.
3. Ensure difficulty is appropriate for independent work.
4. Use it to review prior learning that connects to new learning.
5. Keep it open-ended.
6. Limit task length to 3-10 minutes.
7. Provide specific instructions both orally and in writing.
8. Use picture directions for early readers.
9. Ensure students know how to access all materials they need independently.
10. Maintain a quiet and productive classroom environment.
11. Go over answers/responses right afterward.
12. Provide feedback on the assignment to motivate students to participate in the do now.

In closing, we hope you found this list of fun ways to start a lesson helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Formative Assessment Ideas for Elementary Classrooms
• 10 Tips for Increasing Student Engagement in Math
• How to do Number Talks in Your Classroom

The post Fun Ways to Start a Lesson: Ideas for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

5 Ways Standardized Testing Negatively Affects Elementary Students

Below is a list of the negative effects of standardized testing.

1. Lost learning time

Students lose not just days, but weeks of learning time to prep for and and take the standardized tests.

2. Increased levels of stress and anxiety

Students sometimes feel pressure internally and externally – even if it’s not intended. The discussions surrounding testing at school and at home sometimes unintentionally puts a lot of pressure on students to perform at their highest level. Not only can this prevent students from accurately showing what they know, but can negatively impact them psychologically.

3. Decreased confidence

If students perform poorly on the test, it can negatively impact their self-esteem. As a result, they can begin to form a negative attitude towards school and their education.

4. Lost access to enrichment opportunities

Some school districts use data from standardized assessments to determine who gets admitted into highly-coveted enrichment opportunities. If a gifted student performs poorly on the assessment, then they could be blocked from a well-deserved opportunity.

5. Focused on the wrong things

While students should be focusing on learning, expressing their creativity, and expanding their thinking, the system has it set up so that the priority is for students to fill in the correct bubbles and score well on a test.

10 Tips for How to Reduce Test Anxiety before Standardized Assessments

Below is a list of tips for how to reduce test anxiety, so students can perform their best on standardized assessments.

1. Minimize testing importance

Avoid using the words “assessment” or “high-stakes test” when discussing the test. Do your best to have a positive attitude and refer to it as “an opportunity to show what you know.” In addition, explain that the purpose for them taking the test is to help teachers plan lessons that focus on the skills they need to know so we don’t waste time showing them something they can do already. This gives the daunting task a purpose and takes the pressure off of the students.

2. Avoid changing the environment

The kids are already nervous on that day. Walking into their familiar, comfortable surroundings to unexpectedly find the desks spread apart can make them uneasy, especially for students with anxiety and other learning differences. If you need to reconfigure your classroom to meet the testing regulations, consider doing so before the actual test day to alleviate anxiety.

3. Create a relaxed vibe with a book

Gather the class on the floor for a picture book read aloud. I suggest the book Pete the Cat: I Love my White Shoes.

Pete the Cat

This is a fun picture book about a cat who steps in things with his white shoes. The repeating text reads, “Did he cry? Goodness, no. He kept walking along and singing his song.” This quick read is ideal for discussing moving on from setbacks. I relate it to the test by explaining that they may encounter a question that stumps them, but they need to brush it off and move on to the next one.

4. Think through parent communication

The media has a lot to say about standardized testing, which has caused parents to have strong feelings about it. Although you may have the best intentions sending a note home reminding them of the assessment and telling them to have their child get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast, it may not be well received. Some take that to imply they don’t normally care for their children as well as they should. I’ve seen parents post angry rants on Facebook complaining about this. It would be best to let all communications regarding testing come directly from administration.

5. Encourage a growth mindset

Teach your students about growth mindset and and discuss how it applies to all life situations (not just testing). This is truly one of the most important things you can teach your students and is well-worth the time investment. Resist the urge to say, “good luck” and spread that message to other staff members as well. They need to realize that determination, perseverance, and mindset play a much larger role than luck in being successful. These are my favorite growth mindset activities for helping your students think in a more positive manner in all areas.

6. Avoid cramming for the test

Find ways to embed “test prep” into your regular routine, so you don’t need to stop teaching and dedicate days to reviewing for the test. I had always found that even though my students had demonstrated proficiency in a standard earlier in the year, they often struggled with those same skills in the spring.

To solve the problem, I began utilizing spiral review. I designed daily spiral review pages that continually reviewed not only the skills I had introduced, but also the foundational skills from the previous grade level that were necessary for new concepts I would be introducing. I was so proud to see how well my third grade students retained skills compared to the previous years when not using these pages! It led me to also creating them for first, second, fourth, and fifth grade teachers as well.

These spiral review resources are perfect for morning work, center work, and homework. They are incredibly fast to correct, they provide data to inform instruction, and include projectable versions to be used for lessons in class. I sent home a page for homework Monday through Thursday and used the fifth page as an informal assessment in the “at your seat” station during guided math workshop.

This photo was sent taken by a 2nd grade teacher in CT. Thanks, Sara!

In addition to spiral review, I used progress-monitoring assessments to help me address gaps in real time through whole group, small group, or one-on-one instruction.

In addition to implementing the spiral review and progress monitoring resources, consider these other review activities: Brainpop videos, student-designed games, and previously-used instructional materials (e.g. task cards and games).

7. Stick to your regular routines

Strive for normalcy in your classroom. My school used to host a special “test day breakfast”, take kids outside to run around and release energy, and allowed them to wear slippers during the test. These ideas were well-intentioned but caused the students to feel and act differently. Instead, stay consistent with your regular morning schedule and routines until the test begins. This will help kids perform their best on the test.

8. Don’t be afraid to speak up

Complaining to colleagues or sharing negative thoughts with students is not going to improve the current state of education. However, using your insight as a professional with first-hand experience regarding the impact of standardized tests you witness can bring change. Just focus on reaching the appropriate audience in a professional manner.

9. Dress for success

Dress comfortably and wear good shoes or sneakers. The proctoring guides for a standardized test (even at the elementary level) typically require the test administrator to be standing and walking around the classroom throughout the exam. This is not the time to break in a new pair of heels. 

10. Have a plan for early finishers

Communicating to the children ahead of time what they will do upon completion of the test will alleviate anxiety about the unknown. Make it seem like it is a small part of a typical day. My suggestion is to have them read quietly at their seats. I once created an activity packet which in hindsight was foolish. What kid is going to want to do their best on a test if the alternative is drawing or word searches?

In closing, we hope you found these tips for preparing your students for standardized tests helpful!

The post Preparing Students for Standardized Tests: 10 Tips for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

15 Tips for Teaching While Pregnant

Below are 15 tips for teaching while pregnant.

1. Share the News When You are Ready

It is completely up to you when you would like to share your exciting news. Many people wait until the end of their first trimester (12 weeks). Be sure to talk to your school administrator before sharing your news with anyone at work. Your principal will greatly appreciate this gesture.

2. Wear Comfortable Clothes and Shoes

Deciding what to wear to work while pregnant can be tricky, but comfort is key! Invest in a few staple maternity pieces that are neutral colors. The neutral colors will help you mix and match pieces because of their versatile nature. Also, be sure to invest in a comfortable pair of shoes. You won’t regret it! Teaching while pregnant is hard enough, do what you can to maximize comfort.

3. Bring a Large Water Bottle to School

It’s important to stay hydrated now more than ever! Bringing a large water bottle to school will ensure you always have access to water. Consider buying yourself a new cute water bottle to motivate yourself to grab it more often and increase your water intake.

4. Keep Healthy Snacks on your Desk

Below are 20 healthy snack ideas that are great for when you are teaching while pregnant.

• oranges and cheese
• grapes and cheese
• apples and cheese
• celery sticks and peanut butter
• apples and peanut butter
• banana and peanut butter
• popcorn
• pretzels with mustard
• trail mix
• almonds
• dried fruits and nuts
• whole grain cereal
• greek yogurt and berries
• veggies and guacamole
• veggies and hummus
• pita bread and hummus
• smoothie
• protein bar
• sweet potato chips
• cheese and wheat crackers

5. Go to Bed Early

Teaching while pregnant takes a lot out of you! Your body is working extra hard right now. It’s important to get your rest and one way to help with that is to move your bedtime earlier. If you are normally a night owl, consider heading to bed 10-15 minutes earlier each night until you find a time that feels good to you.

6. Sleep as Much as Possible

As I mentioned above, sleep is super important right now. Don’t be afraid to head home right after school and take a nap. Your body is working hard right now and needs the rest.

7. Find a Teacher Buddy to Cover Your Room for Bathroom Breaks

This tip is really important as you progress through your pregnancy. Find a teacher buddy to cover your room for when you need to use the bathroom. You will frequently need to use the bathroom, so make sure you have a plan in place for when you need to go.

8. Share Your Experience with Students

Your students care about you and will be curious about the process. Perhaps consider modeling a how-to writing piece by writing about the process you are going through for how to set up a nursery.

9. Prepare for Your Maternity Leave Early

It’s a lot of work preparing for your maternity leave. Don’t wait until the last minute! Instead, do a little bit each day and start early.

10. Create a Stock of Emergency Sub Plans

You will have lots of doctor’s appointments, especially towards the end of your pregnancy. In order to prepare for these days off ahead of time, consider setting up a stock of emergency sub plans. It’s always a good idea to have a set of emergency sub plans, but it’s more important for you to have them now than ever before.

11. Mentally Prepare Yourself

You’re having a baby! This is a big time of change in your life. Be sure to give yourself time to reflect and prepare during this very busy time.

12. Prepare your Administrators and Colleagues

Consider telling your administrators before your colleagues to ensure that your administrators hear it from you first. Once you tell your school principal and other administrators in your building, feel free to share the exciting news with your colleagues.

13. Meet with Your Long Term Sub

It can be helpful to invite your long term sub to spend time in your classroom before you leave for maternity. In addition, some other recommendations include sitting down with them and going over your classroom procedures and routines, providing them insight into each of your students, supplying them with your contact information, introducing them to your team members, etc.

14. Prepare your Students for your Maternity Leave

Openly talk to your students about how you will be going on maternity leave and explain they are super lucky to have a wonderful new teacher. Depending on your preferences, you can give your students your contact information so they can write letters to you.

15. Communicate with your Students’ Families about the Transition to Your Long Term Sub

Notify your families that you will be going on maternity leave. Consult with your administration when this would be appropriate. In addition, send home a letter with your students introducing the families to your long term sub. This will help facilitate a smooth transition and ease your students’ families’ concerns.

In closing, we hope you found these tips for teaching while pregnant and planning for maternity leave helpful. If you did, then you may also be interested in these other post about planning for a substitute teacher, this Clutter-Free Classroom’s Guide to Preparing for a Substitute Teacher, and my emergency sub plans resource.

The post 15 Tips for Teaching While Pregnant and Planning for Maternity Leave appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Thank you, on behalf of all teachers, for all that you do to keep our students safe and happy while we are unable to tend to them. You make a huge difference for our students. Read below to get some quick and easy substitute teacher tips that you can implement the next time you walk into an elementary classroom!

10 Substitute Teacher Tips

Below are 10 tips for substitute teachers at the elementary level.

1. Put Together a Substitute Teacher Bag

Every substitute’s teacher bag should have…

• water bottle
• healthy snacks
• sweater
• book
• extra pencils
• cell phone (on but on silent mode)

2. Dress for Success

Every school has its own culture and, as a result, its own unspoken dress code. As a substitute teacher, your best bet is to dress business casual. This could look like dress pants and a modest top or perhaps a dress.

One important tip is to think comfort! You want to have the flexibility to sit on the ground with students to listen to them read and walk students across the school to their special. As a substitute teacher, you need be prepared to be active; however, it is important to look professional at the same time.

3. Have a Toolkit of Quick and Easy Activities to Pull From

Have you finished up a lesson early and you have 10 minutes left before special or lunch? You have a room full of students who are looking to you to figure out what to do. Having a toolkit of sub activities in your back pocket is one of my favorite substitute teacher tips! Try one of these activities to help you if you get stuck in this type of situation!

Guess My Number

Pick a number. Give students a range of where the number falls with. If students are in Kindergarten, I might say the range is 0-10. If students are in third grade, on the other hand, I might say the range is 0-1,000. Students are trying to guess the number. When a student guesses a number, you either say higher or lower. They need to use their number sense skills to solve.

Word Maker

Invite students to work in small groups. Give each group a piece of paper. Put letters (e.g. 4 consonants and 2 vowels) on the board and ask students to make as many words as they can in a set amount of time. The group that creates the most amount of words wins.

Alphabetical Order

Do this activity as a whole group. Write a list of words on the board and ask students to put them in alphabetical order.

Pictionary

This is a vocabulary game. Split the class into two teams (e.g. boys and girls). Invite one person from a team up to the board. Give them a grade appropriate vocabulary word (e.g. stem in first grade and division in third grade) and have them draw a picture of it. Their team has to try and guess what vocabulary word the person is drawing. Time how long it takes them. Have the other team go next.

Hangman

Pick a word, draw a line for each letter, and invite students to guess letters they think may go on the lines. The goal is to guess the word before drawing a full stick figure person.

Read Aloud

Read aloud a picture book to students. Stop and ask questions as you go through the book to keep students engaged and thinking about the story.

Emergency Sub Plans

Keep a toolbox of no-prep, high engagement activities in case the students finish the day’s work early. These emergency sub plans are a great option!

4. Show Up Early

Arriving 15 minutes early is a great way to leave a good impression. It will also help you start the day on the right foot because you’ll have time to get settled and read the sub plans for the day.

5. Create a Routine for the First 5 Minutes

The first five minutes will determine how the rest of your day goes. Make the most of this time! Remember to do the following things to ensure you have a smooth day:

• Introduce yourself and write your name on the board.
• Introduce and practice an attention getter that you will use throughout the school day.
• Take attendance by saying each child’s name, making eye contact with them, and smiling.
• Explain that the day will run a little bit differently because their teacher isn’t there, but you are confident that, with their help, the day will run smoothly and their teacher will be very happy.
• Offer an incentive like free choice or a game at the end of the day to motivate students to behave appropriately. Clearly explain your behavior system and the expectations in order to get the incentive.

6. Have a Toolbox of Classroom Management Strategies

Below are some classroom management strategies you can use.

• Introduce and practice an attention getter.
• Explain your behavior system at the beginning of the day.
• Offer an incentive for the students to earn at the end of the day.
• Use parallel praise, which means you praise students who are making good choices rather than highlighting students who are not making good choices.
• Introduce and practice an attention getter.
• Explain your behavior system at the beginning of the day.
• Offer an incentive for the students to earn at the end of the day.
• Use parallel praise, which means you praise students who are making good choices rather than highlighting students who are not making good choices.

7. Leave a Note for the Teacher

One way to be a highly requested substitute teacher is to leave a detailed note covering an overview of the day, what was not accomplished from the sub plans, comments about positive behavior, and document any specific behavior challenges. Thank the teacher for sharing their students with you and explain how you look forward to visiting again soon.

8. Thank the School Secretary

Stop in the office before you leave, sincerely thank the secretaries with a warm smile, and exclaim that you enjoyed working with Mrs. D’s class. You may even want to ask if there are any days coming up that you can help with.

9. Say Yes!

Another way to be a highly requested substitute teacher is to say YES! “We know it is super last minute, but would you be able to come in and sub for Mrs. D?” YES! “Are you able to come in the Friday before vacation?” YES! “Are you able to come in the day before winter vacation?” YES!

10. Have Fun!

When you are having fun, you show enthusiasm and a positive attitude. Who doesn’t love to work with someone who is happy? It’s contagious!

In closing, we hope these substitute teacher tips were helpful! If they were, download The Clutter-Free Classroom’s Guide to Preparing for a Substitute Teacher, check out these other sub plans posts, and learn more about these emergency sub plans that will help you be prepared no matter what!

The post Substitute Teacher Tips for How to be a Highly-Requested Sub in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

5 No-Prep Activities for Substitute Teachers

Below are 5 ideas for activities substitute teachers can do that don’t require photocopies or technology.

1. Read Aloud

Invite your substitute to pick a book from your book collection and read it to your students. Encourage the sub to stop, think, and discuss the story. Learn more about read alouds and check out this list of read aloud books for substitute teachers.

2. Card Making

Have your substitute teacher ask your students to make a card for the school principal, guidance counselor, custodian, or someone else in the school community. They just need a pencil, sheet of paper, and coloring utensils (crayons, colored pencils, or markers).

3. Writing Prompt

The third on the list of activities for substitute teachers is have students do a response to a writing prompt. Jot down a simple writing prompt and ask your students to write a response. Some examples include writing about a place they have been, a food they like to eat, and something they like to do outside. Students just need a pencil and lined paper. My emergency sub plans resource includes activities like this!

4. Class Exercises

Invite the substitute teacher to lead 10 minutes of exercises. Some exercises include jumping jacks, toe touches, arm stretches, lunges, and balancing on one foot. If the sub gets tired or runs out of ideas, they can pick a child who is making good choices to lead the exercises.

5. Whole Group Brainstorm

The last on this list of substitute teacher activities is to do a whole group brainstorm. My emergency sub plans resource includes activities like this! Is there a science or social studies topic that is coming up? Ask the substitute teacher to lead a group brainstorm around it or perhaps about a general science or social studies topic (e.g. U.S. presidents, insects, weather, and magnets). The sub will just need a white board marker and your classroom white board or anchor chart paper and marker.

In closing, we hope you found these no-prep and no-tech substitute teacher activities helpful! If you did, then check out these other blog posts about planning for a substitute teacher, download the free Clutter-Free Classroom’s Guide to Preparing for a Substitute Teacher, and check out my emergency sub plans resources!

The post Substitute Teacher Activities Without Photocopies or Technology – 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Read alouds are a great sub plans activity to leave for substitute teachers because they are whole-group lessons that all students can participate in. Plus, children love to be read to. Whether it’s by their parents, teacher, sibling, or another adult, it is a time when they can just enjoy quality literature that they may not be able to access on their own. Better yet, they provide incredibly meaningful conversations and learning opportunities for your kids. Check out the list below of 10 read aloud books that are perfect for leaving for sub plans!

5 Reasons Read Alouds are Great for Sub Plans

Here are 5 reasons why read alouds are great for sub plans:

1. Students love to be read to so they’ll be engaged and learning during the experience.
2. Even if you don’t have a hard copy of the book, your students can still access the literature through technology. For example, you can find a link of the book being read aloud on Youtube and include it in your sub plans.
3. All students can access the activity and participate in it.
4. It is a sub plan activity that is easy for substitute teachers to understand and implement.
5. They lend themselves to great class discussions where they can learn from a different adult and gain a new perspective.

Top 10 Books for Sub Plans

Below are my top 10 favorite read aloud books to leave as part of my sub plans.

1. Miss Nelson is Missing

Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard is a story about an unruly classroom of students and a teacher who finds a creative way to teach them a lesson. The students in Room 207 were the worst-behaved students in the whole school. They were constantly acting up and poor Miss Nelson was unable to teach.

Then one day, Miss Nelson goes missing and Miss Viola Swamp comes into the classroom. She wears an ugly black dress, never smiles, and loads the students up with homework.  It isn’t long before the students miss Miss Nelson and start to look for her.

When she returns a few days later, the students are thrilled to see her. They no longer misbehave and act like angels in the classroom.  In the end, it is revealed that Miss Nelson was in the classroom all along and she had dressed up as Miss Viola Swamp to teach her students a lesson about being respectful. This is my favorite book to leave as sub plans!

2. The Substitute Teacher from the Black Lagoon

The Substitute Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler is a story about how Hubie’s teacher, Mrs. Green, is out sick so the class is going to have a substitute teacher. The substitute, named Mr. Frank N. Stein., is nine feet tall, crashes through walls, and hurls students into outer space. The kids in the class were expecting to party all day, but that is definitely not what the substitute had in mind.

3. Jamaica and the Substitute Teacher

Jamaica and the Substitute Teacher by Juanita Havill is a story about a girl named Jamaica and her experience with a substitute teacher, Mrs. Duval. Jamaica thinks that her substitute is very nice and has a fantastic day with her until it’s time to take a spelling test. Jamaica is not prepared for it and makes a poor choice. She is worried about what Mrs. Duval will think of her. This is another good book to leave as sub plans!

4. Dear Substitute

Dear Substitute by Audrey Vernick is a story about Miss Pelly, a substitute teacher who covers Mrs. Giordano’s class. She doesn’t do things exactly like Mrs. Giordano. The kids learn that it’s okay if the substitute teacher does things a little bit differently.

5. My Teacher’s Not Here

My Teacher’s Not Here by Lana Button is a book that tells the story of a kindergartener named Kitty who is very nervous when she sees that her teacher, Miss Seabrooke, is not at school because she is home sick. In her place, there is a substitute teacher named Mr. Omar.  Kitty is worried that no one will be able to help her with the things Miss Seabrooke usually does. This is another good book to leave as part of your sub plans!

6. Substitute Teacher Plans

Substitute Teacher Plans by Doug Johnson is a story about how Miss Huff accidentally mixed up her plans for the substitute teacher with her day-off activities list. The substitute followed all of the plans that Miss Huff left,  which led to a pretty wild day with the class.

7. Same Way Ben

In Maryann Cocca-Leffler’s Same Way Ben, Ben likes things the same way every day, so he is upset when, one morning, Mrs. Garcia isn’t there to greet him when he gets off the bus. Instead, it’s Mr. Elliot, the music teacher. In the classroom, Mr. Elliot tells the class that he will be their teacher not just for that day, but for the next six weeks while Mrs. Garcia is on maternity leave.

That morning, Mr. Elliot plays loud music, which Ben doesn’t like because the class never listens to loud music in the morning. The next Monday, Ben arrives to the classroom to find that Mr. Elliot has moved the tables. His friend Cami goes to sit at the yellow table, and their usual green table has been moved from the corner near the cubbies. Later that day, Mr. Elliot announces that he has made blueberry and cream cheese bagels for lunch so Ben won’t be able to eat his usual chicken strips and apple.

Ben feels overwhelmed and begins to cry. Suddenly, Mrs. Garcia comes to visit with her new baby and teaches Ben that new changes, although scary at first, can make life an adventure. This is another great book to leave as part of your sub plans!

8. Miss Malarkey Won’t Be in Today

Judy Finchler’s story Miss Malarky Won’t Be in Today is about a teacher who worries about being out of class. With a fever, Miss Malarkey knows that she won’t be able to teach so she calls in sick to school. She worries about which substitute teacher will get called in to teach her class. She hopes the principal won’t call scary Mr. Doberman, or silly Mrs. Ungerware, or nervous Mr. Lemonjello. She knows her students will be too much for Mr. Lemonjello to handle. Miss Malarkey gets so worried that she decides to go to school to check on her class. When she gets there, she realizes that she won’t really have anything to worry about!

9. Substitute Creature

Substitute Creature by Chris Gall is a story about how Ms. Jenkins’ class full of troublemakers arrived at school and saw a substitute teacher in their classroom. The substitute teacher has tentacles, yellow spots, and one eye.  He encourages the students to follow the rules by telling them stories about his former students, but that does not stop them from their naughty ways.  At the end of the story, he shares his personal experience which finally changes the students’ behavior.

10. Here Comes Teacher Cat

The last on the list of books that are great to leave as sub plans is Here Comes Teacher Cat by Deborah Underwood. It is about a cat who does not want to be a substitute teacher to a class full of kittens. He agrees to do it and follows all of the lesson plans. By the end of the day, both Cat and the kittens learned some important lessons.

Other Sub Plan Resources

Check out these other sub plan resources!

In closing, we hope you found this list of read alouds to leave for sub plans helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts about planning for a substitute teacher and making sub plans. In addition, you might want to download the free eBook, The Clutter-Free Classroom’s Guide to Preparing for a Substitute Teacher and check out my emergency sub plans.

The post 10 Read Aloud Books to Leave for Sub Plans in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

These no prep, print-and-go and digital activities make it so much easier for teachers to be absent! Having a collection of reusable activities for math, reading, writing, word study and science that can be done at any time in the school year will give you peace of mind knowing that everything is ready when you need it… Even if that is unexpectedly at 4 a.m.! You only need to add a book of your choice (or a link to a book being read aloud), dice (for some of the math games), and a pencil. Setting up emergency sub plans doesn’t get easier than this!

The Problems These Emergency Sub Plans Solve

Have you ever gone to school sick because it was easier than putting together substitute lesson plans? Have you ever not enjoyed a personal day because of the time and stress involved? This resource changes that!

How These Substitute Teacher Activities Will Help Your Students

• The substitute teacher activities are fun so students are engaged in their learning.
• Each activity has clear directions on it, so the students will know what to do.
• Because the resources can be used multiple times, your students become familiar with the expectations of each task. This decreases student anxiety and potential behavioral issues in your absence.
• Each activity is purposeful so the students will have meaningful learning while you are out.
• Your substitute will have organized sub plans which will equip them with what they need to make it a smooth day for your students.

How These Sub Plans Will Help You as a Teacher

• Each activity has clear directions on it, so the students will know what to do. This will help the day go a lot smoother!
• Because the resources can be used multiple times, your students become familiar with the expectations of each task. This decreases student anxiety and potential behavioral issues in your absence.
• Each activity is purposeful so students will have meaningful learning while you are out.

Why You Will Love These Activities for Substitute Teachers

• The activities were specially designed in a way that allows you to use the same sheet over and over throughout the year.
• This resource will save you tons of time! The No-Prep Design makes it quick and easy to assemble weeks worth of emergency lesson plans in a very short time.
• When you or a family member is sick you can focus on what is truly important. You will no longer need to cough, sneeze, or wheeze your way through writing sub plans in the middle of the night.

How to Use These Sub Plans in Your Classroom

Simply prepare one or two weeks worth of emergency sub plans at the beginning of the year and you will be good to go! You’ll have peace of mind knowing that they are there if you ever need them.

Why Teachers Like You Love These Emergency Lesson Plans

Check out these testimonials from teachers who’ve used it in their classrooms…

Words can’t even begin to describe how amazing this bundle is.  Even though I have been teaching for 6 years, I have been lucky in that I have only taken 3 sick days, and I have a co-teacher with me, so she just uses my usual lesson plans.  However, since I’m heading back to the states at the end of this year (I’m currently overseas), I knew I needed something to help me figure out my way around making sub plans, and I came across these.  I love how they are so easy to use across a variety of grade levels, and you could even use activities from multiple grades within the same class, if the situation calls for it.  Thank you so much for putting this together to make our lives much much easier!

– Sarah M.

Once again, you’ve thought of everything.  I can’t wait to put this together this summer so that I can go into the next school year confident that all my bases are covered when “life” happens.

– Theresa K.

I am a special education teacher and this is a dream come true for me!  This will make it so much easier when my children are sick and I have to miss work.  I am going to use the activities the first week of school as an example so when a sub is there the students will be familiar with it all.

– Naomi D.

This has been a total live saver for me. I appreciate all the hard work she put in. Emergency sub plans used to be an issue for me because I was always trying to plan for where I thought my students would be at the time. Now, I can set this up at the beginning of the year and be fine. TIME SAVER!!!!

– Brittany B.

As a substitute, this bundle brings me an extra sense of confidence in case the worst happens and I am left with a lack of materials.

– Laurette K.

What is Included in these Sub Plans?

This emergency sub plans bundle includes all 5 of my emergency sub plans packets for grades 1-5. The bundle is perfect for teachers who teach multi-age classes, are special educators or plan to switch grade levels in the future.

This bundle of substitute teacher plans resource includes everything found in the grades 1-5 individual packets. If you wake up sick and need substitute plans fast, then you can use the printable and digital plans included in this packet. Simply check off the boxes to show which activities you want the students to do. The plans include directions, mini-lesson ideas and images to show the activity.

The sub plans resources include the following activities:

Reading Activities

• Story Sequencing (Summarizing)
• Character Traits / Sketch (Text-Based Evidence)
• Setting
• Design a New Book Cover (and Write a Blurb for the Back of the Book)
• Story Vocabulary Hunt – (Quality Word Choices by the Author)
• Use Quality Words from the Text in New Sentences
• Problem and Solution
• Question Generating

Word Study Activities

• Noun Sort (with Alphabetical Order Practice)
• I Spy Verbs (with Synonym Practice)
• On the Lookout for Adjectives (with Synonym Practice)
• Short Vowel (Spelling Pattern Practice with Extension)
• Long Vowel Word Hunt (Spelling Pattern Practice with Extension)

Writing Activities

• Plan, Write, & Illustrate (A Story Writing Process)
• Writing Prompts Pages (use them over and over throughout the year)

Reusable Math Activities

• Calendar Skills
• Number of the Day
• Roll, Record & Graph Multiplication Practice
• Roll and Compare (>,<,= with 4-Digit Numbers)
• Odd Snakes Multiplication Activities {2 versions: single or partner play}

Science Activities

• Animals (Schema, Questions, Diagrams) – 3 Reusable Activities
• Any Science Topic (Schema, Questions, Diagrams) – 3 Reusable Activities
• Science Brainstorms

Editable Teacher Resources

• Daily Schedule Sub Note
• Note to Leave on Your Desk Nightly to Direct Sub to Materials
• Info for a Sub at a Glance

In closing, we hope you found this information about emergency sub plans helpful! Here are some additional resources to help you create emergency sub plans for your elementary classroom…

• Read these other sub plans blog posts.
• Download the free eBook: The Clutter-Free Classroom’s Guide to Preparing for a Substitute Teacher.
• Purchase the printable and digital emergency sub plans.
  • Grades 1-5 Emergency Sub Plans Bundle
  • 1st Grade Emergency Sub Plans
  • 2nd Grade Emergency Sub Plans
  • 3rd Grade Emergency Sub Plans
  • 4th Grade Emergency Sub Plans
  • 5th Grade Emergency Sub Plans

The post Emergency Sub Plans for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

There have been nights when I went to bed only to wake up a wee bit after midnight with a horrific stomach virus. I spent the remaining predawn hours alternating between writing sub plans and lying on the bathroom floor. To be completely honest, I have even written sub plans ON the bathroom floor. I have driven to school in sweatpants with a bucket on my lap to set up for a sub. I have dragged myself to class on days I thought my head would explode from the pain of a migraine while shielding my eyes from the light like a character from Twilight because it was easier to be near death in a room full of 24 energetic children than it would’ve been to crack open an eye to write sub plans. It’s usually harder to be out than it is to go in sick.

But here’s the thing… You can’t always drag yourself into school. People slip on the ice when walking the dog in the morning, car accidents happen, appendixes rupture, and kidney stones can come out of nowhere. There are a million and one unexpected things that can occur, and, much like carrying an umbrella on a cloudy day wards off actual raindrops, being prepared for a sub at all times helps to keep you safe and healthy. Well, maybe not, but it doesn’t hurt. Read below to get practical strategies for organizing your sub plans using a substitute binder.

What is a Substitute Binder?

A substitute binder is a tool teachers use to store everything a substitute teacher needs to successfully and confidently take over the classroom for the day. Some teachers use a “sub tub” or “substitute folder” instead. It’s the same thing except for the organization tool that holds all of the materials.

Why is a Substitute Binder Important?

It is important to have a substitute binder because you can’t always drag yourself into school. I mentioned above specific instances of when teachers have no way of going into school to put together sub plans or writing plans from home. There are a million and one unexpected things that can occur. Being prepared for a sub at all times helps to alleviate stress, so you can focus on getting better. It also ensures your students are actively engaged in learning while you are out and making the most out of the school day.

15 Places to Store Sub Plans

To prepare for a substitute teacher, keep all of the materials a substitute teacher will need organized and in one place. This substitute teacher tip will make it easy for a guest teacher to fill in for you when you are out of the classroom. Having the lesson plans, copies, resources, information and materials a substitute teacher will need for the entire day in one location will save them time and help to make the day as productive and stress-free as possible.

Here are 15 places to store your sub plans:

1. binder
2. pocket folder
3. drawer
4. plastic box with lid
5. tub
6. kit
7. station
8. plastic bag
9. container
10. tool box / tool kit
11. basket
12. file cabinet
13. hanging crate
14. cardboard literature sorter
15. dishpan

5 Tips for Putting Together Your Substitute Binder

Below are 5 tips for creating your substitute teacher binder.

1. Create Your Substitute Binder Before the Students’ First Day

Having your substitute binder prepped and ready for the first day of school ensures that you are starting the school year prepared for anything.

2. Select an Organization Tool that Works for You

There are different options for housing the supplies a substitute teacher will need. It really comes down to what will work best for your classroom space and teaching style. I have used tons of different options over the years. A substitute binder is my favorite option because it most easily allows for adding, removing and editing the contents. Here are some tips related to organizing and storing your sub plans using the following tools:

Substitute Binder

• Choose a brightly colored binder so your sub can easily find it.
• Select a large, sturdy binder that won’t easily break or fall apart.
• Consider choosing a binder that has a sheet protector attached to the front so you can slide in a cover that makes it easy to identify that it’s your substitute binder.
• Use sheet protectors to prevent pages from tearing.

Sub Tub

• Use a hanging file box with hanging folders.
• Label your hanging folders.
• Color code the folders/resources to make it easier for your substitute to navigate the sub tub.
• Create a separate binder of computer folder with the “master copies” of the resources.

Substitute Folder

• Select a brightly colored folder so your sub can easily find it.
• Choose a plastic folder that won’t rip or tear before the end of the school year.
• Consider selecting a folder with prongs so you can maximize the organization potential of the folder. You could keep the student printables and activities in the pockets and the information for the sub in page protectors in the middle of the folder.

3. Stock Your Substitute Binder with Emergency Sub Plans

Having a set of emergency sub plans in your substitute binder will ensure that you are ready for anything. I recommend checking out the ones below:

4. Make Your Substitute Binder User-Friendly

If your sub can’t navigate your sub binder, tub, or folder, they will not be able to follow the substitute lesson plans you put together.  Make them user-friendly using these strategies:

• Group the resources into categories that make sense.
• Use dividers and tabs to identify categorized sections (i.e. maps, student info, lesson plans, and emergency info).
• Include a table of contents.
• Start with a simple, “your day at a glance” or “important things to note” page. Color code items by sections or subjects.
• When drafting the information, be sure to write it in a way that is visually appealing and easy to read (bullet points, bolding, underlining, highlighting, etc.).

5. Prep Individual Student Packets

While having everything copied, prepped and ready to go for the day is essential, you can take the organization one step further and create packets for each student containing all the assignments for the day. Here are the following benefits:

• Individual student packets make it super easy for the sub to distribute everything to the students and manage the completed assignments. It prevents you from coming back to a messy classroom with papers here, there, and everywhere.
• Packets makes differentiation subtle and simple because you can modify each student’s packet and not worry about the right paper getting to the right student.
• It helps to keep the children on task and focused because they have everything they need.
• It increases accountability as you can easily see how much they completed during the day.
• I recommend putting all the materials in order for the day and attaching a cover sheet to each packet with a checklist. When printing the checklist, it is helpful to include the subject, starting and ending times to help with management, and decrease the feeling of being overwhelmed by a packet of work. If you have access to colored copy paper, you could even copy the different subjects onto different colored papers.

In closing, we hope you found this post about how to organize your substitute binder helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in this free Clutter-Free Classroom Guide to Preparing for a Substitute Teacher, as well as these posts:

• Substitute Teacher Activities that Don’t Require Technology or Photocopies
• The Best Books to Leave as Part of Your Sub Plans
• How to Write Sub Plans: Tips and Ideas for Elementary Teachers

The post How to Create and Organize Your Substitute Binder for 2023-2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.