A substitute teacher plan you can leave in one email
You wake up sick at 6 am and the cover lessons still need to be ready. Tell your todo.is agent your timetable and what each class is working on. It writes a substitute teacher plan any adult can follow: the schedule, simple self-contained lessons, routines, helpful students, emergency info and a short report form for the sub to fill in.
The prompt
- Make a substitute teacher plan for [DATE]. I teach [GRADE AND SUBJECT]. My schedule is [SCHEDULE]. Each class is currently working on [CURRENT TOPICS]. For each lesson, write a simple plan a non-specialist can run: a 5-minute starter, a main task with clear instructions to read aloud, an early-finisher task and how to collect work. Use only materials I list here: [MATERIALS AVAILABLE]. Include our routines (attendance, bathroom, end of day), seating chart notes, helpful students, students who need support, and where the emergency procedures are: [CLASS INFO]. Add an end-of-day report form for the sub. Give me one Word file to edit and a PDF, and email both to me and to [EMAIL FOR THE OFFICE].
What to change
- [DATE]: A specific day, e.g. "Friday, March 6", or "an emergency day" for a plan you keep on file.
- [GRADE AND SUBJECT]: E.g. "Grade 7 math, 4 classes" or "Year 2, all subjects".
- [SCHEDULE]: Periods and times, e.g. "P1 8:15 7A, P2 9:10 7C, break, P3 prep, P4 11:20 7B, lunch duty".
- [CURRENT TOPICS]: E.g. "7A and 7C: ratios, 7B: integers review". For an emergency plan, say "review lessons".
- [MATERIALS AVAILABLE]: E.g. "textbooks pages 112–130, mini whiteboards, projector, no student laptops".
- [CLASS INFO]: First names of helpers and students who need support, allergies or medical notes the sub must know, and where the red emergency folder is.
- [EMAIL FOR THE OFFICE]: The school office or cover manager's email. Or remove this part.
Example result
- Substitute plan: Ms. Okafor, Grade 7 Math · Friday
- Thank you for covering today. Everything you need is in the blue folder on the desk.
- Schedule
- • 8:15 P1 · 7A (Room 14)
- • 9:10 P2 · 7C (Room 14)
- • 10:05 break
- • 10:25 P3 prep (no class)
- • 11:20 P4 · 7B (Room 14)
- • 12:15 lunch duty, cafeteria, 20 minutes
- P1 and P2: ratios (7A, 7C)
- • Starter (5 min): write 3 ratio questions on the board; students answer on mini whiteboards
- • Main task (35 min): read aloud: "Open your textbook to page 118. Do questions 1 to 12 in your exercise book. Show your working. You may work quietly with the person next to you."
- • Early finishers: page 119, challenge questions A to C
- • Collect: exercise books stacked by table on the front desk
- P4: integers review (7B)
- • Starter: 5-question quiz on the slide titled "Friday" on the desktop
- • Main task: worksheet in the folder, 2 sides; answers are in the back pocket for you
- • Last 5 min: students swap and check side 1
- Routines
- • Attendance: on the class list in the folder; send to the office within 10 minutes
- • Bathroom: one at a time with the hall pass by the door
- • End of lesson: chairs pushed in, students leave when you dismiss, not at the bell
- Who can help
- • Helpers: Priya (7A), Marcus (7C), Lena (7B) know the routines
- • Support: Tom (7C) sits near the front and may need instructions repeated; Zara (7B) has an EpiPen in the nurse's office
- Emergency
- • Red folder by the door: fire route, lockdown steps and class lists
- • Neighbouring teacher: Mr. Hughes, Room 15
- End-of-day report
- • Absent students:
- • Work completed by each class:
- • Students who were especially helpful:
- • Any problems:
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add your schedule, topics, materials and class notes.
- Send it to your agent from the Today screen in todo.is, or by WhatsApp or Telegram if you're off sick.
- Check the Word file, then let your agent email the PDF to you and the office.
- Ask it to make a general emergency sub plan too, and to remind you each month to update it.
Tips for a better result
- Write instructions the sub can read aloud word for word. A non-specialist should never have to teach new content.
- Plan practice and review, not new topics. Students rarely learn new material well with a cover teacher.
- Name 2 or 3 reliable helpers per class; they save the sub's day.
- Keep medical and safeguarding notes short and factual, and follow your school's rules on sharing them.
substitute teacher plan: FAQ
- What should be included in a substitute teacher plan? The schedule, lesson plans with materials, routines, seating charts, helpful students, students needing support, emergency procedures and a way for the sub to report back.
- What is an emergency sub plan? A general plan with review activities that work any time of year, kept on file for unexpected absences. Update it each term.
- Can I send this from my phone when I'm sick? Yes. Send the to-do to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram, even as a voice note, and it emails the plan when it is ready.
- Can it make the worksheet too? Yes. Ask for a printable worksheet and answer key for each lesson as a PDF, matched to your topic and grade.
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