4 Reasons Why Every Teacher Needs Emergency Sub Plans

Notice: This post explains in depth why you want to have your emergency sub plans prepared in advance. For a full step-by-step into putting them together, check out my comprehensive guide to emergency sub plans.

Why Does Every Teacher Need Emergency Sub Plans?

Why does every teacher need emergency sub plans? Teaching is arguably one of the most difficult jobs out there. You have the all-important task of caring for your students all day. You must teach them curriculum as well as social skills, be a good example, and also keep the day running smoothly (or as smoothly as possible) at all times.

There is a dynamic in each teacher’s classroom. Every year a new group of students joins this atmosphere and they all form special bonds. For someone else, like a sub, to step right into that role is no easy task. Your sub doesn’t know your students. They don’t know what challenges they have or what strengths they have. And certainly, they might not know simple things like when you take breaks or go to lunch.

This is why your emergency sub plans are super important. While it’s true that it takes a lot of work to sit down and create these plans and there is the effort involved with changing the plans whenever something in your classroom routine changes, it is extremely important that you do so.

Don’t believe me? Here are just a few reasons why you need to have emergency sub plans…. Like, yesterday!

Last Minute Sickness

You’re sick last minute. It’s inevitable that sometime during the year, you will wake up sick. The last thing you want to do is write sub plans when you’re feeling under the weather. Many teachers choose to just go in sick because the hassle just isn’t worth it. You can avoid this struggle and get the rest you need by having the plans ready ahead of time.

Mental Health Days

Another time you may need sub plans is when you REALLY need a mental health day– but that means you don’t have the mental energy to write sub plans, either. Teacher burnout is no joke. Sometimes you really just need to take a day off when times get tough. You have your sick days for a reason. However, it may not feel worth it to you if you have to write sub plans in order to take that day off.

A Personal or Family Emergency

Like it or not, emergencies happen, and you want to be prepared. This includes emergencies such as a death or injury in the family, etc. It could also be a personal emergency such as getting injured in a car accident. You always want to be prepared for the unexpected.

Jury Duty

Yep, I’ve had people use my sub plans when they have had to perform their civic duties. When you already have so much to do, jury duty is just another thing added to your already full plate. Sometimes it’s just not worth it to have to write plans for things like that.

Don’t fret, though! The resource library includes FREEBIES that will help you get started with your emergency sub plans stash. My free resource library includes several print-and-go mini-lessons as well as sub-binder forms.

If you love the freebies, be sure to check out ALL of my Ready To Go Sub Plans here! They make perfect emergency sub plans and have been trusted by thousands of teachers. I have single days available and up to a full week of sub plans for K-6 so you can always be covered. (I also have special bundles for special education and substitute teachers as well!) You can save when purchasing bundles. Check all of them out below!

Or to have access to Wife Teacher Mommy’s ENTIRE LIBRARY of resources, plus teacher life coaching, and a community of support request to join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.

Every teacher needs emergency sub plans because the cold hard truth is that you never know when you will need to call out sick or have an emergency. Even if you are not one to usually get sick, there could be an accident or some other type of emergency within your family that requires your attention. No one likes to think about these emergencies but that doesn’t stop them from happening. Think of your emergency sub plans as insurance for your classroom. You hope you will never need it but you’ll be glad it’s there when/if you do.

Sarah’s Emergency Sub Plans Story

So… in case any of these circumstances happen, do you have your emergency sub plans ready?