After retiring from full-time teaching, I became a substitute teacher working in elementary schools. I discovered that many teachers did not effectively plan their classes when they were absent. This often made it difficult for the substitute teacher to do a satisfactory job.

My reaction to that was threefold. First of all, I would write a “thank you” at the bottom of a teacher’s plan when he left me with a workable plan. He always explained what he was capable of achieving. Second, if something didn’t work, I’d say so in my report and replace it with a suitable activity, one that I’d probably used successfully in another class. Third, I would collect good lesson ideas given to me by class teachers to use in these circumstances.

The experience of poor planning is the catalyst for what follows. It is designed to give the elementary teacher some practical ideas for lessons that stem from my experience as a substitute teacher.

Lesson ideas could include:

  • A book to read in class.
  • A period of USSR – Uninterrupted sustained silent reading
  • a math exercise
  • Writing practice period.
  • Time for a test (like a review, maybe). This could be competitive: girls against boys.
  • simple practice activity
  • Worksheets, with instructions, that continue your teaching sequence. Include responses if applicable.
  • A time out where students do some physical activities outside the classroom.
  • A lesson from a friend. Here, an older class works with a younger class on an activity to help younger students develop, while this activity helps older students develop tutoring skills.
  • Completion of homework or group work may be suggested. However, you must give the teacher full instructions on what the class is actually doing. Otherwise, I find that students waste a lot of time. Knowing what is going on will allow the relief teacher the opportunity to offer help and keep students focused.
  • If you teach a computer lesson, be sure to leave detailed advice for the replacement teacher, as well as select user-friendly software. Otherwise, “Murphy’s Law will rear its ugly head. My advice here is to be careful when leaving computer lessons.”

Obviously, lesson ideas should be related, whenever possible, to your teaching program. That way, students are more likely to take the remaining work seriously.