Sub Tub to the rescue !

The only job in the world that you really feel that you can't possibly take a sick day is - teaching!  It is dramatic enough that you are feeling awful but now you have to phone in sick and organise your classroom (over the phone) for your sub teacher.  Aghhhhhhhhhh!  The main thought running through your head is, "It is easier to drag myself in and struggle on."  

The ironic thing is - we are working in a place where we can pick up so many germs and illnesses!  One child in a class of 30 kids can spread chicken pox in 3 days!  The truth is we are going to get sick.  We simply can't always keep going!!!

I remember 7 years ago falling down the stairs and my knee blew up like a balloon and thinking I can still do this.  Needless to say I borrowed crutches and got myself into my classroom and taught mainly from my desk.  Did I make my leg worse? - YES!  Would I do that again? - NOOOOOOOO!  From that moment on I knew that I had to be the teacher that plans for the unexpected.  

So how do we  plan for the unexpected!?!  One way to do that is to have a sub-tub in your classroom.  

What is a sub-tub?

You need a box and a label on it saying, "Sub-tub".  I have a sturdy, see-through box.  I love these boxes from Amazon as they have great lids that remain closed when these are not in use and these are LARGE.   But you can check out the variety of containers on Amazon.  Check out the Easter Deals this week on Amazon, as there are lots of deals on boxes that you should check out.  

Inside I have sub folder with the information about the class inside.  I have a page for each child - with a blurb on them, a medical section, daily timetable, classroom management plan and classroom routines.  If you are interested I can do a separate blog on my sub folder.  Let me know in the comments.  

Then I have a plan for a week.  I use the topic - Birthdays.  I reckon that any sub. coming into my classroom could interrupt a topic and do a random week on a topic that all children understand and can relate to.  If you end up being off for longer than a week then that would be when you would be referring the sub. teacher to your 6 weekly plans.  I have my sub plans on TPT if you want to check these out - Press the button here:  

Sub-tub on Birthdays

Here are some photographs of the children using these pages:

You should make a copy of each page.  There are 40 pages in total in this resource and these are cross-curricular.  Copy each page X36.  I have 30 children in my class - but I always do spare copies - again preparation for the unexpected.  Pop these into a folder or use paper-clips to keep together and simply set these in the box.  The order of these worksheets are irrelevant - these work well in any order.  You simply tell your head-teacher to refer the sub. teacher to the sub-tub.  I always keep my box at the front of the classroom so it is easy to find.

Finally, when you return to your classroom after being sick , remember to go back to your sub-tub and add more work....just incase it happens again.  Always be prepared for the unexpected.