“It’ll Just Be Easier for Me to Come in Sick”… and Other Lies I Used to Tell Myself About Sub Plans
I used to believe that.
Not because I thought I was some superhero teacher—but because prepping for a sub felt more exhausting than just coming in sick.
The idea of explaining my routines… scrambling to find a decent activity… hoping my students wouldn’t turn the day into a circus… it felt like more work than showing up under the weather and just pushing through.
So I did. I showed up sick. Tired. Frustrated.
Feeling guilty for being out—or worse—guilty for not being out.
And of course, I was always absent at the worst possible moment: during a major lesson, a group project, or when the class finally had momentum. I'd slap together sub plans in a NyQuil fog, then come back to a mess… and still not feel better.
The Truth That Finally Shifted My Mindset
If COVID taught me anything, it’s this:
Being prepared for a sub day isn’t just smart. It’s self-care.
Now, I don’t feel bad for being out.
(Okay… maybe a little. But not nearly as much.)
Because I finally built a system that supports my guest teachers, my students, and me—before I even need it.
The Real Cost of Scrambling
When I didn’t plan ahead, I paid the price:
😰 Stress the night before (or morning of) a sick day
😷 Dragging myself in, only to prolong my illness
🌀 Instructional chaos and students who thought a sub day meant a free-for-all
😞 Guilt—for being out, for being in, for not doing it “right”
Why I Prep for Sub Days Before School Even Starts
I know it sounds Type-A, but hear me out:
I’m not. I’m a late-diagnosis ADHD, Type-C-on-a-good-day teacher who lives in organized chaos and always has 17 tabs open—mentally and literally.
But this?
This one system—the Guest Teacher Binder—is the thing that keeps me sane.
Because I don’t prep for sub days out of perfectionism.
I prep so that when life inevitably happens, I’m not scrambling, spiraling, or dragging myself in sick out of guilt.
Getting your ub plans ready early means:
✔️ You can take a day when you need it—no guilt, no scramble
✔️ Guest teachers want to come back to your room (yes, really)
✔️ Your students still learn… and follow the routine (mostly)
My guest teachers know exactly what to expect.
My students know there’s no such thing as the Great Seat Migration.
And they’ve tried it all:
“We’re allowed to go to other classes.”
“We usually get free time.”
“I need to go to the office for a Band-Aid…” 🙄
I’ve heard it all.
And I’ve planned for all of it.
What I Keep Ready in My Guest Teacher Binder
Here’s what’s in the system I now swear by—organized, editable, and reusable all year long:
🧾 Class Welcome Page (friendly + clear)
🕐 Daily Schedule + bell times
📎 Printable Emergency Sub Plan
🗂️ Tech notes, helpful students, partner teachers
🧭 Behavior notes and space for sub feedback
Whether I’m out for a day or a few, the Guest Teacher Binder keeps things running. And it means I can rest without worrying if my students are safe, learning, and not taping rulers to ceiling tiles.
Your routines. Your expectations. Covered.
📋 Everything in One Place
No more digging through drawers or folders. The binder includes:
A class welcome page and instructions for the sub
Daily schedule (editable for different bell schedules)
Seating chart or student notes
Behavior tracking forms
Emergency lesson plans you can actually reuse
A checklist for materials, tech, and class routines
“Your students do WHAT when you’re out?” Not anymore. This binder sets expectations for everyone involved.
Not Ready to Build a Whole Binder Yet? Start Here:
You don’t have to do it all today. Start small.
Here’s what I recommend having on hand before school starts:
✅ A seating chart
✅ Class procedures (in sub-friendly language)
✅ 1 emergency plan you’d actually leave behind
✅ A list of helpful student tips + tech info
✅ A simple folder or binder to hold it all
Want a shortcut? I made this easy-to-use Guest Teacher Binder Template so you can copy mine. No guesswork, no starting from scratch.
Final Thought: You're Allowed to Be Human
You’re allowed to be sick. Or tired. Or pulled away for an IEP meeting or family emergency. That doesn’t make you unprepared—it makes you a person.
Having a sub plan system doesn’t mean you expect chaos—it means you prevent it.
And honestly? Planning for the "what if" is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself, your guest teacher, and your students.
Want to prep once and stop the guilt spiral?
🖨️ Grab the Editable Guest Teacher Binder
💌 Or get started with my free Sub Day Checklist + Activity to make your first plan the easiest one.
