How to put together middle school sub plans any sub can do.
Because Let’s Be Real… You’re Going to Need Them
If there’s one universal truth in middle school ELA, it’s this: you will have days when you’re gone.
Maybe it’s a dentist appointment.
Maybe it’s a sick kid.
Maybe it’s you waking up with no voice and 32 essays waiting to be graded.
Whatever the reason, you’ll need sub plans—and not just any sub plans. You need ones that don’t require a master’s degree in behavior management, Language Arts, or an hour-long video tutorial to explain.
We’re talking about simple, meaningful, low-prep ELA sub plans that any sub can do.
Let’s break it down into some key steps.
Middle schoolers + a new adult in the room = potential chaos.
So the main goal with this step is structure and simplicity, Instead of trying to get fancy, leave activities that review skills students have already practiced. Think of it like a review day disguised as an independent assignment.
Our favorite go-to activity for subs is Paired Passages.
Paired passages are short, skill-aligned, and can be used for reading comprehension, analysis, and writing.
Check out our full Paired Passages Collection. They are perfect for sub plans, bell ringers, or quick assessments.
We love a good digital sort or escape room. But if your experience has been anything like mine, then you know that one of the rules of the universe is that when the teacher is gone, the computers go wild. We’re talking missing links, blackouts, missing passwords, etc.
So if you’re not 100% confident in your classroom’s tech setup and your sub’s comfort level, go for a print-and-go activity.
In our standards-based units we have a variety of print and go handouts and worksheet that cover the middle school standards. Find a few activities, print them, and have them ready to go when you need them.
Bonus points if your copies are already made and labeled “EMERGENCY SUB PLAN – DO NOT THROW AWAY.”
Click on the units below to see all the different standards-based units we have available and what skills they go over. We also have blog posts about each and every one of the middle school standards that you can reference for more information!
You know that feeling when your sub text says, “No one knew what to do, so they all just sat there”? Yeah, let’s avoid that.
When you’re prepping middle school sub plans, pretend you’re writing for your most distracted, half-listening 7th grader. Keep instructions simple, bold key steps, and don’t assume they’ll remember what “cite text evidence” means without a little nudge.
Even better? Write a short note to the sub at the top of the page:
“Hi! Thanks for being here. Everything should be ready to go. Feel free to reward them with candy if they don’t start a paper ball war. :)”
Don’t assume that your sub knows how to do the skills you’re asking students to practice or that they can read editing notes out of text book. Be explicit. Leave answer keys, and make sure that every section of the work is clearly explained.
Techy Tip: Record yourself going over the assignment and just ask the sub to play the video. This will allow you the opportunity to explain what is happening in your own words.
Middle school ELA is a wild ride, and that doesn’t stop just because you’re not in the room.
But with a little prep, the right materials, and a few teacher-tested tricks, you can make sure your classroom keeps running (relatively) smoothly, even when you’re out. Hopefully these tips to help you create middle school sub plans is something that will help you when you need it most!
Want to get your emergency plans ready this week?
Here are a few helpful resources straight from The Sparkly Notebook store:
You’ve got this—sub plans and all.
