Teacher Self-Care: Setting Your Substitute Teacher Up for Success 🍎✨
Are you dragging yourself to school when sick because writing sub plans feels overwhelming? Discover how to set yourself (and your substitute teacher) up for success with these practical strategies from a former teacher-turned substitute!
Episode Highlights:
- The Self-Care Connection: Why creating effective sub plans is essential for your wellbeing
- Substitute Teaching Insights: Lessons learned from 5 months of subbing in various schools and grade levels
- 7 Key Strategies to ensure your classroom runs smoothly in your absence
The Self-Care Connection
Taking time off when needed is essential for teacher wellbeing, but many educators avoid absences because preparing for a substitute feels more stressful than working while ill. This episode reframes substitute preparation as a crucial self-care practice.
A Substitute's Perspective
After 20+ years of classroom teaching, Grace gained valuable insights from substitute teaching across:
- Grade levels from TK through 11th grade
- 11-12 different schools
- Various school cultures and resource levels
7 Strategies for Substitute Success
- Create a template with your master schedule, important routines, and student information
- Plan review activities rather than new content
- Provide clear tech instructions or designate student tech helpers
- Establish a buddy teacher system who can check in and support with challenging students
- Set up incentives or consequences for student behavior during your absence
- Have emergency activities available for unexpected situations
- Document policies in writing regarding phones, computers, seating, and other classroom procedures
Final Thoughts
Remember: You are a human first and a teacher second. You deserve to take time off when needed without stressing about classroom chaos. With proper preparation, both you and your substitute can succeed!
➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno
Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance
📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here
My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms
Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher
Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.