Winter is upon us, and with the chill in the air comes inevitable sick days and unexpected absences. For English teachers, the prospect of scrambling to create sub plans at the last minute can make being sick even more miserable. But that’s about to change because a group of us ELA educators want to pamper you this season! In this collaborative post, we are gifting you some easy, effective and FREE ELA emergency sub plans for middle school and high school English. Our goal is to ensure your classroom continues to thrive even when you’re not there, so grab a cup of hot tea and chill because your ELA sub plans are covered!
Play a Podcast for an Emergency ELA Sub Plan
When it comes to ELA emergency sub plans, podcasts can be your best friend. Podcasts offer an engaging way for students to explore new topics, develop listening skills, and spark discussions. And the best part? All your substitute teacher has to do is hand out these FREE podcast pages and hit play! Though I have a library of classroom-friendly podcasts, a specific episode that is perfect for the cold season is The Dogs Who Saved Nome, Alaska from History This Week. Full of suspense and sound effects, this episode will have students hooked as they learn about a team of sled dogs who braved the Alaskan wild to save Nome’s children from a deadly epidemic. While you are resting, students will discover the grit, the teamwork, and the daring quest that captivated a nation! -Ashley Bible, Building Book Love
P.S. Speaking of podcasts, if you want to listen to these ELA emergency sub plans on the go and grab a ~bonus~ freebie, be sure to tune into the Brave New Teaching podcast here: ELA Emergency Sub Plans
Run Reading Sprints for an Easy ELA Sub Plan
What are the chances that when you’re gone, your students are already in the midst of reading something for your class? I’d guess pretty darn high! While it might feel like a good idea to assign a silent reading day (especially when you’re calling out for an unplanned, emergency day), I’ve come back from a day like that with a sub-report that 98% of the class didn’t actually do any reading. Here’s my solution: READING SPRINTS. Reading sprints is a way to structure silent reading time in incremental time slots while incorporating goal setting and reflection. The slide deck I use gives the teacher (or sub!) the chance to set out an intention for the reading time, the timer to use, and then the prompts for reflections at the end of that time. Then, repeat! This is a year-round strategy and an especially powerful one for when you need an ELA emergency sub plan. -Amanda Cardenas, Mud and Ink Teaching
Set It and Forget It with High-Interest Close Read Sub Plans
When an unexpected day off comes up, having ELA emergency sub plans ready can be a game-changer. My favorite? A close-reading activity that’s designed for engagement, featuring a high-interest passage titled “Too Sweet?” This reusable template is perfect for any short text, whether it’s an article, poem, or a piece tied to your current unit, so you can swap in something fresh each time. Literally, make your sub-plans once (I’ve left all my information in for inspiration), and pick any new text any time you’re out. That’s it! Students dive into a meaningful reading that captures their attention, so you won’t return to a hot mess express classroom. Just leave an engaging passage, and the built-in structure keeps them engaged—no critical content missed and no extra prep required! -Martina Cahill, The Hungry Teacher
Assign Any Article with Literature Circles for ELA Sub Plans
Wouldn’t it be nice to just send your sub a link to an article for your students to read when you have to take a day off? Well, you can, but are your students really going to read it? Fortunately, if you have an ELA emergency sub plan ready to go, you can! Any Article Literature Circles are designed to be a click-and-go free resource that is perfect for an unexpected day off. You simply choose an article you want your students to read and each student will complete an engaging literature circle analysis role. Then, because this activity has built in accountability and participation questions, students can complete a student-led discussion in groups. All you have to do is choose an article (or take one from recommendations in the resource), and then you can rest easy knowing your students are reading, writing, speaking, and listening all while you’re out! -Jenna Copper, @drjennacopper
Spiral Review Core ELA Skills an Emergency ELA Sub Plan
With the number of ELA standards teachers need to cover, there’s nothing worse than being sick and feeling like you’re behind! That’s why I prioritize building meaningful spiral review into my sub folder. Sometimes, we know we will be sick in advance, which means we have a little more time to plan. But other times…it may sneak up on us in the middle of the night, and one thing I’m not doing at 3:00 a.m. is writing ELA emergency sub plans! So, I created some core skill builders that hit on a number of essential ELA standards. They are the perfect ready-to-use, high-impact activity for students to work on any time of year…and they ensure that you can have your sub plan ready to go from day one. Each page covers five key skills middle and high school students need to hone so students don’t fall behind in their learning. For example, students practice identifying word parts, placing proper punctuation, analyzing figurative language, revising poor writing, and considering author’s craft. If you’re tired of students forgetting what they’ve learned, research validates the value of previewing and reviewing built into these sub plans!
You can read all about the importance of core skill builders in my recent blog post, Proven Ways to Make Your Teaching Stick and Increase Learning! -Melissa Kruse, Reading and Writing Haven
Move Forward with Literary Analysis Activities For Any Text
Let’s be honest – we’ve all dragged ourselves to school sick because planning for a sub felt harder than just teaching through it. Early in my career I used to avoid taking needed days off because I worried about losing momentum with our current text, didn’t trust that meaningful analysis could happen without me there, and dreaded writing the sub instructions that often got ignored anyway. That’s why I created these automated ELA emergency sub plans that turn any text into sophisticated guided analysis. Just enter your book title and current section, and complete student-ready packets appear with everything needed: a detailed student letter that maintains class expectations, a version for the sub, clear analysis frameworks that move from identification to interpretation, and structured group work that builds toward meaningful insights. Whether analyzing character development, tracking thematic patterns, or investigating author’s craft, the built-in scaffolding makes independent work truly possible. The best part? When you get back, students are ready to build on their discoveries rather than having a “lost day” to make up. -Danielle Hicks, English Classroom Architect
Hold an Engaging Silent Discussion on any Text
It can be tough to come up with an emergency sub plan when you’re midway through a novel and you’d like to dig into the reading through your proxy. Enter, the silent discussion. Your sub doesn’t need to have read your text to monitor this easy digital activity. Simply add discussion questions to the top of a series of Google Slides (grab your colorful premade templates here). Students can read each other’s thoughts and type their reactions into blank spaces, choosing to respond directly to the question or to the comments of their peers. Everyone has plenty of time to think through their responses, a nice thing for students who may find the quick give-and-take of verbal discussions a little overwhelming at times. Plus, you’ll be able to check in to see what they discussed, and give them credit for their work. -Betsy Potash, Spark Creativity
Guide Students Through an Independent Novel Study
Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned, and sick days can turn into longer absences. If you’ll be away from the classroom for an extended period, it’s important to ensure your students have a long-term project they can work on independently. This reflective reading journal is the perfect solution! This ELA emergency sub plan features a variety of journal prompts, metacognitive learning activities, and close reading exercises. Students can vibe with some solo time and reflect at their own pace as they choose a new prompt each day. The journal is available in both digital and print formats, with the digital version offering remote access and sharing options. Plus, it works with any novel, so you can incorporate student choice to boost engagement. For an added personal touch, the digital journal also includes seven cover design options! – Daina Petronis, Mondays Made Easy
Launch a Low-Stress Literacy Day
One of my favorite last-minute ELA emergency sub plans is the concept of a “Literacy Day.” Remember the excitement of readathon days as a kid–showing up in pajamas, curling up in a cozy corner with a snack and a stack of books? While we rarely dedicate entire days to reading anymore, an unexpected day out might be the perfect excuse to bring that magic back. This Literacy Day Choice Board allows students to drop everything and read (DEAR), whether it’s their independent reading book, a whole class novel study, or a timely nonfiction article or two. After reading, students can choose from a variety of engaging, self-scaffolding activities like writing a character diary entry, analyzing meaningful passages or quotes, or designing an infographic. The built-in choice increases buy-in, the independent nature keeps things easy for the sub, and it can even stretch over multiple days if needed (just turn it into a Tic-Tac-Toe board!). With this no-prep plan, you can promote a community of readers while tying in critical thinking and literacy skills. -Natayle Brown – Hey Natayle
Debate the Tiktok “Winter Arc” Trend with an Info Text Analysis Activity
Have you heard of the “Winter Arc” trend that’s been all over TikTok lately? This viral trend involves getting a jump-start on New Year’s resolutions and hustling hard on wellness goals and habits during the last few months of the year. While many influencers are embracing this trend and churning out viral videos, others have concerns. Is the “winter arc” healthy or toxic? With this easy-to-assign sub plan, students will explore this essential question with a paired informational text, graphic organizer, and discussion questions. This activity will engage your students in a healthy debate about the “winter arc” trend and our society’s obsession with self-improvement, hustle culture, and “glow ups.” It’s the perfect sub plan because students will actually want to complete the work, and you’ll be excited to hear their opinions when you return to school! I highly recommend making copies of this ELA emergency sub plan and keeping it in a sub binder or folder for those last-minute germs that sneak up during the winter months! -Abby, Write on With Miss G
Now that you’re armed with these easy, effective, and FREE ELA emergency sub plans, you can finally rest a little easier this winter. Whether you’re out with a cold or simply taking a well-deserved day off, your classroom will run smoothly without you having to scramble at the last minute. We hope these resources bring you some much-needed peace of mind and save you precious time. So, go ahead—sip that cup of tea, snuggle up in your blanket, and take care of yourself. You’ve got this, and we’ve got your sub plans covered!
Thank you for sharing these amazing resources.
You are most welcome! Thank YOU for all you do!