Congratulations on your upcoming bundle of joy! Having a baby is such a mix of excitement and stress, especially when you’re a teacher and a mama. When I had my little one in August, I found out firsthand how crazy it can be to get ready for maternity leave.
I’ll be honest, the whole process gave me a rollercoaster of feelings. It’s a stress we could all do without, in my opinion. But let’s not dwell on that – let’s dive into some practical tips to make it all easier.
General Information Document
Start by creating a general information document for your long-term substitute. This document should cover all the essential information they’ll need to know, including:
- Contact List
- Schedule
- District/School Calendar
- Duty Schedule
- Rules
- Procedures
- Behavior Expectations
- Copier Access Information
- Bathroom Policy
- Technology Set-Up
- Emergency Plans
Map It Out
To manage your workload effectively, determine how many lessons you’ll need to plan during your absence. Calculate this by examining your class rotation schedule and counting the number of lessons required. This can be daunting, so here’s a helpful tip:
Grade Level Bands: Instead of creating distinct lesson plans for each grade, group them together. For example, combine K-1, 2-3, and 4-6. This simple change can cut your workload in half, significantly reducing the number of lessons you need to prepare.
Gather Lesson Ideas
Now, let’s plan those lessons:
1. Use Online Curriculum: If your school uses online resources like Quaver or Music Play, use them. They often come with pre-made lesson plans – a real time-saver.
2. Book Lessons: Books are your friends! Many resources on Teachers Pay Teachers have ready-made lesson plans around certain books that are a breeze to use.
3. Worksheets: With 30 minute classes a worksheet lesson or two would be just right. By the time the sub explained it, they got materials out, did the worksheet, turned it in, and cleaned up could take most of the time. I am not much of a worksheet teacher, but while I am gone is the perfect time to bust out the paper and pencils.
4. Follow-Along Videos: YouTube is your ally. There are tons of videos for play-alongs, music theory, and even full lessons by other music teachers.
5. Movies: It’s not your typical music room activity, but it’s a great option when your sub isn’t a music expert.
6. Games: Try music-themed games like Kaboom, Bingo, Music Go Fish, and others. They’re low-pressure for your students and can give your sub a break, too!
7. Musical Works: Base your lessons on famous musical works like “Carnival of the Animals” and “Peter and the Wolf.” You can spread these over several days.
8. Music from Different Countries: For older students, focus on music from various countries. It’s easy for your sub to do a short presentation about a country, its instruments, and singing styles. Add a singing game or folk dance from that place, and you’re set!
9. Record Yourself: If your sub isn’t comfortable with singing, record yourself and use the Mote extension to make it easy to play your audio in your lessons.
Make a Table to Outline Lessons
Color Code
Create a visual representation of what lessons you still need create or prep materials for. This can help you very easily see what you still need to work on. Some lessons you might have ready to go and some you might have some missing pieces or need to “subify”.
Green – I have the lesson materials and visuals ready.
Yellow – I have some of the lesson materials and visuals ready.
Red – I need to create/gather lesson materials and/or visuals.
Agenda Slides for Digital Content
Make it easy for your substitute by creating agenda slides for each month. These slides should list lesson segments and link directly to any visuals or materials.
Physical Materials
Organize physical materials by month using folders and bins. Include master copies and the number of copies needed for worksheets in a folder. Manipulatives can go into labeled bins, ensuring everything is easily accessible.
Countdown
Keep track of your progress with a countdown. Create a visual chart and change the colors as you finish each lesson. It’s a great way to see how you’re doing and stay motivated.
You don’t have to go through this alone. Don’t be shy to ask for help from your fellow teachers who have gone on leave. It’ll make the whole process a lot less daunting. Good luck on this exciting journey! 🎉
