As an art teacher, you know how important it is to prep for a substitute art teacher when you’re absent. Whether it’s due to illness, a professional development day, or personal reasons, getting ready for substitute teacher step into your shoes can be a lot of work.
No worries. I’ve compiled some tips on preparing for a substitute, ensuring that your art room runs smoothly even in your absence. From lesson planning to behavior management, I’ve got you covered.
6 Tips to Prep for a Substitute Art Teacher
Being a substitute teacher (relief teacher or casual teacher for my Aussie and kiwi friends!) is a rough gig. They often:
- Walk into classrooms and teach at a moment’s notice
- Have limited or no experience in some cases
- Don’t always know the children
- Have no idea where anything is located
- Don’t know the subject content
- Have no ideas how to be in charge of little people (<~~~Don’t underestimate how difficult this is!)
What could possibly go wrong? ?
The most important thing you need to do is to prep for a sub, so the good ones want to come back. And so you can hopefully filter out the less effective ones.
There will be times when you know you’ll be absent, like having a scheduled doctor’s appointment or a professional conference. That’ll be the focus of my thoughts below.
Then there are the times when your 3 year old wakes up sick at 3am and you’re in a mad dash to assemble plans. Emergency art sub plans are a whole other ball of wax and I’ll be talking about those soon.
Either way, you need to be ready for both situations before the start of the year. But how do you do that? I’ll break it down for you.
Personal and Professional Development Day Planning
1. What Should I Include in My Art Sub Plans?
One of the first steps in prepping for a substitute art teacher is to create engaging art sub plans. Make sure your plans are clear, concise, and easy to follow. Type them out in sequential order and include a list of the times. For example, “ADAMS: (8:15 – 9:00am).”
This is important because sometimes sub teachers are covering more than one teacher’s classes in a day. And, it helps whoever is covering to confirm they’re teaching the right thing to the right class.
Next, include simple step-by-step instructions, required materials, and examples if possible. Then, write a few sentences on what they will do. Do not write a book!
And lastly, include the name of a couple helpful students to assist.
You want to pick one child you know pays attention but also consider picking one that would benefit from being put in a positive leadership position.
Alternatively, if you teach middle school art, you may be better off assigning digital art projects to classes via Google Classroom, Canvas, etc. I would suggest this for your more challenging classes especially. You won’t have to worry about a substitute teacher managing art materials with an unruly bunch. Additionally, I would make it a requirement to have whatever they’re working on turned in at the end of the period.
2. Should I Leave In-Progress Art Projects, or Not?
When in doubt, leave easy, one-day art sub plans (or a simple project you can finish with them when you get back). Especially for younger grades, because kids won’t understand how to complete unfinished projects independently. I can recount many times when I’ve tried to have a sub complete a project with lower elementary kids only to find them ruined.
Moreover, unless you know and trust the sub, getting kids to clean up painting supplies can be challenging. I can think of a handful of times when I returned from a sick, personal, or professional development day only to find a sink filled with dried paintbrushes. Or an overflowing sink.
That’s not to say I’ve never done it. But I trusted the substitute in question to clean up (and they did!)
For older grades, if they’re nearly done with a project, it may be fine. It really depends on the materials and the class in question. Chances are, you’re better off having your substitute art teacher pick from your emergency art sub folder or sub tub.
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More InfoLastly, I have had success with having kids who owed me work complete it while I was out. But the only way to make that successful is to leave a specific note telling the sub teacher to pair up that child up with a student you know completely understands the assignment.
3. What Can I Do To Ensure I Set Up My Art Sub Teacher for Success?
In order to reduce the confusion of what (and who) each pile of materials is for, try this:
- Find a spot to lay out the day’s projects in the order in which the sub will see those classes.
- Then, pile on any exemplars or special materials they’ll need.
- Lastly, write the name of the homeroom teacher on a scrap of paper and place it on top of the pile.
Don’t assume a substitute art teacher is going to know the different between some of the materials you’ve left behind. For example, if you have some kids using bristol board and others drawing paper. Or that soft pastels are the same thing as chalk pastels.
Laying it all out sets them up for success.
4. What Else Should I Leave Out?
In addition to lesson plans, there are a few other important things that an art teacher should prep for a substitute when they know they’ll be absent. Here are some key items:
- Seating charts
- Rosters
- Attendance sheet
- Emergency art sub folder
- Rewards/Incentives Program
If you have a reward system, write a short blurb about how it’s used. And, place a copy of it in your emergency sub folder, too, just in case.
Leave all of these items in one spot near the front of the room. These items should also be in a logical place within arm’s reach for emergencies.
5. How Can I Help My Art Sub Deal With Behavior Issues?
Behavior management is often the most challenging part of the gig. Subs deal with lots of wild behaviors. To set your substitute art teacher up for success, try the following:
- Provide them with clear guidelines and expectations for student behavior.
- Let them know about your behavior management plan so they can “buy in” to it. And trust me, the kids will chime in to make sure they participate. 😉 If you use class mascots in the art room, you can tie them into the fun, too!
- Encourage them to engage with the students, use their names, and show genuine interest in their artwork.
- Give them strategies for addressing common misbehaviors in the art room.
- Write a carefully worded note on the board to guide kids to make the right choices.
Encourage your substitute to reinforce your rules and consequences while maintaining a positive and supportive environment.
6. What Can I Do To Keep Kids Safe in My Absence?
Ensure the safety of your students by securing sharp tools, dangerous chemicals, and any other potentially hazardous materials out of sight and reach.
Clearly label and store these items in a locked cabinet or designated storage area. And, definitely let your sub know these things are in the room in case a student were to inadvertently get near them.
Also, you should provide your substitute art teacher with a safety checklist outlining important safety procedures and emergency protocols. Likely your school has given you one or more packets of information regarding their safety protocols.
I keep items like this in my emergency folder which is located next to the phone at the door. If there were a fire drill or other emergency, my substitute art teacher could grab it as they’re headed out the door. I didn’t have any good place to store it. So I purchased a vertical wall hanging file and stuck it to the wall by the door. Works like a charm!
Returning From Being Absent
Whether it was one class period, a single day, or a 3 month maternity leave, returning to the art room after being away can be stressful. While you’re gone you’re wondering what’s happening. And when you return, you’re sometimes inspecting the scene of a crime.
Case in point: I once had a sub cover a class last minute while I ran to an unexpected meeting. While I was gone, the sub pulled out chalk pastels from the storage cabinet.
READ: I had said kids could use markers. But the students talked the sub into letting them use soft pastels which were hidden in my storage cabinet. YEP. I returned to clouds of dust all. over. the. room. Total nightmare moment.
If anything I say sinks in, let it be this: it’s important to manage your expectations of the sub, student behavior, and the quality of their work. Because stuff is definitely going to happen while you’re out.
Substitute Art Teacher Prep is Tiring!
Preparing for a substitute art teacher doesn’t have to be overwhelming, though. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your art room runs smoothly even when you’re not there.
From detailed lesson plans to behavior management strategies, taking the time to prepare at the start of the school year will set your substitute art teacher up for success. And it’ll give you peace of mind knowing you’re already prepared.
Remember, clear communication, organization, and a positive classroom environment are key. So relax, knowing that your students are in capable hands and that their artistic journey will continue uninterrupted. Your students will thrive, and you can take a day off knowing that your art room is in capable hands!
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