Organization ~ Leaving Your Desk Always Ready for a Sub & a FREEBIE!


This is the Top of My Desk!
I try to leave my desk each day ready for a sub. My children are grown now and can stay home without me if they are sick. {My hubby works midnights and my 82 y/o Dad lives with us, so no one is every really home alone!} But I remember what it was like when one of them got sick unexpectedly in the middle of the night. I was divorced, and I was teaching BEFORE SCHOOLS USED COMPUTERS & HAD EMAIL, gasp, I know! 
But it is true! 
So I would be up at 4 am writing out sub plans, calling a friend at 6 am, driving sick kids to meet my friend halfway, give her the plans and hope for the best! 
Now it takes about 5 minutes at the end of everyday to make sure my desk looks like this....I'm not saying it looks this way EVERY, SINGLE DAY, but I try.
1. Here is my daily lesson plan, always on my desk so any admin or county visitor can see it without interrupting my lesson.
2. This is our school's weekly calendar, it lists meetings, fire drills, the resource schedule, etc. This way I don't have to waste time rewriting the dates into my plans!
3. This is my Sub Plans, a terrific notebook for the sub. I've had it for three years now. {If anyone recognizes it, please let me know so I can give the correct teacher credit, I think it is from Erica Bohrer....}
4. This is all the work that is needed for Tuesday! See yesterday's blog post Organizing Your Student's Work for the Week! to see my folder system.
5. Three hole-punch ready when I print my plans or get the weekly calendar. No wasting time looking for it! Right by it is the pen/pencil/paperclip/stickie note holder my daughter made in 1st grade! Everything a sub needs! 
6. Lovely tape and stapler right within reach! The stapler says McAllister, my maiden name from before 1991....am I thrifty or what! If it was to go missing at my school, no one would even know to return it to "Smith's" mailbox! 
7. My personal reminder, JOY! {Jesus, Others, Yourself}    
THEN, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A SUB....It makes your day easier and YOU are ready to go! 
Organization is the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher!
It is the difference between a great teacher and an excellent teacher because you are not wasting your time & energy looking for things!
I get many requests asking about my schedule and my lesson plans. Here is a freebie for you, my template with a sample day.
 {Click on the Picture}
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10 comments

  1. I used to try and do my plans for a week (with copies made and ready to go) just in case something happens. I'm one of those, What if people. I, unfortunately, am not that organized anymore. That is my New Year's resolution! :)

    ღDeAnne
    First Grade and Fabulous

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    Replies
    1. We have to turn our plans in to the boss two weeks in advanced, so that helps MAKE you do them! :) Good luck in 2013!

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  2. As a sub- this makes the day so much easier. I dread the days with no plans :(

    I'm your newest follower! I love how you seamlessly combine recipes, coupons, and teaching!!! :) I use that weenie recipe and LOVE IT!

    So glad to have found your blog.
    Amber
    Sparkles, Smiles, and Successful Students

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  3. I found your blog yesterday, and I can't get enough of it. I am addicted!

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  4. Fern,
    Thanks for linking up! Great tips and great freebie!
    Jean
    Diving Into 2nd Grade

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  5. This truly is such a great way to organize at the end of every day! Look forward to reading more of the links you added too.
    -Leslie
    TeachJunkie.com
    KindergartenWorks.com

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  6. Does someone else teach all the Language Arts? How does that work? I'd LOVE to hear about that!

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    1. Hi Carol,
      I teach Math and Science to the group we call my "morning" group. Then we switch and I teach Math and Science to my "afternoon" group. We actually call them red and blue groups to make it easier. My friend teaches Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies, so we 'share' the same children. Our district calls it Teaming and I hope I never have to switch back again. In two years I have really become an excellent Math teacher because all my professional development and my personal reading and research is based on Common Core for Math.
      Hope that helps,p
      Fern

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