How to Create Reading, Writing, and ELA Worksheets for Your Substitute Teacher
Last Thursday, I woke up to that telltale scratch in my throat. Every teacher knows the feeling-you're sick, and you're going to have to be out of the classroom.
But immediately, my mind jumped to my students: What would they work on while I'm gone?
I didn't want to lose a whole day of progress, especially since they had been focusing so hard on mastering our latest set of spelling words, and I know they were very close.
So, knowing I'd be calling in sick, I pulled out the laptop and got to work pulling together the right worksheets for my substitute teacher to hand out.
And thanks to Worksheet Creator, I was able to make it happen faster than I ever thought possible.
Why It's Important to Leave Strong ELA Worksheets for Your Substitute
When you're out of the classroom, you want to make sure your students are still engaged, practicing the right skills, and building on what you've already taught.
Leaving behind high-quality Reading, Writing, and ELA worksheets helps ensure:
- Students stay on task
- Learning objectives are reinforced
- Your substitute teacher has clear, easy-to-manage material
- You have peace of mind, knowing your classroom is still moving forward
How I Created a Full Set of Substitute ELA Worksheets in Just Minutes
Since my students were deep into a weekly word work cycle, I wanted them to practice those specific words-not just any generic worksheet.
Here's exactly what I did:
1. Opened Worksheet Creator
I logged into Worksheet Creator, my go-to tool for custom literacy worksheets.
2. Chose The Worksheets I wanted the substitute to hand out
To give my substitute a mix of activities (and my students a variety of practice), I decided to generate:
- Cloze Worksheets: Students fill in missing words from a passage.
- Definition Match Worksheets: Students match vocabulary words with their definitions.
- Rhyming Pairs with Suggested Answers: Students find and pair words that rhyme. This version had suggested answers, as I'm teaching a 3rd grade class and it's important for them to see the possible answers to fill into the worksheet.
Each type hits different reading and writing skills - comprehension, vocabulary, and phonological awareness.
3. Customized for Each Group
Using Worksheet Creator's easy customization features, I quickly tailored the worksheets for my different reading groups.
It only took about 30 seconds per worksheet-faster than writing a single email!
4. Printed and Prepped
Within just a few minutes, I had a full set of polished, engaging worksheets sent to the printer.
I left them neatly stacked with simple instructions for my substitute teacher:
"Pass out Worksheet A in the morning, Worksheet B after lunch, and Worksheet C at the end of the day."
Done.
My students were set up for success, and I could rest and recover without worrying about my classroom.
Why You Should Use Worksheet Creator for Your Substitute ELA Plans
Here's why Worksheet Creator is a must-have tool when preparing Reading and Writing worksheets for a substitute teacher:
- Fast: Create a whole day's worth of worksheets in under 10 minutes.
- Customizable: Align the material exactly with your students' current focus.
- Engaging: Worksheets are interactive and fun, keeping students interested even when you're not there.
- Stress-Free: You don't have to scramble or piece together last-minute materials.
Whether you're out sick, attending professional development, or taking a personal day, Worksheet Creator makes it easy to keep your students learning and growing.
Final Tip: Always Keep a "Sub Binder" Ready
One bonus tip: After seeing how quick it is to create quality ELA worksheets, I started building a "Sub Binder".
Now, I always have a few Cloze, Definition Match, and Rhyming Pairs worksheets printed for each reading group for each week, ready to go - just in case.
That way, whether planned or unexpected, being out of the classroom never feels like a disruption to learning.
