Teacher Problems Archives - Teacher's Brain

Stress-Free Substitute Planning: Emergency Sub Plans Every Teacher Needs

August 15, 2025 teachersbrain Teacher Problems, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips

Hey friend, does just the thought of planning for an unexpected sick day give you the ick? Trust me…I’ve been there! That’s exactly why having emergency sub plans kindergarten options at the ready has been a total game‑changer. When the flu hits at 3 a.m., I’m so grateful I already have something prepared, and you can too!

Here are a couple of resources I swear by when it comes to prepping ahead:

Kindergarten Emergency SUB Plans

This one’s a lifesaver. You can prep for a day, a week, or up to 10 days in one go. Everything’s written out. Just-type editable, print‑and‑go daily plans, plus visual directions, labels, brain‑break options, story maps, and handwriting pages. It takes ten minutes to prep and saves hours later.

Check it out here!

Substitute Binder Templates

Want the binder version? This editable template set has everything you need for your “Sub Hub Tub”: binder covers, labels, quick‑reference pages for field trips, blank pages to personalize, all ready in ink‑friendly printables and Google Slides. Perfect for tailoring to your grade or style.

Check it out here!

Why These Work Together

Complete coverage: Use the TEN DAYS of Plans for ready-to-go lesson packs, then organize them into your Substitute Binder to keep everything neat, quick to find, and substitute-friendly.
Flexibility: You can customize them to any grade, plus, you’ve got sub plans for other grades in your shop (score!).
Instant peace of mind: Whether it’s a classroom flu or a family emergency, you won’t waste your sick day stressing, your plans will already be prepped and teacher-approved.

How I Usually Set These Up

Download both resources, then as summer starts or back-to-school prep begins, I customize the binder templates with my schedule, class rules, and student leaders.
Slot in the TEN DAYS of Plans. I pick the days I want, maybe five here, two there. I edit the daily schedule slide and print.
Store it in a visible Sub Tub or binder on your desk. Use labels and covers so any sub (or colleague) can find it quickly.

With these in place, you have a sub-ready setup that’s professional, kid-friendly, and, most importantly, stress-free.

Looking for more sub plans? Check them out at the shop!

Check out my top tips for classroom management in elementary here!

5 Awesome Classroom Management Strategies That Really Work

March 12, 2021 teachersbrain education, kindergarten survival, Teacher Problems, Teaching Tips

Going to school is very fun and exciting for the younger elementary students. They are experiencing new things and making new friends every day. It can be thrilling for them. However, it is important to set boundaries so that students know that while it is amazing for them to have new experiences, school is a place to learn. Their main job is to listen and learn, and the teacher’s job is to teach.

The best way to get your classroom running smoothly is by structuring it in a way that students know what is expected of them. To accomplish this, you can start by thinking about how you want your classroom to be run. Look around online or chat with other teachers for inspiration.

Here are some classroom management strategies you can incorporate into your classroom:

Build good relationships with your students

This one is the first and most basic management strategy. You want your students to trust you so that they turn to you when there is a problem. They are also more inclined to follow the rules with a teacher they are comfortable with.

Use a behavior chart for classroom management

This is a clear, visual way for students to understand the behavior that you expect of them. As the year goes on, they will grow to understand it better and strive to do well.

My editable behavior chart makes it easy for you to track your student’s behavior. It also comes with a data-collecting graph to chart data as well as a poster about Big Problems and Little Problems.

Assign classroom jobs

I love assigning jobs to my students. (You can read all about it here.) Giving jobs gives your students a sense of purpose and responsibility in the classroom. It also helps you because it keeps your classroom running smoothly when everyone completes their jobs. Ideas for jobs include line leader, paper passer, book monitor, homework checker, etc.

These editable classroom jobs help make it easy for you! There are 25 pre-made jobs in two different styles to choose from. You can also use the editable PowerPoint to personalize your own job chart! The chalkboard makes it easy to fit into any classroom.

Designate a calm down corner

Younger students are still learning how to regulate their emotions. Sometimes they get a little too worked up or upset about something and just need a place to breathe deeply. Assigning a certain area in your classroom as the “Calm Down Corner” will give your students a designated place to go when they need a few minutes of quiet to calm down.

This calm down corner resource comes with visual cue cards, calm down corner ideas, posters, and printables to collect data, identify triggers and calm down actions.

Offer Praise

One of the best ways to get students to behave is to praise good behavior. Doing this instead of only correcting bad behavior is a way of using positive reinforcement. Students love to hear that they are doing a good job and praising them when they are will give them a strong incentive to continue that behavior.

When your classroom management strategies are working and everything is running smoothly, it is magic! When you and your students have found your groove, you can focus more on fun and learning instead of focusing on rules and bad behavior.

I hope these strategies and resources help you out! If you have a classroom management strategy that you love, I would love to hear about it in the comments!

Using Games In The Classroom

November 13, 2020 teachersbrain education, Math, Teacher Problems, Teaching Tips

Games are an important part of childhood. From sports to board games, children all over the world play together to learn social skills and have fun. However, games haven’t always been a welcome strategy in the classroom. In the schools of the not-so-distant past, they were something kids were to do on the playground or at home- but not in their classrooms. Fortunately, thoughts have changed. We now know that games can teach important skills while students have fun!

If you’re ready to get your students more excited about learning, pull out some classroom games. Students will be more motivated to pay attention to the subject matter, and will be more engaged. They will positively associate learning the subject matter with having fun. This will increase their success with the material, and make your job a little easier!

Your kids will also develop stronger critical thinking skills while playing games. Depending on the object of the game, they might have to try new strategies, think ahead, or switch plans. In addition to content mastery, students learn social skills while playing classroom games. They experience winning and losing, taking turns, and co-operating. These skills are necessary for working with other people even in adulthood.

One of my favorite classroom game sets is Kindergarten Math Games. It is designed for pre-k and kindergarten classrooms to make practicing important math skills more fun (check out my Kindergarten Math Salad Bar here)! It includes several options for single players to complete on their own as well as games for two players to take turns. Students will learn to count and recognize numbers 1-6 while playing the games. You can simply print the game boards out, give students a 6-sided die, and let the fun begin!

Another resource available for FREE right now is the 10 More Or Less Game. It is ideal for students in grades K-2. This activity helps students understand the number concepts of 10 more and 10 less. It can be played as a whole group so you can help students understand how it works. Then students can play with small groups or partners. Your kids will love learning math skills while having fun with their peers!

What games do you like to play in the classroom? Let me know in the comments!

Brevard Times SHAMES Teachers Attending Educational Rally

January 12, 2020 teachersbrain Teacher Problems, Teacher's Pay Teachers

Brevard Times, a Florida newspaper, posted the names of teachers who have used paid PERSONAL leave to attend a rally Monday in order to gain support for our education system. They accuse these teachers who advocate for students of “skipping work” and not providing “adequate supervision.”

These teachers who dedicate their lives to their students are not skipping work! They are using PERSONAL leave to fight for their students’ futures. They planned this in advanced with the approval of their school district. Teachers who put their careers on the line to make the Department of Education listen are heroes in my book! They are not going to the beach for the day. They are not spending quality time with their family on a vacation. Matter of fact, these teachers are going to have to leave their family just to attend. They are crying out for help in the classrooms and for their profession. If there weren’t problems in Florida’s education system, there would not be a huge shortage of teachers.

What was the purpose of the newspaper putting some of the names of the teachers attending in their paper? The paper says, ” Parents can then follow up with their child’s school to ensure that their child has adequate supervision during the school day on Monday.” Not every teacher attending is on the list.

This is a sick way to bully our treasured teachers by violating their privacy. If you plan on calling the school to find out about “adequate supervision,” consider calling to say THANK YOU to these teacher heroes and schools for supporting your child. If you are going to read their names, read them because they are honorable.

Did you know that Florida ranks 46 in the nation for teacher pay? There is a shortage of teachers not just because of the pay, but the lack of respect and resources for students. Newspapers like Brevard Times are part of the problem for not supporting their teachers in their county. It is important to point out that the school district has been very supportive of their teachers. It is Brevard Times who has failed the community.

SUPPORT THESE TEACHERS and let Brevard Times know they are the ones who need to be shamed!