How to organize your French emergency teaching binder

Let’s face it – September is busy! There is so much to do to prepare for the school year ahead. Welcoming students, preparing the classroom, lesson planning, long-range planning and more! One thing that will make your teacher-life much easier this year will be preparing your French emergency teaching binder right away. That way, when you have to be away from the classroom, you don’t have to stress about planning for your substitute. When your plans are clear and easily accessible, the day will go better for your students and your substitute. All you need to get started is a binder and some dividers!

So, what exactly should you be including in this binder?

Here is a list of things that should always be in your binder:

-Your daily schedule

-Supervision/ duty requirements

-A school map

-Class lists

-Seating chart

-Class rules

-Your behaviour management plan

-Arrival and dismissal procedures

-Attendance procedures

-Dismissal procedures

-Bathroom procedures

-Lunch procedures

-Emergency/ lockdown procedures

-Differentiation requirements

-Emergency lesson plans (CLICK HERE for some great ready-made plans!)

-Name of a teacher or teacher-partner who may be a good resource

-Procedure for obtaining extra photocopies, if required.

-Any other useful information

Being away from your classroom is never easy. Whether it is a planned absence or last-minute illness that keeps you away, it is always helpful to have some routines and expectations in place that will help. Below are some useful tips that I have found to work well. A little forward planning makes a big difference.

Tips for classroom teachers:

1. Keep an emergency substitute folder in a visible area. It is extremely useful for yourself and your replacements if you create and maintain an emergency folder at the beginning of the year. It makes being away less stressful for you and your students. See “What to include in your emergency folder” for a detailed list of inclusions.

2. Have an entry and closing routine and practice it often with students. Maintain a consistent routine in your classes. Perhaps an opening activity like ‘prof du jour’ or video/word/photo of the day. This will help students transition to the new teacher and maintain a sense of ‘normalcy’ in the day.

3. Assign students to help visiting teachers. Choose 2 or 3 reliable students and ask them to help out any visiting teachers that might assist your class throughout the year.

4. Hold your students accountable for their work and behaviours. If your replacement teacher communicates any issues with you, follow up with your students. Re-visit any work that was completed while you were away. This will communicate with students that any work that is assigned when you are away is important and that their behaviours matter.

If you are looking for some great ready-made lessons to include in your binder, I have a package available HERE that will get you started with 7 different lessons that are perfect for junior and intermediate FSL students in core/extended French.