Are you a Spanish teacher?
Are you worried that you will catch the flu this school year?
Do you want to be prepared with a ready-to-go sub plan?
I’m your gal 🙂
If you answered “no” to any of those three questions, this post may still be of some use to you. It’s 9:30 on Saturday night, and I of course have nothing better to do than clean out my computer. So many files…so little time. In doing so, I dug up this sub plan that I used in Spanish 1, and it’s very easy to duplicate with unique content in any language and level. I used it during Unit 7 of my Spanish 1 curriculum. Here’s what you do:

- Assign a free write–timed or otherwise. (Not sure what a free write is or need a rubric? Click here. Or you could do a BINGO free write. 1-3-10 Free writes are really too long for this plan.)
- Collect them.
- Select several to use in the sub plan.
- Type the free writes that you plan to use in a word document, and make corrections while you type.
- Add a box next to each free write. You can draw this in or use shapes if you’ve got some word processing skills.
- Stick the following directions at the top of the page, changing the structures in Step #4 and Step #5 to match your language and level. (The structures in Step #4 are target structures for the course; the structures in Step #5 are purely for fun– “doesn’t speak Russian”, “has a chicken in his/her pants”, and “is a robot”.
- Get sick and stay home!
Here’s what students do:
- Read all of the stories.
- Draw an illustration of each story in the box beside it to demonstrate that you understand it.
- Choose TWO of the stories and translate them into English on a lined piece of paper.
- Choose one of the stories and make it longer by adding in more information. You must work these five structures into the extended version: le ayuda, tiene que, quiere ser, toma, está enojado. Write the new story on the lined paper below the translations from #3.
- Extra time? Switch papers with someone else that is done. Read their extended story. On a new piece of paper, write an extended version of that person’s story by working in these three phrases: no habla ruso, tiene un pollito en sus pantalones, es un robot
Click here to access the 2-page worksheet that I used. Students will not finish everything…but that’s fine with me! As long as they are busy, behaved, and building proficiency in my absence–I’m a happy teacher 🙂
Want to read more about how to use your students’ work to generate sub plans? Click here.
Want more ideas to have successful sub days? Click here.
Martina, I thought it was funny! 🙂 Love your sub plans – thanks!!
I just need to remember that sarcastic humor is not appropriate, especially in the professional world! It can be very hurtful. Thanks for your support, as always 😉
Mil gracias por las ideas! I’m home today not feeling well and I really appreciate your help 🙂