Inside: High School Sub plans for Spanish class. Including an editable Google doc Sub Plan template for secondary High School and Middle School teachers. Short term and long term sub plans for Spanish teachers in high school or middle school. Spanish Sub Plans.
Author – Allison Wienhold
Originally posted on Mis Clases Locas 1.18.16 & most recently updated 2.17.25
Spanish Sub Lesson Plans
If you are a Spanish teacher, we can all agree that Spanish sub-plans are the worst. This year more than ever having ready-to-go emergency sub plans and sub plan templates is essential. As always, I am trying to make your life easier. Having an easy Spanish substitute plan template, as well as ideas for 1 day, a few days, and long-term sub plans will do just that.
If you want your Spanish students interacting with the target language, I have you covered. As language teachers, we know making a Spanish substitute lesson plan is often the last thing you want to do when an emergency comes up.
Having a sub binder prepped in advance is a great way to save yourself a lot of time in the future. We know it is rare to have Spanish-speaking substitute teachers. So, cultural activities can be great sub activities.
High School Sub Plan Template
During graduate school, I subbed part-time for three semesters. I was a sub for everything from preschool special education to elementary P.E. to high school. There I learned exactly what I wanted and did not want to leave for substitute teachers in my absence.
Update: I have started subbing again part time at my kids’ school. For the optimal experience for both the sub and the students, clear plans are key!
My favorite secondary plans were simple, one page, and to the point. They included classes, times, and activities. (You can not believe how many of those biggies get left off!!) This led me to put together my basic Sub Plan Template.
Having the clear chart of what happens when is EVERYTHING. It is so much easier for a sub to follow than a never ending essay.
Why keep the Spanish Sub Lesson plan so basic and simple?
First, some teachers go way overboard, leaving 5 pages of sub plans, which a sub never even gets a chance to read. Let’s be honest this year that probably means a teacher from your building covering just one class and arriving at the bell.
Make the job uncomplicated for the sub, so they are willing to come back to your class. Also, it helps if your students are trained on routines, which they continue even in your absence as well.
**It is important to note, that this is my quick one page at a glance notes to set on the desk for the substitute, along with my full substitute binder. This binder already has class lists for each section, helpful students for each class, daily and emergency procedures, as well as extra forms and emergency plans that can be copied for any class.
Spending a little extra time setting up a sub binder like this will save you SO much time when you feel like death and have no time to do so. It is essential if you will be gone long term.
What do other teachers say about this Sub Plan Template?
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Awesome formatting and made my sub plans super clear. – Barbara B
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am a new teacher, and I needed a template for my substitute folder. This template saved me so much time! – Ashton
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you for making it editable. I have used it for my substitute binder! Gracias! – Sonia S
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Any appointment I have requires me to get a sub. Using your template helped me so much! I was able to organize the four different classes I teach into a clear and neat table for my sub. I appreciate the thought that went into this, and I especially appreciated the “what to do for early finishers” part which is just genius! Merci 🙂 – Melissa
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a great sub plan to have ready! It is very clear and easy to read for the sub, which I really appreciate. It is also very easy to fill out in a hurry, if there isn’t much time. – Emily
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great template, covers all areas needed when prepping for a sub – Leah
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I have been using this sub-plan template for the last year and a half. It’s completely editable and I was able to customize it for my needs.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a great template that makes my life easier whenever I have a sub.
How to use the Sub Plan Template for Spanish class
- Download the Google Doc Sub Plan Template
- Edit it with your current class schedule, classes, instructions, and routines. This way you have your basic plan all ready to go and all you need to do is insert the actual activities of the day.
- Rename your updated version “Sub Plan Template – make a copy.” This way you can easily copy your template and never have to start from scratch making emergency plans at 1 am after your kid or you got sick.
- Finally, if you are feeling ambitious use some of the activities below to insert exact instructions for emergency sub plans for a day, a few days, or even a few weeks.
Ready to go Sub Plan Activities for 1 day of Spanish class
Digital 1 Day Sub Plans for Spanish Class
Google Slides Review Activities – 1 Day activity with some pop-up grammar to review Super 7 units.
Google Doc Cultural Stations for Google Drive (could take 1-2 days depending on the length of class)
- Capibara & Ecuador – early novice Spanish
- Medio Ambiente – Spanish 2-3
- El Salvador & Gangs – Spanish 3-4
Duolingo – Yep. When I was sick in week 1 at a new school I had a sub plan that was “have students set up a Duolingo account and either take the proficiency test or just start learning.” That was it and students loved it. So remember, it does not always have to be fancy, since simple works too for Sub Plans.
Spanish Speaking Countries – use NEW Spanish Speaking Countries martes del mapa 2025 to explore Spanish speaking places
Print 1 Day Sub Plans for Spanish class
- Novice Spanish 1 Cultural Reading – short readings Mexico/ Day of the Dead & Ecuador Spanish Reading Comprehension
- Find Someone Who
*The Find Someone Who would be a great upper-level Spanish activity if it is something you have done before in class. I would not suggest that the 1st time a group ever does this activity it is a sub plan. Yet, it could work with students having previous knowledge of how to interview their classmates and then write about each other. Learn many ways to use a Find Someone Who in this blog post.
More Free Spanish Lesson Plans for Emergency Sub Plans
TV Program 1 Day Sub Plans for Spanish class
If you are going to be gone for one day, but want a super easy day for a non Spanish speaking sub, I have you covered. Print a ready-to-go guide for the sub to pass out & all they have to do is press play. The following episode 1 of these shows is each about 30-35 minutes, perfect for a standard class period.
Upper elementary/Middle School/Spanish 1
Upper level High School Spanish 1 Day Sub Plan
Ready to go activities for a few days of Spanish class
Movie Guides
Print or digital movie guides for a variety of cultural themes make perfect sub plans for a few days. This is what I left when I went on my Honeymoon, as well as other multi day planned absences.
I like to have printed movie guides with the DVD sitting next to my sub plan binder on the shelf behind my desk. Then even unplanned, everything can be ready to go. Or you can quickly assign the Google Docs the day off on Google Classroom or your LMS of choice.
You can find all of my movie guides HERE or my movie guide bundle here.
Here are a few of my favorite appropriate films for any level of Spanish class. With a sub, I am more inclined to have students watch films with Spanish audio and English subtitles unless it is a very upper-level class that can handle Spanish with Spanish subtitles (even without the support of the teacher).
Spanish Class Culture Project
If you need a few day project for literally any level of Spanish class this culture project works as well. I have moved away from assigning projects in most situations due to the amount of class time it uses. But in the situation of an emergency plan for a few work days, it works well.
If possible, it would be nice for the teacher to help set the project expectations, either before being gone, with a quick video, or detailed instructions for students. If needed students could even present via recorded video or Flipgrid for an extended leave.
Ready to go Sub Plans for a few weeks of Spanish class
Digital High-Frequency Verb Units
Any of these included Digital Units were created during virtual learning with the idea that students would be assigned these digital units and complete them with very little teacher assistance.
Keep the comprehensible input flowing with self paced, all digital units. You can modify and take pieces to use to fit your unique situation. This blog post has more information on what is included in the units and how you could use them all online. (Hello quartenteaching)
**Get a free sample of these digital units focusing on present tense SER when you sign up for my newsletter HERE!
More Lesson Planning Resources
- Spanish Curriculum for Middle School
- Sustainable Spanish Lesson Planning
- Comprehensible Input French Curriculum for High School
To wrap it up, being gone can often be harder than just being at school. Be prepared and get your Sub Plan Template added to your drive. Edit it to fit your classes. Even grab some emergency plans to be ready for anything that this year might throw at you! Abrazos! – Allison
