When life happens, whether it is a last minute illness, a family emergency, or a planned professional development day, having ready to use substitute plans can make all the difference. With Pathful, teachers can keep students learning even when they are out, connecting classroom instruction to real world skills and career exploration.

Substitute plans do not have to be busy work. They can be meaningful, self directed lessons that build reflection, employability skills, and curiosity. This guide provides everything you need to make that possible, including customizable templates, ready to use plans, and FlexLessons that work perfectly for last minute coverage.

💡 Why Use Pathful for Substitute Plans

Pathful’s interactive tools and built-in reflection features make it easy for students to stay on task, whether they are watching videos, completing assessments, or journaling about a skill. Every activity connects to career readiness outcomes, ensuring students learn even when you cannot be there.

Teachers can mix and match Pathful tools to design sub plans that work for a single day or multiple class periods. Substitutes get structured, self guided lessons. Students get learning experiences that feel purposeful and connected to their futures.

🔄 Choosing the Right Approach

Pathful offers multiple ways to keep learning on track when you cannot be there. You can build your own activities using Pathful tools, or use FlexLessons that are already designed, interactive, and ready to assign.

• If you want to align with your current unit or tailor activities to your students, the Build Your Own Sub Plan Framework below helps you combine videos, assessments, and journals into simple, personalized lessons.
  
  
• If you need something immediate, FlexLessons provide complete, self contained options with instructions, quizzes, and built in reflections. You can assign them as is or lightly edit them to fit your curriculum.

Whichever approach you choose, Pathful ensures students are engaged, supported, and learning.

🧩 Build Your Own Sub Plan Framework

This flexible framework makes it easy to design your own substitute plan using Pathful tools.

Define the Purpose and Objective

Decide what the lesson is meant to accomplish and what students should know or do by the end.
Examples:

• Students will explore careers that align with their interests.
  
• Students will analyze how real professionals use communication or problem-solving skills.
  
• Students will compare postsecondary pathways and identify one realistic next step.
  
• Students will reflect on personal strengths and connect them to real jobs.

Select a Pathful Tool or Feature

Choose one or more Pathful tools depending on your lesson goal.

• Interest Assessment
  Quick way for students to identify careers aligned with their interests.
  
• Lifestyle Calculator
  Helps students connect financial decisions, budgeting, and career earnings.
  
• Virtual Job Shadow Videos
  Five minute real world job videos students can explore independently.
  
• Career Profiles
  A deeper look at job tasks, skills, education, salary, and work environment.
  
• Career Journals
  Structured prompts to reflect on interests, skills, and career research.
  
• Employability Videos
  Short videos that highlight key workplace skills like communication and teamwork.
  
• Resume and Cover Letter Builder
  Guided tools that help students create real career documents.
  
• Goal Setting Tool
  Students set and track goals for school, career exploration, or next steps.
  
• Postsecondary Plan
  Students document and update their plans for education or training after high school.

Add a Prompt, Activity or Simple Worksheet

Choose one structured activity to help students process what they explored.
This can be:

• a single reflection prompt
  
• a short organizer for documenting career comparison
  
• a note taking sheet for a video
  
• a check list or rating chart for skills
• a career graphic organizer

Sample prompts:

• What is one new thing you learned
  
• What part of this job interests you
  
• What questions do you still have
  

Wrap Up with Reflection

End the lesson with a brief reflection activity to help students connect what they learned to real careers.
Teachers or substitutes can choose the format:

• Quick whole class share
  
• Small group conversation
  
• Individual written reflection
  

Sample questions:

• What stood out most from today’s activity?
  
• What did you learn that connects to your interests or goals?
  
• What skill or idea do you want to explore further?
  

📘 FlexLessons for Substitute Plans

If you prefer pre-built lessons, Pathful’s FlexLessons make excellent sub plans. Each one includes objectives, activities, and assessments that stand on their own or support ongoing units. They are interactive, easy to assign, and ideal for keeping students engaged while you are away.

Below are the FlexLessons that work especially well for substitute days, organized into core student skill areas.

Soft Skills & Workplace Readiness

• Communication
  
• Verbal Communication
  
• Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace
  
• Active Listening Skills
  
• Interpersonal Skills in the Workplace
  
• Building Effective Team Communication
  
• Essential Teamwork Skills
  
• Conflict Resolution Skills
  
• Applying Soft Skills
  
• Soft and Hard Skills
  
• Workplace Readiness Skills
  
• Self-Advocacy
  
• Understanding Flexibility
  
• Understanding Grit
  
• Understanding Growth Mindset
  
• Understanding Your Civil Rights
  
• Goal Setting

Academic Skills for Success

• Written Communication
  
• Critical Thinking
  
• Note-taking Skills
  
• Time Management Skills
  
• Organizational Habits for Success
  
• Focus and Concentration
  
• Effective Reading Strategies
  
• Topic Development
  
• Planning and Outlining
  
• Concept Mapping
  
• Writing Papers and Essays
  
• Understanding Teacher Feedback
  
• Proofing Assignments
  
• Preparing for Presentations
  
• Understanding Problem Solving
  
• ADA Accessibility and Accommodations
  

Postsecondary Planning & Career Exploration

• Postsecondary Education
  
• Understanding the Importance of Your Resume
  
• What to Expect in an Interview
  
• Exploring Military Careers
  
• Career Cluster overviews (e.g., Arts, Health Science, STEM)

💡 Student Choice Option

To give students autonomy while keeping learning focused, you can offer a short list of 2 to 4 FlexLessons that align with your current unit. Students select the lesson they want to complete, allowing them independence while staying within your instructional goals.

🪄 From Planning to Practice

Now that you know how to build your own Pathful based plans, here is what that looks like in action. These complete, ready to use sub plans give substitutes clear guidance and keep students engaged through simple, structured activities.

✨ Pro Tip: Leave a short note for the substitute that says, “Students know how to log in to Pathful.” It saves time and keeps the class running smoothly.

🧾 Final Tips and Downloads

🌐 Keep It Consistent

Each time you use Pathful for a substitute plan, add a short reflection or quiz so student work stays meaningful and trackable.

💡 Plan Ahead

For longer absences, use Pathful’s reporting tools, feedback features, and FlexLessons to monitor student progress even while you are away.

📄 Downloadable Templates & Lessons

• Substitute Plan Template
• Substitute Plan Student Worksheet
• 1. Career Curiosity Challenge
• 2. Skills in Action
• 3. Real World Problem Solvers
• 4. Communication Lab
• 5. Money Matters
• 6. Professionalism in Practice
• 7. Postsecondary Exploration Lab
• 8. Workplace Skills Storyboard