What should be in a substitute teacher report?

The report should be quick enough to complete during a busy day and specific enough to support the teacher who returns. It is a handover tool, not a full narrative of every classroom moment.

Include the practical basics

• Date, class, grade or period and the substitute teacher’s name.
• Attendance information according to school procedures.
• What was assigned or planned.
• What was completed and where the class stopped.
• Materials, keys or technology used and returned.

Record useful student information

Use specific, observable notes. Positive observations matter too. If a concern requires follow-up, state what happened, what response was used and what the classroom teacher should check next. Follow school policy for incidents and confidential information.

Make the priority visible

An end-of-day handover should make the most important item easy to find. The returning teacher should not have to read every line before seeing what needs immediate attention.

Use the right format for the day

A single-class daily report works for one classroom. A multiple-period report is more useful when the substitute covers several subjects or groups.