ESL Sub Plans That Work
Before jumping in, here’s why these ESL sub plans with familiar activities are ideal:
Predictable routines reduce confusion Built-in speaking opportunities increase engagement Visual supports helps students work independently Easy for subs to facilitate (no ESL experience needed)
Even better, they double as review, which is perfect for this time of year.
🎧 1. Listening Game
This is one of the easiest ESL sub plans:
How it works:
- The substitute or student reads a clue
- Students listen and identify the correct answer
- Students cover the matching space on their bingo card
Why it works:
- Builds listening comprehension
- Reinforces vocabulary
- Gets everyone participating right away
Covers:
Listening Clues must be listened to carefully!
Speaking Students can repeat, answer, or justify their choice.
Reading Students can take turns reading the clues.
Writing Students can complete a follow-up writing activity.
💬 2. Speaking Tic-Tac-Toe
This adds structure + choice, which keeps students engaged longer.
How it works:
- Students choose a square
- They use sentence stems to tell about the square
- They try to get three in a row
Why it works:
- Encourages complete sentences
- Gives repeated speaking practice
- Keeps it feeling like a game
Covers:
Listening ✔ Listen to your partners’ choice and sentences
Speaking ✔ Speak in multiple sentences about the picture on the tic tac toe board
Reading ✔ Read sentence stems or word bank words
Writing ✔ Complete extension activity
🎲 3. Roll & Speak
This is always a student favorite and great for an ESL sub plan.
How it works:
- Students roll a die
- Complete the prompt that matches the number
- Can be done with partners or small group
Why it works:
- Adds movement and unpredictability
- Encourages multiple responses
- Easy for any sub to manage
Covers:
Listening ✔ Listen and support your partner
Speaking ✔ Speak in complete sentences using the roll and speak board sentence stems
Reading ✔ Read the complete sentences
Writing ✔ Write complete sentences using the sentence stems or a differentiated option
🔁 How to Turn These Into Full ESL Sub Plans
You can easily structure a full lesson like this:
- Opening Directions, materials passed out, partners assigned if needed (5 minutes)
- Play the Game (Choose: Bingo, Tic Tac Toe, or Roll and Speak) 2-3 rounds-you can switch up partners in speaking games if desired (15-20 minutes)
- Wrap-Up Students complete a quick writing extension and share their writing. (10 minutes)
Longer class period? Mix up boards or partners and play again. Spend more time on writing and sharing written responses orally.
Simple, structured, and effective sub plans done for you.
Free Sub Shout-Out Tracker
, To make things even easier, I created a simple Sub Plan Shout-Out Tracker you can leave with your plans.
The substitute can:
- Encourage participation, following directions, and teamwork
- Track stars during activities
- Leave a quick note about the class
When you return, you can celebrate your students for their effort 
Just click on the resource below.
Final Thoughts on ESL Sub Plans
ESL sub plans don’t have to be complicated to be effective.
When you use simple, familiar activities with clear structure, your students stay engaged, and your sub feels more confident.
You can find all three activities shown above here on TPT:
And here are 3 more advanced Listening Bingo Options for you!
Want more ideas for speaking games and activities? Check out these to blog posts:
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