Essential Items to Carry When Substitute Teaching

You don't have to take everything plus the "kitchen sink" but a few items will help the day go smoother.

Supplies for personal use usually are not readily available when they are needed while on school assignments.  Therefore, a bit of pre-planning can go a long way in making a happier day for you while teaching.
 
First, consider a map. If your teaching assignment is a familiar one, you probably won't need directions, but any other time you just might.  Even in a small town, finding the school building can take precious minutes off of your arrival and preparation time.  Finding the parking entrance can also cause frustration especially if the school is located on a one-way street or a multi-lane route.  A computer generated map or a city map can put you off to a good start.
 
Next, consider personal items.  Hand lotion is nice to have along particularly if the classroom still has chalk boards and chalk.  Chalk can really dry hands; the raw weather encountered on recess duty can too.  Take lip balm too to soothe and to keep you from licking your lips during  lessons:  a practice that students might think warrants comment.  To stave off student-generated colds and other maladies, bring sanitary wipes--individual packets are nice.  Cough drops, breath mints and paper handkerchiefs are musts for many substitute teachers.  Band-aids can cover paper cuts, but are also great to protect blisters caused by the new shoes that begin to rub after you've been on your feet for half the day.  Other convenient additions to your take alongs are a nail clipper and file, a needle with a bit of thread, several safety pins and a spot-remover.  Because damage to vocal cords ia a major threat to the voice of teachers, you should carry a bottle of water to hydrate your throat, if not while you teach, during the breaks between classes.
 
It would be nice to think schools are allergy-free zones, but some areas of a school are prone to irritants such as dust, mold and chemical smells; bring your medications if you are occasionally bothered.  You may also need something for a headache.
 
Female substitute teachers should not depend on bathroom machines for their monthly concerns since the machines are often empty or don't drop products properly.
 
Don't bring tobacco products.
 
Next, carry your lunch or a five dollar bill; either of these will ensure lunch, which you might have to eat on the fly.  (If for some reason—like you are covering two different teacher's classes—you miss lunch, the money may buy you a candy bar in the teachers' lounge.)
 
Finally, bring clothing to layer including a sweater, socks and boots.  A garbage bag is particularly handy to have with you to cover supplies as you go to and from work.  More importantly, it makes an emergency raincoat—not glamorous, but definitly practical.