11. Storyline Online
SAG-AFTRA Foundation
A program of the nonprofit SAG-AFTRA Foundation in which actors read children's picture books on video. The about page says it has more than 100 videos and that each book comes with extra activities written by a credentialed elementary teacher. A sub can put a story on the projector with no account and use the guide for a short follow-up.
The site promotes a free app and is funded by donations; we saw no paywall.
Watch for These are videos of picture books, so they suit elementary rooms far better than middle school, and one video fills only part of a block.
Visit Storyline Online ↗ Facts read on the maker’s page.
22. Classroomscreen
Classroomscreen
An online whiteboard for the projector with 26 widgets, including a timer, a name picker list and a noise meter. The free Basic plan includes all 26 widgets, an annotation bar and a template library. A sub can build one screen with the day's plan, a timer and a quiet signal in a few minutes.
The free part: Basic: all 26 widgets, the annotation bar, remote poll voting, three saved name lists and the template library.
Pro is $3 a month, billed annually at $36 (as of 2026-10-30).
Watch for Saving and sharing screens needs the paid Pro plan, so a sub who moves between schools rebuilds the screen each day or pays.
Visit Classroomscreen ↗ Facts read on the maker’s page.
Short movement and mindfulness videos that classrooms use for brain breaks. The home page says its video apps are free, and a free account adds recently watched videos and badges. It is a quick way for a sub to reset a restless room between lessons.
The home page says the video apps are free.
Watch for Movement videos get loud, so check the room and the teacher's note first, and the home page does not state a grade range.
Visit GoNoodle ↗
44. Peabody Teach for substitute teachers
Peabody
Ours. Our free sub hub makes a whole day's plan at your grade from your phone, with every sheet and its answer key, the breaks and a note to leave for the teacher. It also suggests three no-prep activities that fit the minutes left and has sample plans from kindergarten to middle school. There is no sign-in, no ads, and plans stay in your browser.
Free, with no sign-in.
Watch for It is built for elementary and middle school; it does not post jobs, and you still follow the school's own plan when one is left.
Visit Peabody Teach for substitute teachers ↗
A literacy site from the National Council of Teachers of English with lesson plans, printouts, student interactives and calendar activities for kindergarten through grade 12. The about page says it has offered free materials since 2002. A sub can pull a printout or a short lesson when the plan runs out.
The about page describes the materials as free.
Watch for It covers reading and writing only, so it will not help with a math or science block.
Visit ReadWriteThink ↗ Facts read on the maker’s page.
66. Khan Academy
Khan Academy
A nonprofit learning site whose mission is a free education for anyone, with courses from kindergarten through early college. The about page says its teacher tools are free and include standards-aligned practice. A sub can put a short video or practice set on the board when the class has devices.
The about page says courses are free.
Watch for It is built around courses and practice, so ask the office or check the note for where the class is before you pick a video.
Visit Khan Academy ↗ Facts read on the maker’s page.
77. Toy Theater
Toy Theater
Free educational games for elementary-aged students, plus teacher tools such as timers and spinners. The home page lists math games on counting and telling time, language games on letters and spelling, art and music games and puzzles. It runs on computers, tablets and phones.
The home page describes the games as free; a paid membership is offered.
Watch for The home page shows advertisements, and it is aimed at elementary ages, not middle school.
Visit Toy Theater ↗
A digital library for children 12 and under. Its free Epic School plan gives students and teachers about 20,000 books and videos during school hours on weekdays, 7am to 4pm. A sub can project a book or let readers choose their own on class devices.
The free part: Epic School: about 20,000 books and videos, weekdays 7am to 4pm.
Epic School Plus is priced on request (as of 2026-10-30).
Watch for You need to sign up, and the free plan works only on weekday school hours, so set it up before your first job.
Visit Epic ↗
99. Frontline Absence Management
Frontline Education
The system many districts use to post sub jobs. Frontline's mobile app page says subs can get a notice of open jobs on their phone, search the jobs they can see, read the details and accept a job. It is where a sub finds the school, the times and the teacher's notes for the day.
The page shows no price; the district sets up your account.
Watch for You only see jobs once a district that uses Frontline has added you, and the page shows no price because districts buy it.
Visit Frontline Absence Management ↗
A training site built for substitute teachers. Its main course, SubSkills, is an eight-hour online class on classroom management and professional habits, and passing its online test earns a SubDiploma. It also runs a newsletter for subs called SubSuggestions.
The home page asks you to buy a course; no price is shown.
Watch for Courses are paid and the home page shows no price, so check whether your district or agency already covers the training.
Visit STEDI.org ↗