School Bus Driver Training Unit B Student Management and Discipline Objectives At the end of this session school bus operators will be able to: Describe local policy for appropriate student behavior on the bus Demonstrate essential components of effective driver-student interaction Describe local policy on serious discipline problems Recognize typical behavior patterns for students in different age groups Demonstrate basic concepts of Assertive Discipline Introduction School bus drivers are in the ‘people’ business Student behavior is a safety issue School bus drivers are responsible for safety The school principal is ultimately responsible for discipline School Bus Driver Responsibilities School Bus Driver Training Manual contains a list of responsibilities Driver’s responsibilities fit into several categories: Employer (procedures) School district (procedures, regulations) People (students, parents, school personnel) Bus (neat, clean, obvious mechanical issues) Self (attitude, positive image, preparedness) Characteristics of the Successful Bus Driver Confident and effective Creates a positive environment for students Has clear rules for students to follow Uses good driving skills Knows and follows the route Provides good customer service Takes pride in personal appearance Keeps a clean bus Knows what makes him/her angry and remaining calm when “buttons” are pushed Does not take student comments personally Some Inappropriate Driver Behaviors Being confrontational Being sarcastic Arguing Yelling Using brakes to manage students Student Responsibilities Poor student behavior can distract drivers Clear rules must be established by the driver and followed by the students Students and parents must understand that rules contribute to the safety of the bus Students and parents must understand that breaking rules brings consequences Expectations for students Following all district, school, and bus rules Taking responsibility for their actions Being respectful of other students’ rights Being on time at bus stop locations Following all safety procedures at the bus stop Following all safety procedures on the bus Responding immediately and appropriately to bus driver instructions Some Inappropriate Student Behaviors Excessive noise Portions of bodies out windows Moving about while the bus is in motion Throwing objects around inside the bus Throwing objects outside the bus Crowding and shoving Pushing, tripping, kicking Some Inappropriate Student Behaviors Refusing to share a seat Grabbing the property of others Vulgar language Name calling Bullying and harassment Hitting, fighting Driver-Student Interactions General guidelines for interacting with students Remember that “Bus drivers have CLASS” C-L-A-S-S: A student management memory aid A Student Management Memory Aid CLASS C – Consistent L – Limits A – Attitude S – Share S - Support What a Driver Can Do to Manage Student Behavior Learn the names of your students Greet students Use different voice levels Be conscious of body language Be conscious of eye language Give positive feedback Be polite Give mature commands Successful Techniques of Discipline My job/your job explanation Teach your students the rules Explain the consequences of misbehaving Give warnings and keep documentation Match the consequence to the behavior and be consistent in both discipline and follow through Give positive rewards for good behavior Teaching the Rules on Your Bus Cumulative Increase Automaticity Mastery 100 80 60 40 20 No skill 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 Students may need to practice something 24 times or more before they reach 80% competency on a skill (Marzano, 1991, Classroom Instruction that Works) Suggestions for Bus Rules Observable and measurable behavior Positively stated No more than 3-5 rules Stated Negatively Stated Positively “Don’t argue with me!” “Listen to your bus driver.” “No standing in the aisle.” “Stay in your seat.” “Never hit anyone.” “Keep your hands to yourself.” “No yelling!” “Keep your voices down.” With thanks to Sprick & Colvin (1992) Applying Discipline on the School Bus Make initial contact by “noticing” “I noticed you did a great job keeping your hands to yourself today. Keep up the good work!” “I noticed you were pushing Jennifer” “I noticed you were keeping to yourself today and looked really unhappy” Ask Open-ended Questions “What’s the problem?” (The student must explain) “What’s the consequence for spitting on other people?” (The student must give an example of the consequence) Quick, Unthreatening Interventions “What is the rule? What are you supposed to do?” “It looks like you have a problem, how could I help you solve it?” “What do you want from me?” “If you could make this situation better, what would you do?” Questions to Ask After Intervening “What are you doing to make this work?” “Have you thought about how to solve it?” “Is it helping to solve the situation?” “If you continue to do what you’re doing, what will happen?” “What could you do to make this successful?” Serious Discipline Problems Follow school district’s procedures Remove the bus from traffic Be courteous, yet firm Do only what is within your power Never touch a student Document incidents as needed Report serious cases to supervisor or school principal Reporting Behavior Problems Documenting behavior problems is an important component in discipline procedures Use common language Write reported behaviors that are: Observable – What did it look like / sound like? Measurable – How long? How often? Patterns of behavior will emerge more easily when documentation is accurate and thorough Reporting Behavior Problems Details to include in behavior reports: What was happening at the time? What did the student do/say? What did you do as the driver / assistant? How did the student respond to you? Reporting Behavior Problems Possible format for documenting and reporting behavior problems Antecedent What was happening at the time? Behavior What did the student do? With thanks to Sprick & Colvin (1992) Intervention What was your response? Consequence What happened immediately after the behavior? Reporting Behavior Problems Example: Antecedent Behavior Intervention Consequence What was happening at the time? What did the student do? What was your response? Kids loading the bus John disrespected me Told him I deserve He laughed at respect me With thanks to Sprick & Colvin (1992) What happened immediately after the behavior? Characteristics of Student Behavior Kindergarten and elementary (K-5) Middle school (6-8) Secondary school (9-12) Kindergarten and Elementary (K-5) Tend to move about Tend to talk when expected to be still Tend to have limited attention spans Tend to have limited memories Tend to care about adult perceptions of them Tend to actively reject those that do not fit in Middle School (6-8) Self-centered More focused on acceptance and popularity among peers Adolescence brings mood swings Test limits of adult authority Aggression in the form of bullying and harassment Conformity in communication and dress develop Exploration of sexual relations begins Delinquent social activities may begin Secondary School (9-12) Socially self-conscious Romantic relationships emerge Concerned with their dignity Concerned with conformity to group norms Chronic gossips Managing Student Behavior Keep discipline private whenever possible Stay professional Set discipline standards Work with school authorities Don’t deal with on-bus problems when loading and unloading Keep Discipline Private Whenever Possible Individual problem behaviors are best handled individually Avoid showdowns with chronic troublemakers Do not threaten the entire busload for the actions of a few unless the general safety of the bus is threatened Stay Professional Be fair Do not be lenient when “good” students misbehave Do not be less lenient when troublemakers misbehave Never lose your temper Know that children will test your limits Be strict at the beginning of a school year and move to general leniency if appropriate Four Steps to Follow When Giving Directions Make a polite statement, “Jerry, please sit down on the seat.” If the student refuses to comply, state your expectations. “Jerry, you’re expected to sit down on the seat.” If the student still refuses to comply, state the consequences. “Jerry, if you do not sit down on your seat, you will have to ride up here in the front seat.” If there is no compliance at this point, ask the student to give an example of the consequence and the positive alternative and let the student make the decision. Break eye contact and allow them to make a choice. “Your choice is to either sit down or ride in the front seat. Which would you like to do?” Interrupting Behavior That is Just Beginning “Are you supposed to be throwing paper on the bus?” (Get students to consider the consequences of their behavior.) “What happens when you throw paper on the bus?” (Get students to focus on a change in their behavior.) “So, what’s your plan?” (“I guess I’ll just ride to school and keep my papers in my backpack.”) Interrupting Suspicious Behavior That Just Happened You are not sure if this person is guilty, but you are reasonably certain. “What’s your plan?” (“What do you mean, what’s my plan?”) “What’s your plan to stop writing on the seats on the bus?” (“I don’t need a plan.”) “You’re right. But if you continue to write on the seats, you’ll have to follow my plan and ride up here or take time after school to clean the seats.” Controlling Group Behavior When you deal with groups, talk to the person who gives you verbal resistance Remain focused on the behavior and the person who gives you verbal resistance Make a general polite directive Explain the consequence of the behavior to that verbally resistive person Give that person the negative and positive choice, and let him/her make the choice Use Statements Like These to Respond to a Verbal Attack: “This is not how you get what you want from me.” “This conversation is not helping. How can we solve the problem?” “I’ll talk to you after you’ve calmed down. We can work this out later.” “When you complain, I only hear how you feel. What do you want?” “ ‘Everyone’s doing it!’ is an opinion. What do you really want?” Broken-record Method If a student is arguing with you or not complying with a direct command Tell the student what you want If the student argues, calmly repeat the command/direction up to 3 times If the student refuses, use a consequence Echoing-Statements Method of Stopping Arguments Repeat the statements of arguing pupils to diffuse conflict. “John took my books.” “Mary says you took her books.” “I did not.” “John says he didn’t take your books.” “Yes, he did. He took my books.” “She says you took her books.” Continue this until the book is returned to its owner. Set Discipline Standards Settle problems quickly Settle serious problems when the bus is stopped Seat troublemakers near you Drive smoothly Be firm, fair, impartial, consistent Never lose your temper Treat students as you would like your child treated Work With School Authorities Nurture a relationship with school authorities Post a copy of school district rules Follow the school district rules You do not have the power to put a student off the bus – school officials do Don’t Deal With On-bus Problems When Loading and Unloading Loading and unloading is dangerous All the driver’s attention must be focused on what is happening around the bus If a discipline problem occurs during loading or unloading, wait until loading or unloading is safely completed Assertive Discipline Non-assertive discipline Hostile discipline Assertive discipline Assertive school bus drivers Non-assertive Discipline Failure to state your needs State your needs, but fail to back your statements up with action Hostile Discipline Stating your needs in negative ways May violate students’ rights May result in fear, causing aggression elsewhere Assertive Discipline State your needs Back those statements up with appropriate actions Have a positive outlook Have confidence in your abilities Balance the rights of all parties involved Assertive School Bus Drivers You are the boss of the bus Say what you mean and mean what you say Clearly and firmly tell students how to behave Stay calm – normal tone of voice Have a plan of action for misbehavior Reward good behavior Assertive Discipline Plan Show the plan to your supervisor Send the plan to parents Introduce the plan to the students Post the plan on the bus Provide consequences immediately Provide consequences consistently Provide consequences in a calm manner Praise students frequently Positive Rewards for Good Behavior Are the most important part of your assertive discipline plan Should be: Something the kids like Be appropriate for age level Never be taken away as punishment Can be for an individual or group Difficult Issues Gang activity Bullying and harassment on the school bus Suspected child abuse or neglect Gang Activity Gang activity can be found everywhere Gangs are part of their communities Benign forms of gang dress and behavior are imitated by non-gang children, making real gang members difficult to identify Attempting to treat gang members differently will only lead to problems Treat every student with respect Bullying and Harassment on the Bus Lead by demonstration Expect children to treat each other with respect Assert your need for children to treat each other with respect Treat everyone on the bus with the same respect Document and report incidents Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect Your School district has policies and procedures for reporting suspected cases of abuse or neglect To report these abuses you need: Name, address, age of child Name, address of custodial parent/guardian Nature and extent of injury Nature and extent of neglect Nature and extent of sexual abuse Evidence of previous injuries Pertinent information supporting reasonable suspicion Law protects person reporting/testifying Practice Scenario Mary, a 1st grader, won’t stay seated. She’s usually quiet in the morning, but in the afternoon, she’s wild. I think they give her sugar right before she gets on the bus. She never listens. As a bus driver, what would you do? Practice Scenario Jim, an 8th grader, won’t stay seated. He is a typical middle school boy, and always challenges authority. As a bus driver, what would you do? Practice Scenario Teresa, a 12th grade cheerleader, is excited about tonight’s game, and won’t stay seated. Normally, I don’t even know Teresa is on the bus. She’s always so well behaved. As a bus driver, what would you do?