Misbehavior on the Misbehavior on the Bus…Bus…What do I DO? What do I DO? New Ways to Assist Students in Having Great Bus BehaviorNew Ways to Assist Students in Having Great Bus Behavior

What Are the Secrets to What Are the Secrets to Behavior?Behavior?

A -----B ----- CA -----B ----- C

A A is the student

BB is what’s going on with the student

CC is their behavior

WhatWhat’’s Going on with the s Going on with the Students?Students?

Psychologists call it Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

It might be called the origin of the behavior

This B (what’s going on) is important in knowing what to do with the student

Once we find this out then we can design a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

Think About It!Think About It!

90% of students are “rule following” on the bus

10% give us some problems

2% of the 10% are very difficult

One plan of action or consequence will not cover all possible situations

Do an “informal assessment,” an “informal functional analysis” of the problem behavior of the student

Rules of the RoadRules of the Road

One plan will not do with all students

Knowing some background about what’s going on with the students helps (i.e., may have a difficult home environment or low self-esteem)

Knowing how to create different plans and then possibly changing them is the secret!

It’s the behavior that’s the problem and not the student

We need to find a way to create “replacement behaviors” for the difficult behavior and not suspend or expel students.

Informal Behavior Assessment: Informal Behavior Assessment: Love/AffiliationLove/Affiliation

Gang behavior

What Drivers SaidWhat Drivers Said

CommunicationsCommunications Find out a little more of each child’s likesFind out a little more of each child’s likes Smile and know the first and last names of each Smile and know the first and last names of each

childchild Talk to students with respect in a nice and Talk to students with respect in a nice and

polite waypolite way Earning privileges, such as being able to sit Earning privileges, such as being able to sit

where you want on the buswhere you want on the bus Explain the “why” behind the rulesExplain the “why” behind the rules Stay calmStay calm

What Drivers SaidWhat Drivers Said

Rules on BusRules on Bus Friendly and caring but firm about rulesFriendly and caring but firm about rules May have to remind them everyday in the May have to remind them everyday in the

beginning but that will lessen. They will respect beginning but that will lessen. They will respect you!you!

Move to a seat up-front!Move to a seat up-front! Find common ground with studentsFind common ground with students Use the “really” approach. Don’t show that they Use the “really” approach. Don’t show that they

have gotten to me or made me “flinch!”have gotten to me or made me “flinch!”

What Drivers Said What Drivers Said

SmileSmile Compliment students. Smile and say, “Have a Compliment students. Smile and say, “Have a

good day.”good day.”

PatiencePatience I try to be patient, respectful, and smiling to all I try to be patient, respectful, and smiling to all

my studentsmy students Try to be fair to everyoneTry to be fair to everyone

ConsistencyConsistency Calm, consistent, firm, praise, and no absolutesCalm, consistent, firm, praise, and no absolutes

What Drivers SaidWhat Drivers Said

MusicMusic Using the radio, channel selection will be based Using the radio, channel selection will be based

on behavioron behavior

RespectRespect Treat everyone with dignity, have patience, and Treat everyone with dignity, have patience, and

don’t take things personallydon’t take things personally Give and expect respect, be caring, show some Give and expect respect, be caring, show some

concerns, and set boundariesconcerns, and set boundaries

What Drivers SaidWhat Drivers Said

ConnectionConnection Getting to know each kid personally, always Getting to know each kid personally, always

greet themgreet them Hear what they have to say, put my feet in Hear what they have to say, put my feet in

their shoes, and be their friend with boundariestheir shoes, and be their friend with boundaries Enjoy your job! Like the kids and make sure Enjoy your job! Like the kids and make sure

they know it!they know it!

SafetySafety Make sure my students are safe and happy to Make sure my students are safe and happy to

and from school!and from school!

What Does All This What Does All This Mean?Mean?

Bus drivers and staff have had little professional development time to understand student’s problem behaviors

Bus drivers need some assistance in developing new behavior plans for students on the bus

Behavior plans on buses can reduce stress, increase enjoyment and cause everyone to enjoy the bus rides from home to school and back again!

Managing Problem Managing Problem BehaviorsBehaviors

One way is to have a behavior specialist assigned to the transportation department (Renton had one a while ago!)

This specialist can assist bus drivers and staff in creating behavior intervention plans based on FBA’s.

They will also give support during the plan and can help in solving remaining problems.

Special Education Special Education DepartmentDepartment

The special education department has teachers (who work with Emotional Behaviorally Disturbed students EBD) who have great experience with these behaviors and can assist in developing plans for students on the bus.

The special education department has school psychologists and counselors that could assist in these plans.

DonDon’’t Be Surprised If the t Be Surprised If the Student Already Has a Student Already Has a

PlanPlanSome students already are on a plan from the

counselor. It would be important to check this out!

Some students have IEP Goals and Objectives for a behavior – check this out too!

What Can I Do for My What Can I Do for My Student with Problem Student with Problem

Behavior?Behavior?Do something different if you have not seen

success for awhile. Review the four sheets and look at some of the suggestions.

Each transportation department should ask all drivers for just one effective behavior intervention that works for them, then tally them. You could have a list of 30-140 effective strategies. Just pick one and try it!

Something NewSomething New

Schools have teacher assistant teams or TAT’s

I would suggest that all or most transportation departments create a BAT or Bus driver Assistance Team!

It could be made up of two or three bus drivers with great records of student behavior on the bus. A bus driver having behavior problems, brings the problem to the team for suggestions.

Even More Even More ““NewNew””

For difficult students, the BAT would bring in the EBD teacher/psychologist/counselor to assist in creating the most effective plans for the student on the bus

Another resource could be your local ESD to offer the BAT some ideas

Please call me if you’re in the Puget Sound ESD region

Last Things to RememberLast Things to Remember

Always know that behavior is getting a pay- off, even if it doesn’t make sense

Most of this work should not be done alone and certainly not without a number of professional development sessions about behavior under your belt

Some of these students like to break the systems. You need to have great “will” and beat them at their game!

GordyGordy’’s Top Tens Top Ten

Commitment is the key

Have a plan

No single plan will do

They find your buttons

Do not do this alone

GordyGordy’’s Top Tens Top Ten

Measure your progress and celebrate

Find the good

Sometimes just ask

Have positive consequences

You are in control…REMEMBER!

The EndingThe Ending

Bus drivers and staff have received little information about difficult behaviors some students have on the bus

There needs to be a new and helpful effort at giving support and understanding to all transportation staff

Special Education can be your friend and so can the ESD’s

Really, THE END!Really, THE END!

Do not do this work alone!

Please call me if you are in need of a way to resolve issues. I will try to get others in your area to assist you

Work as a community on this one; It can help everyone

Remember…just a little or a lot of information can make a big difference

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!