Making life easier: Surviving the Stormy Seas A Different Approach to Understanding Middle School Students Cassie White– Brevard County

The Concept To assist School Bus Operator’s in their quest to better understand how middle school students react to their environment. How to encourage desirable behaviors Strategies to build positive relationships Techniques for de-escalating student behavior

The Middle School Student and Their Environment

Research has shown……… Punishment doesn’t work when it is used inconsistently and in the absence of other positive strategies, is ineffective. Establishing a positive climate on your bus and teaching behavioral expectations along with acknowledging students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehavior to occur before responding. The goal is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm. The Michigan State Board if Education established this plan in 2006 …. Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS). The policy states that each school district in Michigan is encouraged to implement a system of school-wide positive behavior support strategies. Like classrooms, school buses are an integral part of positive behavior support.

You as the driver : You are the first person the students see in the morning----your relationship with them is valuable in how their day begins in learning. You need the knowledge on how to handle this delicate time in a middle schoolers life. David Bearse – 18 years Brevard Public Schools

Types of Conflict Responses: No Nonsense Approach– No give, the driver tries to be fair and honest with the students. Problem Solving Approach – If there is a conflict there is a problem. Compromising Approach – Listens to students and helps them listen to others. Smoothing Approach – Maintains a calm and peaceful environment Ignoring Approach – Points out the rules and lets the students work things out and learn the consequences of their behavior on their own. Again…research has shown that punishment is ineffective. The driver must be a model to expected behavior and teach the students to have a positive social behavior. This allows for a safe and civil experience on the bus

How to Encourage Desirable Behavior— “You Have to have Control over your own actions” Use positive language and actions Positive attention Change your routine Accent the positive Reward Positive behavior Students need to be noticed and recognized in a positive manner no matter how they behave….it is crucial especially those that struggle.

Managing Negative Behavior Inappropriate Behavior: explain to them which behavior is appropriate and give reasonable choices to improve behavior and allow them to make the change. Be a role model: do not invade their personal space, pay attention to your body language and how it comes across….most of all REMAIN CALM! Your Attitude: Do not lose control! Always remain professional. “He who angers you, controls you” Focus on positive: Compliment them on what they have done well, “You started the month out doing so well!” Look for something positive: focus on the positive…even on those chronic misbehaviors, they lack belief in their own ability. The more positive attention they receive the less they will look for attention in a negative way.

Consequences Have an effective, consistent approach for behavioral issues on the bus. If your district does not have procedures in place for consequences for behavioral issues on the bus—work with the department to establish approaches to be used on the bus. Even having the student chose their consequence can help reinforce expectations and help to understand that their choice of behavior requires a consequence. Sometime their choice of a consequence is more severe than what you may have chose. A last resort consequence should be referrals for students that cannot manage their behavior on the bus, If you write referrals for every little behavior they lose their value with the student and the administration, in other words you want the referral to mean something.

De-Escalating Student Behavior It is important to appear centered and calm even when we do not feel that way. Things to remember: Appear calm, centered and self assured. This will help everyone stay calmer too. Use low tone of voice. Do not be defensive even if insults are directed at you personally. Call for more help if needed. Be very respectful even when firmly setting limits or calling for help. The agitated student is very sensitive to feeling shamed and disrespected. The driver should automatically treat them with dignity and respect. Allow enough space between you and the student……about for times the normal distance.

De-Escalating continued---- Get at the same eye level and maintain constant eye contact. (allow the student to break eye contact if they need to). Do not point or shake your finger. Do not touch the student --- it could be easy for physical contact to be misinterpreted as hostile or threatening. Keep your hands out of your pockets and up and available to protect yourself, and stand at an angle to the student. Do not solicit how a person is feeling or interpret feelings in an analytical way. Do not argue or try to convince.

The end of it all…. Documentation is very important…maybe not in referral form but just a simple “jot down” on an incident report Discipline means “to teach” ----- it does not mean “to punish” Be patient-----it takes time It’s not all about correcting…its also about celebrating what the student does right Effective discipline should not be restricting…it should give them a strong foundation to build on

Resources: South Brunswick Public Schools EPIC Program Michigan Board of Education --- Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS) Florida Department of Education Brevard District Schools

Questions?