1. Preventing Problem Behavior
Bill Leaming, Northeast Region

2. Objectives How to prevent many problem behaviors from occurring
How to set limits with students who are not following the bus rules
How your own attitude affects the behavior of students
How to be more confident and more successful in your attempts to address challenging behavior

3. Preventing Problem Behavior
What is one strategy you use for preventing problem behaviors on the bus?

4. Preventing Problem Behavior
What are some warning signs of problem behaviors that occur on the school bus?

5. Preventing Problem Behavior
List 3 of the discipline challenges a school bus driver faces on a daily basis

6. Preventing Problem Behavior
How might a bus driver’s approach to these challenges impact a potential crisis?

7. Preventing Problem Behavior
Three simple strategies you can use to prevent difficult behaviors from happening in the first place
1. Get to Know Your Students

9. Preventing Problem Behavior
2. Establish rules/expectations - Post simple and positive rules - Go over rules and revisit frequently - Treat students as you would be treated

10. Preventing Problem Behavior
How do you get your students to understand your interpretation of the rules? How do you know if your students understand the bus rules? If someone gives you a rule, what makes you want to follow that rule?

11. Preventing Problem Behavior
Get to Know Your Students
Establish Expections
3. Be A Positive Role Model
- Be friendly and polite
- Demonstrate the behavior that you would like to see; “Please”, “Thank You”, etc.
- Compliment them when they behave well

12. Preventing Problem Behaviors
The first step when intervening is to identify the individual’s level of behavior
Three levels or categories of behaviors
First is the Anxiety Level
Pacing
Finger drumming
Wringing of hands
Staring

14. Preventing Problem Behavior
Respond Effectively to Problem Behavior
Keep problem behavior from escalating
Be proactive, not reactive
Anxiety Level – Be Supportive
Invite the student to sit next to you
Create a distraction or redirect
Others???

16. Preventing Problem Behavior
Second Level is Defensive Behavior
This is the beginning stage of loss of rationality
Becomes belligerent and challenges authority
Refuses to comply with the rules
Very resistive

17. Preventing Problem Behavior
Verbal Escalation Continuum
Questioning
Refusal
Release
Intimidation
Tension Reduction

19. Preventing Problem Behavior
Directive Responses to Defensive Behaviors
Five-Step Approach to Setting Limits
Explain which behavior is inappropriate – be specific
Explain why the behavior is inappropriate – don’t assume they know
Give reasonable choices with consequences
Allow “wait” time – may seem like ultimatum
Enforce the consequence

21. Preventing Problem Behavior
Third Level is the Acting-Out Person
Pull over
Use a distraction
Attempt verbal intervention
Control “fuel for the fire”
Summon help
Check district policies

23. Preventing Problem Behavior
Intervention Tools and Strategies
Nonverbal – two aspects
Personal space
uncomfortable when invaded
don’t crowd
one seat or leg length away

24. Preventing Problem Behavior
Intervention Tools and Strategies
Nonverbal
Body Language
posture
gestures
facial expressions
do you scowl
put hands on hips
wag the finger in face

25. Preventing Problem Behavior
Intervention Tools and Strategies
Paraverbal Communication
Tone – avoid impatience, condescension, sarcasm
Volume – appropriate for situation
Cadence – even tone and rhythm
How, and what, you say makes a difference

27. Preventing Problem Behavior
Intervention Tools and Strategies
Use Integrated Experience
The idea that the behaviors and attitude of drivers have a powerful impact on the behavior of students
Hard to maintain patience and be calm when students are verbally abusive
Find ways to rationally detach

28. Preventing Problem Behavior
Intervention Tools and Strategies
Rational Detachment
Stay calm and in control
Don’t allow students’ behavior to affect your own
Take care of yourself on and off the job
Reduce stress

29. Preventing Problem Behavior
5-Step Approach to Setting Limits
Explain which behavior is inappropriate
Explain why behavior is inappropriate
Give reasonable choices with consequences
Allow wait time for student to choose
Enforce consequences

30. Summary
Knowing your students is crucial so that you have established trust and respect
Your expectations must be clear and consistent
Be able to read warning signs and identify and respond to problems early
If a student is anxious, we support them
If they are defensive, we are direct with them - give options

31. Huge Responsibility
Even with our best preventive student management we will experience one or more levels of problem behavior
Our first priority is always
safety – for our students
and ourselves.