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BACKING UP THE BUS Canyons School District Bus PBIS Implementation Allan.whitmore@canyonsdistrict.org Eden.steffey@canyonsdistrict.org Slide 2 BACKGROUND Working the last four years to get PBIS up and running in all of Canyons School District elementary schools End of 3 rd year a school who had experienced a lot of success with PBIS called and asked for assistance with PBIS on the BUS District PBIS team liked the idea. The team approached district administration and got approval to present the idea to our elementary school principals Principals gave us the go ahead and said they would support us with teaching BUS rules at their school and following up with reinforcement Contact was then made with the Transportation Department... Slide 3 THE MERGING OF TWO WORLDS We had to merge two systems Bus drivers do not have district email Bus drivers have no formal training on behavior management Bus drivers are on a tight timeline Training and routes The norm for the bus drivers is We drive students safely to school. That is our job. Many bus drivers dont see behavior as being a part of their job Bus drivers dont have natural feedback loops Teachers and administrators do not know what bus regulations are Parents, Teachers and administrators rarely take time to look at things from the bus drivers point of view Nobody backs up the bus driver Slide 4 3%3% 5-10% There are 80-85% Green Zone Students Slide 5 Slide 6 BUS EXPECTATIONS MATRIX Slide 7 Slide 8 TO CHANGE A BEHAVIOR. RESEARCH SHOWS A PERSON NEEDS TO HAVE MORE THEN 4 POSITIVES TO EVERY NEGATIVE RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS PUNISHMENT ALONE DOES NOT CHANGE BEHAVIOR Slide 9 THE DRIVERS SIDE Students Dont Follow Rules Bus Driver Stress Goes Up Driving Becomes More Difficult Driver has to Enforce Rules, Deliver Consequences, and Communicate with School Bad Bus Vibes Slide 10 THE PASSENGERS SIDE Students Act Out Because They Dont Follow the Rules, Feel Unsafe or Have Disabilities Riding the Bus Becomes Unpleasant for Most Consequences on the Bus May Lead to Loss of Academic Time Bad Bus Vibes Slide 11 CSD 2011-2013 DATA Slide 12 FOUR PILLARS OF PBIS Establish Expectations Should be stated & taught positively Explicitly Teach Expectations Make sure that ALL students understand the rules, and have a chance to practice desired behaviors. Reteach expectations and re-practice desired behaviors when problem behaviors spike, or when they might be expected to spike (i.e. holidays) Reinforce Expectations Catch students doing the things you want them to be doing, and acknowledge them in front of their peers. Prevent problem behaviors from occurring by increasing positive reinforcement to those who are doing it right. Correct Problem Behavior Consistently follow problem behavior correction protocol Use the least amount of punishment as possible, and always have the students practice the correct behavior to ensure that they understand what they should be doing. Slide 13 ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS Slide 14 ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS B e Responsible U se Respect Stay S afe Slide 15 BUS EXPECTATIONS MATRIX Slide 16 TEACH EXPECTATIONS Slide 17 WHY TAKE TIME TO TEACH EXPECTATIONS? If a child doesnt know how to read... We teach. If a child doesnt know how to swing... We teach. If a child doesnt know how to multiply... We teach. If a child doesnt know how to drive... We teach. If a child doesnt know how to behave... we _______ ...Teach? .Punish? Why cant we finish the last sentence as automatically as we do the others? Slide 18 TEACH EXPECTATIONS Schools teach BUS expectations at the beginning of the year using the matrix and lesson plans Drivers are encouraged to re-teach and re- practice as needed, particularly when behavior problems spike, or when behavior problems are most likely to spike (i.e. before holidays, spring break, etc.) The more positive the re-teaching, the more impactful it will be! Slide 19 Slide 20 REINFORCE EXPECTATIONS Slide 21 BUILD RELATIONSHIPS Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care. Theodore Roosevelt Learn the students names Greet them as they enter and exit the bus Ask brief questions about their activities Show interest in student activities and big events Share your interests with the students Allow your personality to show on the bus Use I noticed... statements to engage students who have not engaged otherwise Slide 22 REINFORCE EXPECTATIONS Give positive feedback consistently Have fun Mix up the reward system as needed Ideas: Build a District Bus Driver Toolbox Verbal praise Bus Bucks schools have agreed to accept bus bucks and incorporate them into their rewards systems Special Seat Talk on the PA First one off the Bus Slide 23 CONTINUUM OF REINFORCEMENT Natural Success Nod, wink, etc. Thanks Public Acknowledgement Token Acknowledgement Privileges Tangibles Small to Large Slide 24 BUS BUCK SAMPLE Slide 25 CORRECT PROBLEM BEHAVIOR Slide 26 MAJOR VS. MINOR BEHAVIORS Majors: Repeated Minor Offenses Fighting Vandalism Unacceptable Conduct/Insubordination Harassment/Bullying Inappropriate Language Towards Bus Driver Inappropriate materials Weapons Stealing Minors: Disruptive Behavior Property Misuse Inappropriate language Arguments Eat/Drink when not appropriate Failure to keep the bus clean Failure to remain seated Hanging out the Window Slide 27 HANDLING BEHAVIORS Flow Chart Slide 28 MINOR BEHAVIOR VIOLATIONS FORM Slide 29 WHAT DOES CORRECTING PROBLEM BEHAVIOR LOOK LIKE? Have I ensured the students know this expectation? If no, Re-teach If yes, Consider: Verbal Warning Seat Assignment Last Off the Bus Inform Student Youll be Speaking with the Principal Slide 30 BUS REFERRAL SLIP Slide 31 WHAT WEVE LEARNED Support of the Transportation Department is ESSENTIAL Especially the Director Feedback loop to keep bus drivers informed Bus drivers need to be reinforced by schools and district Schools have to follow-through with reinforcement and consequences Schools have to be trained on how to teach expectations and use the lesson plans Schools and district personnel need to know bus driver policy Just as time is scarce for educators, time is scarce for bus drivers Bus drivers and schools typically dont have a good working relationship (hopefully not in your district) Majority of problems could be handled if principals scheduled time to meet with bus drivers