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General Attitude and Approach
- Be friendly, but not familiar; your name is Mr., Mrs., Miss _____.
- Be firm, but not tough.
- Be consistent; don't be lax one day and tough the next.
- Treat all students equally; don't have favorites.
- Be fair.
- Show respect.
- Be courteous and not sarcastic; don't ridicule a student or his/her family.
- Always control your temper.
- Keep calm; don't yell.
- Pay attention to your appearance.
- Clearly establish your expectations — what the rules are and the reasons they exist.
- Set a good example; act the part of a person in a responsible position who follows the rules.
- Be honest in what you do and say.
- Remember your sense of humor.
- Don't hold grudges and don't take things personally.
- Watch your language.
Helpful Tips
- Greet students by name. Say good morning. Smile.
- Show an interest in things that interest them.
- Compliment students on positive behavior.
- Sometimes it pays not to hear things.
- Make students feel that they have a responsibility in ensuring group safety; have them help set the rules for the bus.
- Listen to the students — their suggestions, their complaints, their concerns.
- If you make a mistake, admit it.
- Give commands that stimulate an action: “Do this” instead of “Don't do that.”
- Have a reason for what you ask a student to do and give the reason.
Discipline
- Save discipline for safety-related behavior; don't nitpick.
- Don't get drawn into an argument with a student.
- Don't threaten to do something you can't do.
- Don't threaten something and then NOT do it.
- Don't discipline a whole group; take the ringleader aside.
- Handle negative comments away from other students.
- Don't let the situation get out of hand.
When There Is a Problem
- Stop the bus.
Park in a safe location off the road, perhaps a parking lot or a driveway.
- Secure the bus.
Take the ignition key with you if you leave your seat.
- Stand up and speak to the offender or offenders.
Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice. Remind the offender of the behavior expected. Don't show anger but do show that you mean business.
- If a change of seating is needed, move the student to a seat near you.
- NEVER put a student off the bus except at school or at his or her residence/school bus stop.
If you feel that the offense is serious enough that you cannot safely drive the bus, call for a school administrator or a parent to come remove the student.
- Follow your district's procedures for further discipline or refusal of rights to ride the bus.
DO NOT Hit or Touch a Student,
unless permitted by regulation |
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