Positive Behavior Support – It Does Work!!

1. Positive Behavior Support –It Does Work!! Presented by: Lorraine Watson Misty Raulerson Okeechobee County Schools

2. What is Positive Behavior Support? PBS is the application of evidence-based strategies and systems to assist schools to increase academic performance, increase safety, decrease problem behavior, and establish positive school cultures. PBS provides a positive and effective alternative to the traditional methods of discipline. The PBS process results in the creation of effective intervention plans that will impede problem behaviors, teach new skills, and create support systems for the student.

3. Traditional Discipline versus PBS Traditional Discipline: Positive Behavior Support: Focused on the student’s - Replaces undesired behavior problem behavior with a new behavior or skill Goal is to stop undesirable - Alters environments behavior through the use of punishment - Teaches appropriate skills - Rewards appropriate behavior

4. PBS begins with you An operator’s behavior can have either a positive or negative effect on their passenger’s behavior.

7. Positive Operator Actions: Be Confident and in control. Be warm and helpful to the students. Smile and be friendly. Look and listen for clues to passengers’ problems. Present students with choices. Be firm but never overstep moral or legal limits.

8. LET’S GET STARTED So now that we understand what the drivers need to do- Let’s talk about Basic behavior

9. Why it is Important to Understand Some Basic Behavior Principles • Understanding basic principles of behavior will allow teachers, administrators, bus drivers and your team to see why problem behaviors are occurring on the bus and in school • When you understand what is happening, and why it is happening, the team can and will be able to develop effective interventions

10. BASIC BEHAVIOR • It is HOW WE REACTto our environment • Behaviors are often LEARNED and continue because they serve a PURPOSE or FUNCTION • We engage in behaviors because we have learned that a DESIRED OUTCOMEoccurs

11. HARD FACTS Behavior is learned and serves a specific purpose. Behavior is related to the context in which it occurs. For every year a behavior is in place it takes at least one month for that behavior to have a significant change. Children comply with the rules 80% of the time. However they are complimented for their behavior less than….. 2% of the Time

12. Strategies to Manage Student Behavior 1. Get to know your students. Learn your students’ names. Smile and greet them by name. Get to know them and let them know you are interested in them. 2. Be a positive role model. Be friendly and polite. Say “please” and “thank you.” Show your riders the behavior you would like to see from them. Compliment their behavior. 3. Respect students’ personal space. Students have little personal space on a school bus. Be sure not to crowd them anymore than necessary. 4. Be aware of body language. This includes posture, movement, gestures, and facial expressions. As students board the bus, watch for signs. Be aware of your own body language.

13. Strategies Cont’d 5. Establish rules. Keep rules short and simple. State them in a positive way. Give a written copy of rules to all riders and post them on your bus. 6. Set limits when rules are broken. When a student breaks a rule, tell the student what rule has been broken and why that rule is important. Then, set limits. Setting limits means you provide the student with choices and with the consequences of those choices. Stress the choice you prefer the student to make. 7. Remain calm. Even when students are belligerent or insulting, don’t allow them to “push your buttons.” If you lose control, you will probably make the situation worse.

14. The Okeechobee County Schools Transportation Department Are Achieving Excellence With Positive Behavior Support The personnel trusted to begin and end the day with our most valuable resource .....…..our students

15. Bus Referrals by School for Yearly Comparisons

16. Caught Being Good on Bus ____ Name_____________________ ______Respecting Self ______Respecting Others ______Respecting Property

18. Bus Number: _______________ Weekly Points: _____ of 30 Total Daily points: ______ _______ ________ ________ ________

19. Seminole Elementary School Student image Turn this ticket in at lunch for a FREE ICE CREAM. THIS IS YOUR TICKET FOR DISPLAYING GREAT BUS BEHAVIOR DURING THE WEEK

20. Okeechobee School District Seminole Elementary Bus 36 Kay Kanupp Driver: Mr. McCallister March 28, 2012 Bus Rider of the Week Award Signature______________________ Training & Safety Specialist Date________

21. Positive Behavior Support (PBS) • Questionnaire • Please check the following: Yes No • Do you understand what PBS stands for? ____ ____ • Do you understand the purpose of using it? ____ ____ • Are you currently using the PBS bus buddies? ____ ____ • If you are using them, are you using them for • all schools (High/Elem/Middle)? ____ ____ • Do you feel your schools are being supportive? ____ ____ • Have you noticed any improvement from ____ ____ • students that have received the bus buddies? ____ ____ • Please estimate how many bus buddies you have given out this year. _____ • If anyone has checked NO for question #1 or #2, please stop by and see me. Thank • you. • Please complete and return to Lorraine • Route # _________

22. IT’S TIME TO GET STARTED AND STAY POSITIVE

23. School-wide PBSOver 2000 schools across the country and over 150 in Florida have learned and are implementing PBS because…. • It can be adapted to fit your particular school • Schools identify “Bus” as one of their top 3 problem locations • It is consistent with research based principles of behavior

24. Results of School-wide PBS • When PBS strategies are implemented school-wide, students with and without disabilities benefit by having an environment that is conducive to learning. • Driver’s strategies can be more effective as part of a planned system for behavior • All individuals (students, staff, teachers, parents) learn more about their own behavior, learn to work together, and support each other as a community of learners. • PBS Strategies can be implemented on the bus

25. Critical Elements of School –wide PBS • PBS Team, Administrative support • Commitment and participation from teachers and bus drivers • Expectations & Rules • Teaching expectations, rules and consequences • Reward/Recognition program • Effective discipline process procedures and consequences • Classroom and school bus PBS systems • Data entry, analysis and effective problem-solving • Evaluation and progress monitoring

26. Transportation – Wide PBS • Identify 3-5 postively stated expectations for transportation to be used across the county • Pair the expectations with a visual representation

27. Next • Be Safe • Stay in your seat • Be Responsible • Be Respectful • Keep your hands to yourself

28. Next • Keep all items inside the bus at all times. • Keep your hands, head and feet to yourself. • Talk quietly with your friends. • Stay in your seat facing forward and keeping aisle clear. • Follow directions from the bus driver

29. Reward System: Students • Schools to provide bus drivers a supply of school tokens & refresh stock often or the transportation office have their own tokens. • Give out AT LEAST 5 tokens each week. • 1 token goes to a “favorite” student • 1 ticket goes to an “at risk” student • 1 ticket goes to someone in-between • 2 tickets are your choice;

30. Sample School Tokens Stallion Medallion Teacher ____________

32. Creating a Successful Team Making It Happen Your PBS Coaches will include one of the following district employees "Assistant Principals, School base Data Processor, Teacher, School bus driver, Attendant, Supervisor or the Driver Trainer.

33. MONTHLY PBS TEAM MEETINGS Team should meet at least once a month to: * Analyze existing data * Outline actions for the development, maintenance, or modification of the school’s plan. * Determine staff and student training needs * Problem-solving to create solutions to critical issues * Brainstorm interventions based on data

34. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR BUS DRIVERS School Administrators should be visible for their bus drivers. At the beginning of the year have a welcome back breakfast or luncheon and welcome them to your family (i.e discuss school expectations and how the PBS is working. Communicate with the drivers(i.e. speak with them personally about an issue) Most drivers feel they are not part of the school so acknowledge that you care , say hello or just a simply thank you. Feeling appreciated goes a long way with how people deal with others including adults

35. DON’T FORGET TO: Follow up with drivers on whether your district is active in PBS or starting out. Copy the questionnaire and distribute to drivers and attendants. This will help you as the coach to communicate the feedback from staff to the PBS committee and inform them of what may be working , as well as what isn’t working for transportation staff.

36. Contact Information and Resources • Florida positive Behavior Support Project • Phone (813) 974-6440 • E-Mail – wadkins@usf.edu • Website –http://flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu • Lorraine Watson watsonl@okee.k12.fl.us • Misty Raulerson raulersonm@okee.k12.fl.us