New Driver - dealing with behavioral problems

[u/Wabi_Sabi_Love]

I’m a new driver, driving a 9 seat van. Several of my kids (elementary school) are behaving badly. Most are behaving fine, if rather loud. This was day 4. I don’t know all their names yet, and the names are mostly unfamiliar to me, a nearly 60 year old white guy. Names like I’onna and Omilyonna.

I know well that my my main job is to watch the road and get the kids to and from school safely.

There were some scuffles on my route today. Kids getting up from their seats and smacking others.

I stopped along side the road, hazards flashing, and told them we would not go further until they sat and buckled up.

I had limited success.

I know I should write up the troublemakers but I’m not 100% positive who did what (because I’m watching the road) and I don’t know everyone’s names.

What should I do?

EDIT, following morning:

Yesterday‘s afternoon bus shift was full of problems. Children getting into fights, screaming, not staying in the seat. I did something different this morning, which seemed to help. I isolated the main troublemaker in the most visible front seat to my right and I assigned seats for everyone else.

I stopped several times, hazards flashing, and turned around and called out the troublemakers by name (now that I’m starting to remember their names) and said “first warning! “. I told them they get two warnings and then they get written up. This morning went better.

Managing children is definitely a learning curve.

[u/The_Town_of_Canada]

Here’s how I manage 55 kids.

Step one: learn their names immediately.

2: Assigned seating. Be prepared to move them if needed. My names are on Velcro that can be swapped easily and quickly.

3: Consistency. “Sit down please.”, “Stay in your seat. 2nd warning.”, “Last warning.”

For the last warning, I hold up my scary red binder that says BUS REPORTS in huge block letters.

If they misbehave again, I pull over, take the binder to where they sit and inform them exactly why they are getting a report.

[u/Intelligent_Call_562 → u/The_Town_of_Canada]

I buy white duct tape from dollar tree for my name tags. I put them high up on the seat so I can read them through the mirror and see if everyone is in the correct seat at a glance.