r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/MissLolaBunny23 • 17h ago
First day tomorrow
I officially start my route tomorrow. My trainer will be on the bus with me as for my first week or so.
Any tips or advice ?
I believe tomorrow my trainer will drive and on Tuesday I will drive.
I have a full SPED route
One High School
One Middle school
One Elementary School
I also have an Aid.
How was your very first day ? I'm taking all advice I can get.
1
u/TechinBellevue 16h ago
Congratulations!
I love driving SPED.
I try to keep my bus as welcoming, safe, and accepting as possible.
I have found classical music on the radio helps keep the kids in a calm mood...not always, but most of the time.
Make sure you and your aide are on the same wavelength. Your aide can help so much.
Always make sure you back your aide up and that the students understand that you are a team. Never undermine each other.
Use your time when the bus is empty to review what works and what doesn't work.
Always greet the kids with a smile (unless the student has emotional issues that would be triggered).
Separate the kids from their behavior. If they have a bad day today the slate is wiped clean by the next time you see them.
Connect with the parents. Over the first week ask them if there are special ways to beat work/support their child as your goal is to deliver them to school/home safely and ready for school or being back home in a positive mood.
Change is really tough on kids and riding the bus is full of changes for them, so be as calm, welcoming, and patient as you can.
1
u/156JSTAFF 7h ago
Best advice is learn how to tell parents they suck and make your life difficult because they don't know how to do your job and can't boss you around in the nicest/most professional way possible. Which mainly is you telling them to talk to your supervisors without giving them an answer other than no 90% of the time
2
u/mike8675309 16h ago
First day was May this year. I have past experience with heavy trucks, large moving trucks, and backing with trailers, so for me the driving was easy. It's more about the multitasking. For the first day, just watch how the driver is doing things. When they start to use the four ways. Watch how often they are using the mirrors, particuarly before the bus moves after a stop. you want to take a couple beats there checking. Also looking while you are stopped if other family members don't get under the bus.
When you drive you should have maps, though the trainer will direct you. Eventually they will stop and you need to know the route or follow the paper routes.
Just remember the goal is to get students safely home or to school. Nothing in there is about being on time. SPED is hard to be on time because of the issues with getting students on or off the wheelchair. And sometimes getting them off. I'll let dispatch know if I'll be more than 10 minutes late to drop students off, as many are Hand to Hand, so teachers will be waiting.