The Ultimate Middle School Survival Guide: Be Aware, Be Prepared, Be Successful

By Joseph Patton Roberts

The Ultimate Middle School Survival Guide is the most comprehensive book ever written about the middle school experience. This book uses real life situations, that occurred to actual middle school students, in order to give the reader a clear illustration about what can and often does happen as students travel through their middle school years. The Ultimate Middle School Survival Guide gives the reader hints, tips and strategies on how to handle any situation that a student or parent may encounter during middle school. The Ultimate Middle School Survival Guide offers proven techniques on how to handle bullies, gangs, difficult bus drivers and situations that may occur in the locker room, bathrooms or the cafeteria. If a parent wants to ensure that their child has the best chance to have a successful middle school experience, The Ultimate Middle School Survival Guide is a must read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483500997

Book preview

What Makes This A Special Book?

In my twenty five years of teaching and administrative experience, I have primarily worked in the Middle School grades. My years of Middle School experience have led to the sound advice and critical information that each reader will gain from this book. As a Middle School administrator, I have personally handled over 7,000 discipline referrals, facilitated in excess of 3,000 parent conferences, and made 1000’s of parent phone contacts. I have participated in hundreds of district and school wide trainings, as well as in-service activities, in order to stay current with the latest educational practices, which always seem to be evolving.

The backbone of this book, are the real life events that I worked on during my career as a middle school administrator, and the actual cases that I have seen occur at the middle school level while serving as a district administrator. This book provides an in depth look at actual cases that I have handled and what the outcomes of those cases were. You will read about the actual criminal records of students who attend middle schools. You will learn about what happens with technology at middle schools, and you will also learn about what to do when confronted by a middle School bully. From the hallways to the locker rooms and the cafeteria, this book keenly illustrates the everyday life of a middle school student. The obstacles that have to be navigated by middle school students can seem very daunting. All of the decisions that a middle school student has to make each second of every day, can sometimes be very tough decisions to make. This book will give insight on how to have a successful middle school experience. The reader will learn hints, tips and strategies on how to avoid the common mistakes that I have seen so many middle school students make in the past.

Middle School should be the time in a student’s educational years, when long lasting memories and friendships are made, yet so many times those cherished memories and friendships are tarnished by simple mistakes. Sometimes a single mistake by a middle school student, can dramatically change the path of that student. Many middle school students who make critical mistakes, were excellent students in elementary school. This book will make the reader aware of what can happen in middle school.

Everybody prepares for different challenges in life. Whether it is preparing to try out for a sports team or preparing for a special job interview, preparation is the key to success. With middle school being such a critical point in the educational process, why would somebody not want to do everything possible to prepare for the many challenges of middle school? Why would a parent let their child go off to middle school without making them aware of possible situations that might come their way? I hope I have convinced all parents and current or future middle school students to read this book; it can be the difference between a magical experience in middle school or a rougher and bumpier middle school experience.

Although the primary audience of this book is students who will be transitioning into middle school, this book is also very appropriate for all current and future middle school students. My hope would be that all parents and guardians would take the time to sit with their current or future middle school student, and read through the chapters of this book together. The dialog that this book can start between parents and their children can have a huge positive impact on the middle school experience. This book can also benefit any level of middle school staff. Middle school administrators, teachers, counselors and office staff can pick up valuable insight about the middle schools experience from this book.

As you read through this book, you will read about events that really happened in a typical middle school. Most students and parents realize what a referral is. Usually students receive a referral for a discipline situation. Some school districts may call a referral by another name. Whatever the designated name might be, all middle schools have a system to report discipline situations to school administrative staff. As a middle school administrator, I always jotted down personal notes about incidents and referrals that I worked on throughout the years. I used thousands of pages of my personal notes to help illustrate what incidents can happen at a typical middle school. In this book, when the reader views bold and underlined print, that signifies exactly what I read on a discipline referral that was sent to me regarding a specific incident. If you see the highlighting and underlining of words, you will know that this is a real discipline referral that I handled as a middle school administrator. The referrals will not be embellished or exaggerated. You will read the actual words that were written by teachers, bus drivers, custodians and other administrators. I will never use actual student names; I will either put the word student, or use a different name than what was written on the referral.

To all readers of this book, you do not need to take my advice, but it may give you points to ponder if you fall upon a similar situation. The advice I give is based on real situations I have been through, mistakes I have made and successes that I witnessed. Like a snowflake, every student and situation is different. The advice you will get from me is backed up by my own experiences in dealing with just about any situation that you can imagine at the middle school level.

Middle School is such a critical time in the development of students. I do realize that education starts at home, and elementary school is the foundation of a solid education. Middle School is so much more than getting a good school based education; it is a time in a young person’s life when they gain the educational, social and overall withitness that will lead them into adulthood. I have seen the meek and mild mannered 6th grade student; mature into a young adult by the time they are ready to make the transition to high school. Although it usually takes only three years, the middle school experience is always a valuable time in a person’s life. Many times a student’s experience in middle school determines what type of a life that person will live. I have seen the fresh freckled face 6th grader turn to ruin because they are introduced to drugs during their middle school years. This book will not quote statistics, as parents and students could care less about statistics if a situation involves them or their child. I do not think the parent of a new middle school student will care about the alarming rate of bullying that takes place at middle schools, at the moment they find out their son or daughter is the target of a bully, they just want the problem solved immediately. This book will enable all who read it, to know what to do to prevent the bad from happening, and how to put out the fire if a bad situation finds you.

As you read this book, you will read about actual cases in middle schools that are typical to most of the middle schools in this country. Most of the stories and cases within this book, are of a negative nature. The typical middle school student will certainly enjoy the good things that come their way at middle school; it is the bad things that happen at many middle schools that I want to make students aware of, so they can be prepared for anything unexpected that may come their way. Many of the referrals and cases that are used in this book, happened at middle schools that are A rated. It is important for all students and parents to realize, bad things can happen at even the most prestigious and highly rated middle schools. This book is not designed to scare off any future or current middle school students. It is not intended to give parents a second thought about sending their child to middle school. This book is designed to make all current and future middle school students aware of the situations that they might be exposed to at their middle school, and how to avoid costly mistakes when confronted by a difficult situation. This preparation will give every student a higher chance of being successful in middle school, and therefore in life. This book will give parents a look into what it is like to be a middle school student in today’s world, not the world of 20 years ago.

Why Listen To Me?

As I write this chapter of the book, I am watching my fifth grade daughter Rachel. She is running around and playing carnival type games at her elementary school’s Fall Festival. For years I have put this book off, but she is the fuel for my tireless nights of typing and writing. Rachel and the buddies that she is with now, are not even thinking about the many new experiences that await them at middle school, but they will. Even the coolest and hippest 5th grade students get a lump in their throat, that butterfly in their stomach, that cold sweat or occasional nightmare that comes with the nearing of middle school.

My talks with Rachel about middle school increased to every week or so, after the December Holiday Break. The thought of middle school has now become a whisper in her ear. Soon it will be shouting in her ear, Ready or not, here comes middle school. If a parent or guardian is reading this book, think back to when you started middle school. Remember those years in your life? I would have loved to have had more information on what laid ahead of me, when I was a student about to enter middle school. So, I looked at Rachel and I made the decision to write this book. I am certain there are many past and current middle school students who would have loved to have had the information in this book prior to their first day in middle school.

You may be asking yourself, what gives me the credentials to write a book about the middle school experience. The answer to your question is so much more than the number of referrals and parent conferences I have handled as a Middle School administrator.

I went through middle school. I had successes and failures when I was in middle school. I had a fight in middle school, was suspended off of my bus and received several paddlings while I was in middle school. I also received academic awards, and I even won the best sewing award in my 7th grade year. Yes, a sewing award. I sewed a penguin that took me many weeks to complete; I think the teacher felt bad for me. I learned from all of these middle school experiences, and even though they were many years ago, I still remember the events that led up to the altercation I had. I still remember the time and effort I needed to keep my grades up to an acceptable level.

I have been the parent of a student who has successfully completed middle school. My son Brandon had a great middle school experience, excellent grades, no discipline concerns and great friendships were formed. This book will let you in on the advice I always gave my son while he was in middle school.

I have taught at the middle school level. I know what teachers expect, how to maintain good grades and how to stay on the good side of your teachers. This book will give you the strategies that can keep you in the good graces of your teachers and parents.

I was a middle school administrator for nearly a decade. I have experienced about everything that can happen at the middle school level. If I had a nickel for every time that somebody told me, you should write a book, I would be retired now, living on a tropical island in the Caribbean. My experiences are many, I know how to keep middle school students out of harm’s way, and put them into the best position to be successful.

I now work as a county administrator with many responsibilities. I am constantly in middle schools, talking with students, parents, teachers and administrators. I work with many middle school staff to ensure student safety and success. I am on multiple committees that handle middle school discipline concerns. I know what is happening at the middle school level. I know the current trends and how to keep middle school students on the right path.

I am finishing my 25th year in education. I have experienced more than most, and I am certain that if you read this book, you will not only pick up valuable information and strategies on how to succeed at middle school, you will become a better person. As is with everything in our lives, there are never any guarantees, but just like the athlete who trains every day before the big game, if you read and follow this books message, you will be better prepared for what will come your way in middle school. I know elementary schools try to send off their students with as much knowledge as possible about middle school. I talked to many future middle school students during visits I took to their elementary schools, as a middle school administrator. The soon to be middle school students wanted to hear every syllable that came out of my mouth. I could have talked with them all day and not worry about any one of them nodding off. These future middle school students were always one of my best audiences. Students about to enter middle school are thirsty for knowledge and information about the middle school experience, this book provides that information. The information that I would provide to all of those wide eyed excited elementary students was always very basic. I could never get into topics like cursing at middle school, or how to deal with what they may experience in a middle school locker room. I could usually only scratch the surface, regarding the middle school experience, as I always had time restraints at these meetings. The entire middle school experience is nothing that can be shared in a single hour long meeting. This book provides great detail, into all areas of the middle school experience.

Some future middle school students might be shocked to read about some of the true events that happen at the middle school level. Many parents might be more fearful about letting their child attend middle school after they read this book. That should not be the case, this book will boldly tell the readers about true incidents, and use those true incidents to help all middle school students stay out of tough spots, and have a successful experience during middle school. Yes, some of what you read will be alarming to many, but these are events that are taking place in our middle schools everywhere. Better to have your child prepared than not. This book fills the void that is missing for our future and current middle school students; it lets all future middle school students gain insight into what they can expect to be a part of when they start middle school. This book gives all parents and guardians a chance to gain an advantage for their child that is currently attending middle school or will start in the next year or so. Middle school is an awesome experience, being prepared for what happens at the middle school level makes the experience that much more of a magical ride.

As I finish the last paragraph of this chapter, I am watching Rachel run around with her buddies. Every so often she glances my way, just to make sure I am still there. Who will she look to for confidence when the unexpected happens at middle school? Rachel has had such a wonderful experience during her 6 years at elementary school. She knows that in half that time, the rollercoaster ride of middle school will create twice the memories as elementary school. I am preparing her with proven strategies that will give her the best chance of success. This book can be your compass, your map that will guide you through the middle school jungle.

This book is dedicated to all school staff that work with middle school students. To everyone who made it through middle school and to all of those who are about to start the journey. Thanks and much love to all of my family for their continued support with this project.

Sign On The Dotted Line.

At the beginning of this school year, I facilitated a meeting with a middle school student, his parents, and the middle school administrative team. The student had been continually disrupting classes, and the administrator was tired of the student’s foolish behavior. The school administrative team had tried all kinds of behavior consequences with the student, but nothing seemed to work. By the time the second month of middle school was through, the student had already received 16 discipline referrals. This student was a 13 year old 6th grade student. The student had received referrals for class disruptions, defiance, bullying, and cursing at a school staff member. The student’s consequences included, detentions, time outs, parent conferences and out of school suspensions. I scheduled the meeting to determine if the student should be permitted to stay at the middle school he was currently attending, or if he should be sent to an alternative school. At the meeting, the school administrator thought it might be a good idea to have the student sign a behavior contract. We discussed the idea of a contract with the student and his parents. Each of them felt like the behavior contract was a great idea. We made a deal with the student, if he signed the behavior contract, and followed the rules of that contract, he could remain at his school and not have to be assigned to the alternative school. It was explained to the student that if he broke a section of the contract, his chances would be gone, and he would be assigned to an alternative school.

I have used contracts in the past, but not frequently. I always thought that middle school students had an unwritten behavior contract, and that they knew what was expected of them. I always thought that when a student entered middle school, they should know what is expected of them, and if they break rules, they deserve a consequence. But, in this case, I was glad that the idea was brought up, and agreed on by the student and his parents. School administrators do not want to suspend students or send them to alternative schools, but they will if the student does something serious, or if they continue to disrupt the educational process. In the case of this student, the school wanted to give the student another chance, but they wanted the student and his parents to know that they were only giving that student one more chance to remain in his school. The contract stated that the student could not be disruptive anywhere on the school campus. It stated that the student could not curse in school or bully students. Finally the contract stated that the student had to obey a staff member’s request the first time the request was given. The student, his parents and the school administrator signed the contract. About two months later, the student was sent to the alternative school for getting into a fight during class changes. Although this student only completed two months of satisfactory behavior, the contract consequence does hold promise as another possible tool for middle school administrators. When I met with the student and his parents for the second time, the meeting lasted about 10 minutes. I explained to them how to go about enrolling into the alternative school, and they left. The student and parents pleaded with me to allow him to stay at his school, but I quickly dismissed their request. It was my turn to teach this student about accepting responsibility for his actions. He needed to learn that he was going to be held accountable for his actions at middle school. He was going to learn that if he gives his word on something, and does not follow through on what he says he is going to do, he would have to pay the price.

As I looked back on the case, I learned that in some cases, a contract might be a good idea. Certainly a contract would not be a good idea for some cases, but for others, it could be a good option before suspending a student, or sending them to an alternative school. I have facilitated hundreds of middle school discipline meetings this year. The majority of those meetings were designed to solve a discipline problem, an academic problem, or a combination of the two. I have had several occasions where I suggested that the school give the student another chance, by letting the student sign a behavior contract. Some middle school administrators agreed with my suggestion, some did not. Out of all the meetings I have facilitated this year, 12 of those meetings ended with the student signing a behavior contract. Of those 12 behavior contracts, the students upheld their part of the bargain 8 times. That is not a bad percentage, and it did keep 8 middle school students out of the alternative school. For the 4 students who broke the contract they signed, they were sent to an alternative school, they had their chance. As I already mentioned, I did not use behavior contracts very often as a middle school administrator, but I wanted to put this discipline method in the book to illustrate to school administrators, parents and middle school students, that there are times when a behavior contract might be a good alternative to try.

Most middle schools have what is referred to as a discipline matrix. The purpose of the discipline matrix, is to give the school administration a guide in regards to which consequence they should use, when a student breaks a rule. The discipline matrix also keeps consequences consistent for all students. The discipline matrix gives students a chance to know what might happen to them if they break a certain rule. Let’s use class disruption as an example. First offense: warning and call home to parents, Second offense: After school detention, Third offense: 1 day in the time out room, Fourth offense: Saturday school and parent conference, Fifth offense: 1 day suspension from school and parent conference. The discipline matrix shows offenses and the consequence that accompanies that offense. A middle school student’s consequence for cursing in class the first time, will be much different if the student gets another referral for the same offense. Some behavior infractions will have more severe consequences, such as fighting. Many middle school administrators will suspend for up to 10 school days for the first fight a student has at middle school, while other middle schools may only suspend the student for 3 school days. Of course there are some schools that will move to have a student removed from their campus for fighting; it all depends on the school’s administrative teams. I was always very tough on student discipline as a middle school administrator, and the trend has become for most middle school administrators to be tough on discipline problems at their schools. The stakes are too high, if a student does not want to learn and cause trouble, then that student should be sent to another school designed to deal with students who are discipline problems. They should not be permitted to stay in a school, and intimidate others or ruin the educational opportunities of the other students. Students, if your middle school uses a discipline matrix, and you are permitted to see that discipline matrix, you should study that matrix and be aware of the consequences that your school uses to deal with discipline issues. Students should be prepared for a consequence if they violate a behavior rule, or if they start doing poorly in their academics. Of course the consequences for behavior problems are much more punitive in nature, while the consequences for poor academics are designed to increase a student’s success rate in a particular class or classes.

As you read through this book, you will not only see behavior referrals I handled as a middle school administrator, you will also read about the consequences that I gave to the student who broke the rules. I was a fair and strict middle school administrator. I did not use contracts often, but lately it has been something that I am willing to use in some cases. I usually assigned students who misbehaved to the time out room, lunch isolations or after school detentions. Of course there were some cases when the student who broke a rule deserved to be suspended from school or even sent to an alternative school, it all depends on the offense. Students should know that if they commit a drug, weapon or bodily injury offense, they can and often will be suspended or sent to an alternative school.

My favorite consequence weapon was to have parent conferences. Yes, they did take a large amount of my time, but they worked. My message to all middle school administrators is to inconvenience the parents of the students who are misbehaving at school. Let that student know that you will call their parents in for a quick conference if they break a rule. One year I initiated a parent conference requirement for all students who received a second referral. When a student received a first referral, I would call home and explain to the parents that if their child misbehaved again, they would have to come to my office for a parent conference. There were many students who tempted fate and misbehaved for a second time, and their parents had to come to my office for a parent conference. Most of the conferences were short, but it served its purpose of making that parent spend their time driving out to the school and talking with me. Many parents hated this practice that I initiated, but it was effective in eliminating the inappropriate behaviors that many students exhibited. It was the third time that a student received a referral that the true effectiveness of the mandatory parent conference was revealed. When a parent had to come to my office for a second time, almost all of them got visibly upset at their child. They would look at their child in my office and loudly state, I do not want to come out here again, do you hear me! It was then that I would start seeing a difference in the behaviors of many of my problem students. I could then go up to a student who was misbehaving and say, You do not want me to have to call your parent to come to my office do you. The word spread throughout the middle school that, Mr. Roberts will call your parent and make them come to school. Teachers appreciated this tactic as well, because they could also look at a student and say, Do you want me to write you a referral so Mr. Roberts can have your parent come to school? It was truly an excellent tactic in decreasing inappropriate behaviors. The year I initiated this program, I spent many hours in parent conferences. When the year was over, discipline referrals in my grade dropped by nearly 70%, parent conferences are a huge difference maker. Some students respond to the first consequence they receive, while other middle school students want to test the schools discipline policies.

Students, when you enter middle school, you are expected to do as you are told and follow the established rules that your school has created. Your school administrators want you in class, and learning everything you possibly can. Your school administrators do not want to suspend you from school or assign you lunch isolations or after school detentions. Each student should be aware of the consequences that they will receive for breaking a school rule. Every middle school administrative team is different, but middle school students should not think they are still in elementary school when it comes to behaviors. If a rule is broken at middle school, the simple elementary talk and intimidating stare might not be all you get for breaking that rule. I have had so many middle school students in my office shedding tears, because they just received the first discipline referral of their lives. That is what this chapter is trying to relay to the reader. Students, your middle school administrator might use interventions like behavior contracts, or they might say, These are middle school students, they should know the rules. The bottom line is quite simple to understand. All middle school students are expected to follow the school rules. If a middle school student breaks a rule, they will receive a behavior consequence. Students, if you do get a behavior consequence for breaking a rule, take your consequence and learn from your mistake. It is all about acting like a young adult in middle school and not like a little girl or boy.

Rolling Delirium

Most of us remember the first time that we sat down in a roller coaster, that feeling you get when you walked closer to the front entrance of your first haunted house. Parents, do you recall how your stomach felt when the door opened and you were welcomed inside your girlfriends or boyfriends house for the first time? For the new middle school student, when they hear that first faint sound, when that yellow blur becomes a bus, when they smell that exhaust for the first time, many of those students get that first date feeling, that first roller coaster ride is about to begin. The yellowy, mustard, canary colored school bus, a fixture so engrained into everyday school life, that when some districts proposed a color change, they were quickly dismissed as non-traditionalist. So, the yellow transport device lives on, and OH what a wild ride it can be.

When a new middle school student wants to get a sense of what makes the middle school experience so different and special, few things compare to a middle school bus ride. For most middle school students, the bus ride to and from school is an uneventful ritual, but that ritual can have more twist and turns than a Mario Kart freeway. In this chapter, there are different locations that we will review, the morning journey to the bus stop, the bus stop itself, the actual bus ride, the afternoon bus stop and the walk home. As I reviewed thousands of pages of notes for this book, bus referrals were very popular. I have worked with many middle school students during my career, and even the most well-mannered students can find themselves in a jam during the bus ride. In this chapter we will review strategies for you to use during your bus rides to and from school. We will also review tips on how to safely arrive at the morning bus stop and how to safely get home after you are dropped off by the bus. We will also go over what you should be aware of when you arrive at your bus stop. You will read real referrals submitted by actual middle school bus drivers, which will help illustrate the different situations that can occur on a middle school bus. So, let’s go for a journey from your front door, to the bus stop, then on the bus and finally back on the bus and back to your front door after the school day is over.

Let’s start a couple of weeks before the first day of middle school. Parents and students, you should double check to make sure you have the correct time the bus will arrive in the morning and the location of the bus stop. You can usually find out this information by checking county web sites, or by calling the county transportation department, or even calling the middle school directly. School secretarial staff are usually prepared for this question, and many times they have the individual bus stop times and locations handy. As a Middle school administrator in charge of transportation, I always had the bus stop information at hand, as parents often call requesting this information. Again, it is important that both the parent and student complete this project together. Ensuring that parents are partners with their children at middle school is critical. Make sure that you walk or drive the route from your house to the bus stop, so you will know for sure how long it takes to make the journey. You will still need to be cautious during the first 10 school days, as sometimes bus stop pickup times are adjusted. After 10 school days, you can probably come very close to figuring out the exact morning arrival times of your bus. Once you have completed your trial times to the bus stop, you should be prepared to get to your bus stop on time. I recommend that each student plans on arriving at their bus stop about 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled arrival of their bus. Of course every parent should make sure that they review the dangers of strangers with their children prior to the first trip that they will make to their bus stop. Students, never, ever get in a strangers vehicle. If you feel you are being followed, run to the nearest planned out safe spot, but never get in a strangers vehicle, ever. Not long ago, my school district had to send out a county wide alert regarding a White Hummer that drove by some students walking to school, and the driver asked several students if they wanted candy. Students, if this ever happens, you travel as fast as you can to a safe spot that you have planned to use. Then you report the incident as quickly as you can. Never go near the vehicle. I always recall my grandmother telling me to run as fast as you can and scream as loud as you can, even if the person wanting you to get in the vehicle has a gun pointed at you. My grandmother went on to say, If anything is going to happen to you, let it happen in the open, and not in a stranger’s car, or whatever unfamiliar spot they would take you. She said that in most cases, the person will panic and drive off, if they see you running and hear you screaming, they do not want the attention. I always agreed with my grandmother’s philosophy on this, never get in a stranger’s car, ever.

I want to preface this section with the following, in my years as a middle school administrator, I have heard many different opinions and views on the following question, can students be punished for things that they do on the way to the bus stop and for things they do while they are at the bus stop. In my experience, I have seen students punished for things they do when they are traveling to and from a bus stop. I have given many middle school students consequences for what they did while they are at the bus stop. Where does a school districts jurisdiction start and stop? Believe me when I tell you, most of the time things go fine, but what if a student is bullied at a bus stop, what if a fight starts at a bus stop? There have been court cases that have been brought against school districts for giving students consequences for things they have done at bus stops and there have been court cases brought against districts for not taking action on situations that occur at bus stops. I can tell you that most middle school administrators feel like they have the authority to handle situations that happen at or near school bus stops. Many middle schools feel that they can offer some sort of protection to their students from the point that they leave their door in the morning, to the point that they enter their house after the school day has ended. Parents, every school district is different, if you want to get clarification on your districts policy, call your child’s school and speak with a building administrator.

In my experience, if there is a serious incident either to and from school or at the bus stop, most school administrators will try to fix the problem, I always did. There are still many middle school administrators that question the reach of their authority, which is why checking to see what their policy is, may be a good idea if you have doubts. I can remember parents telling me, you can’t do anything to my son for getting into a fight; he was not on school property. Parents and students should talk often about what happens at the bus stop, as well as the walks to and from the bus stops. Many parents would love to take and pick up their child from school, but for many that is not an option. Parents and students, if there is something happening on your trip to or from the bus stop, or if something is happening at the actual bus stop that you feel is wrong, talk with your school administrator and parents as soon as possible. There are times that a school administrator may enlist the services of local law enforcement, if the situation is serious enough. I recall a time that I heard a big fight was going to happen after the students got off the bus in the afternoon. Of course I heard this rumor after the bus had already left. I had my school resource officer head out to that bus stop and it did stop a major fight from taking place.

Let’s get back to our journey to the bus stop in the morning. Students, take the route that you walked during your practice, do not stray off the path. Do not make a quick trip to a convenience store, or start a conversation with somebody you have not seen in a while. You are on a mission, get to your bus stop with plenty of time to spare. I recall a time when I was a middle school student. It was a very cold morning, iced over windshields and our breath looked like we were all a bunch of chain smokers. I remember it like yesterday, a kid named Steve looked at me and said, Let’s go over to the vacant parking lot and start a small fire to get warm. When we hear the bus, we can put out the fire and run to the bus stop. Without thinking of the consequences I thought to myself, what a great idea. Of course Steve dragged a few more people with him, and before we knew it, Steve had a large amount of notebook paper set ablaze. No sooner after the blaze reached its glory, that familiar sound filled our ears. Steve stomped and stomped, as we ran and ran. Of course it looked like an Indian smoke signal, and our bus driver had the eyes of Geronimo. We marched on the bus in our usual procession, with two exceptions, Steve was panting like someone who just ran a marathon and we all smelled like a chimney. We were all written referrals, and we all received consequences. Back in my day, the school administrators did not seem to care if the incident happened at the bus stop or not, they were going to give consequences for foolish behavior. I received a whack from a paddle named Mister Blister, because I was a part of the historic bus stop blaze.

The following referrals were written to me, regarding incidents that happened on the way to the bus stop. These are real incidents that were documented by real middle school bus drivers, which eventually landed on my desk in the form of a discipline referral.

I received many referrals written on students who were not at the bus stop on time. Students need to get to the assigned bus stop on time. That is why every student who rides a bus to middle school needs to be at the assigned bust stop location at least 5 minutes prior to the buses scheduled arrival. I recommend being at the stop 10 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival during the first 10 days of school.

Late getting to the bus stop. Had to wait for her, informed and warned about rules previously. Will not wait again.

Running across busy street to get to bus stop on time. Could have been hit by a car. Needs to be at stop on time.

Most drivers will wait a minute or two the first week of school, but students need to remember that they have a highly structured schedule that they need to follow. Drivers cannot wait around for a student who is late, because that will throw off their entire schedule if they wait for even one student. Just think if a student is late at bus stop A and at bus stop C, now the entire bus load of students may get to school late because of a few students not getting to their stop on time. Most drivers are patient in the beginning of the year, but be prepared to have the bus leave, if you are not at the stop on time. Most drivers will document the situation with a bus referral if they have a student constantly showing up late to the bus stop. Just think, if you were a middle school bus driver, and you just get done loading an entire bus stop full of students. As you are about to leave for the next scheduled stop, you see a student running down the road and waving their arms, what do you do if you are the driver? Many districts have a policy that you never leave a student that you visually see, while some drivers will leave the student if they are not at the actual stop when the bus is ready to close its’ doors. I have had some drivers leave the student, while other drivers will pull over and pick the student up. Many times It depends on the driver, but if you are late to a bus stop after being warned, be prepared for a discipline referral. The consequence I usually gave for this was a contact home. Usually parents will take care of the problem and make sure their child starts getting up earlier. The unwritten consequence would be, the bus driver will not wait for even a second if that student is late getting to the bus stop in the future.

On the way to the bus stop, two students were using sticks like swords. One of the students was struck near the eye. Both students were upset about the incident. I feel there may be a fight later on.

Two students tied a piece of rope to two stop signs. This blocked my route to the bus stop. I saw the two boys running from the area. They were both wearing blue jackets; I know they are Tim and Christopher from my stop. They are always causing trouble on my bus. I suspended these two from school for three days. Not only did they cause a safety situation, they tried to lie their way out of it. I caught one of them with the same cord that was stretched across the road. Both of the student’s parents came to my office for a conference.

Student always visits the store in the morning to get candy. Today he ran through traffic to get to the stop on time. He is always late.

Student threw another students backpack in the street when they were walking to the bus stop.

Make sure you get to your bus stop on time, do not deviate from your route. Besides the horseplay and being late, there is one other thing that can happen on your way to the bus stop, getting bullied or provoked into a fight. Keep in mind, you will probably know most of the students at your bus stop, so bullying or fighting are not very common, but they both do happen at bus stops, and on