New school year, new goals in Wicomico Co.

books — for some students on delmarva. and in wicomico county — today was also the first day of school –for the new superintendent. 47 abc’s dani bozzini reports. superintendant talking to students track one a new school year brings new goals and challenges… but day one — for wicomico county’s new superintendent doctor donna hanlin — was all about meeting the students. she says there was a lot of research leading up to this point. this summer she pooled information from principals and staff to find the best ways to be successful — and two goals came into focus– 22:47:25 building positive relationships with students – and finding that balance between setting expectations and building relationships 22:47:34 track two earlier this year–the wicomico county education association — surveyed 9-hundred public school employees– more than half said student discipline is an issue. doctor hanlin, school principals, and teachers agreed the equation for improvement would be — building better relationships with students equals a reduction in bad behavior. 23:03:16 discipline is extremely important and i think it all ties back to those relationships and getting to know the students as there is certainly a purpose to whatever they are doing so helping them learn constructive ways to act out whatever feelings their having 23:03:28 23:13:12 i really focus on is getting to know them one on one, going to sporting events and things like that so my approach to discipline is often just getting to know the kids and making them feel like i’m not coming at them from some random direction but that i understand them and want them to do well 23:13:28 track 3 and as one teacher tells 47 abc–lack of interest can be a big reason as to why students are behaving badly- so some teachers are trying out new ways to keep their students engaged– mardela high school math teacher kelly wells is one of them– she’s taking an unconventional approach to her classroom –with bar stools–a kitchen table–a rocker chair–plus some regular desks– wells hopes this will help students feel more at home and comfortable with learning–while also helping with discipline– 23:14:10 we’re going to allow them to have the movement that way they don’t get in trouble 23:14:13 track 4 although new ideas and methods are being tested out this year– the tried and true methods are still very much present. mardela principal amy eskridge–plans on continuing and growing their positive behavioral incentives program — which rewards students that do what they are supposed to do everyday– 23:06:51we also need to recognize the positive–recognize the positive more than we recognize the negative 23:06:59 track 5 dani bozzini, 47 abc and in related news… a report from the american academy of pediatrics — states that