WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

August 3, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 31

CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS[2]

As parents, teachers, children, and others prepare for school, August’s theme is all about classrooms. Effective classroom management helps navigate the ebb and flow of daily differences. Classroom management techniques include:  

3 C’s: Connection, consistency, and compassion.

4 B’s: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, Be Prepared.

5 P’s: Be Prompt, Be Prepared, Be Productive, Be Positive, Be Polite.

5 R’s: Rights, Responsibilities, Rules, Routines, and Relationships.

In a world increasingly shaped and powered by artificial intelligence, the techniques reflect why individual effort is necessary for productive and healthy classrooms. Consistency is a challenge at home and school because we live in a world consumed with disturbing images and negativity. As one writer said, “Negative thoughts will fester and stop you going for job promotions, jobs, friendships, relationships, adventures, and opportunities. They can stunt personal growth, cause us to make bad decisions, and drive us to become the worst version of ourselves.”

For those of you with a child, niece, or nephew starting pre-school or kindergarten, you might be thinking, What do negative thoughts have to do with a three or four-year-old? If that thought crossed your mind, you have taken an important step in understanding how you can shape more productive classrooms. Even if that thought did not cross your mind but caused you to think about your own negative thoughts and how they might impact a student, you made an important connection to the impact on classrooms.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Consider how a student in your life is viewing their start of school and how you can help them achieve consistency. A good starting point for younger children is Julie Danneberg’s book, First Day Jitters. Sean Covey’s book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, contains lessons for everyone.

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: Unlocking the 3C’s: Transform Your Classroom Management, https://farahhenley.com; Sabercats 4B’s Code of Conduct, Silver Oak Elementary School, www.silveroak.eesd.org; The 5 P’s Classroom Rules, https://www.teacherspayteachers.com; What are the 5 R’s of Classroom Management, www.vietnamteachingjobs.com; Fay Bradshaw, How to Turn Negative Thoughts Into Positive Actions, July 7, 2021, Mindtools, www.mindtools.com.