Simple solution to discipline issues

I have been thinking about it all day. That anarchist girl accelerated things.

You guys give me tips like don't allow discmans, set limits, give tests etc.

The problem I had in the past was that at our school I am required to separate discipline issues and performance. So when I suggested that disturbing in class would be negatively reflected in my grading, a colleague teacher told me that I must not include discipline issues in my grading as discipline has a separate grading category on the report card. BS!!! But I didn't know it was BS. I took it seriously, unfortunately.

This thing stopped me from coming with effective solutions as I was always afraid that I have to take discipline as something separate. So I tried to somehow avoid solving discipline problems as I personally hate the taming part of teaching. I love to teach English to students, I hate to tame them. I like motivated students, not rebelling children.

Anyway, being inspired by a policy of a British private school that includes EFFORT in regular grading, I came to conclusion that any kind of disturbing me, ignoring what I ask a student to do, listening to music or reading a b ook in my lesson is obvious LACK of effort to cooperate, to work and to learn. Hence it is not a separate discipline issue but a very important part of general performance in class. My students know very well what they are expected to do. They just think, as other teachers encourage them to think that way, that it is fun to test a new teacher in terms of his or her ability to cope with lack of respect or discipline. The funny thing is that my students are mostly very interested in getting good grades. Once discipline issues are part of effort and once effort is part of the grade, the whole annoying discipline thing is solved. You should see me teaching the eleven year olds. They are scared that when they disturb they will get a test. Because they know they can fail easily and that will influence the grade on the report card. So they do exactly what I tell them to do, no argumens there. The older teenagers are much more smart ass oriented / they try very complicated tricks and try to get away with very complicated arguments. But there are no arguments about cooperation. They should know that once a student does not cooperate, it will be evaluated negatively without having to talk about respect at all.

So instead of punishing them with tests and bans and threats, I will simply evaluate their everyday effort in class with grades. Another simple solution is to examine whoever disturbs right on the spot. A quick question or a grammar question or one sentence translation. They may argue that they were not disturbing, but I will say, I can examine anyone anytime I feel like it. End of talk. In the past I was afraid I would make them hate me. In fact this will bring more peace than war.

Of course there are discipline issues that require separate evaluation, But those are things like hitting someone with a chair, setting fire to the school, drinking alcohol in school or dropping out. The quality of work in class should be definitely considered quality of work. Lots of teachers who are desparate looking for respect from students could quickly have a very effective tool. A grade. You just need a pen and a list of students on a paper. A quick simple little mark DNC - does not cooperate.

What do you think?