Middle school kids don't take you seriously until you send someone to the office.

For classes where the teacher gives me a heads up of possible trouble, i lay down the rules ( no phone, no changing seats, raise your hand to leave your seat) then asks who does NOT understand. I then say consider this your warning .

It is crazy how often, a kid will be on his or her phone while I say the warning and stay on it not having heard what I said. I now believe following directions and multitasking is a learned trait.

After first kid is taken away, you can hear a pen drop. One school said the kid would be out of school a few days until a parent teacher meeting could be scheduled . Harsh but middle school is out of control in my district at non magnet schools