I like your positivity. I've been teaching for over 30 years and see too many teachers become bitter over classroom management, and become worse teachers. I neither focus on reward or punishment, but on tasks (which you mentioned). Students need to learn to focus on the task at hand, and teachers need to prepare those tasks. Too many teachers distract from the purpose of the classroom with negotiation, conversation, comedy or other such nonsense. Teachers need to be organized, structured and create opportunities for the students to demonstrate the abilities that will yield positive results. Whether the students are children, adults, or anywhere in between, they respond best when they realize that the classroom is a safe, engaging and challenging environment.