The best ways to deal with discipline problems

Every day, we are exposed to some uncomfortable situations related with discipline problems. Personally, I have faced different situations ranging from misbehavior, flying papers and smoke bombs, until fights, insults and foul language. Of course, we have to make a difference from those acts that are just a way to call the attention, from those which are just violent. But no matter the situation we have to experience, we always have to do something about it.

According to the teacher Penny Ur in her book "A course in language teaching", she states that it is not just the moment of the conflict the one we must mind, but also all the previous situations that trigger the discipline problem.

1. Before the problem: It is important (as I have already said) to have a plan, to know what to do in case of a problem in the classroom. At the same time, we have to give clear rules and always pay attention to the whole class.
2. The problem is starting: We have to act fast, and deal with every problem. We have to be calm all the time so we won't explode or threat (this is so hard, because we are humans, and we tend to get mad at this kind of situations)
3. The problem exploded: If there is a problem already, and there is anger in the air, ok, then get angry. Then just get calm and  forget some situations, until you can find a solution to the problem.

I must admit, that it is so hard for me to pay attention to the whole class, they are so many, and while I am trying to help one, or a group, then there is a problem in the other part of the classroom.

I have had to face different hard situations. I tried to be calm, and just let it be, after all, they are teenagers, it is part of their changing mood. But we are the adults, and we can't fail.

Based on my experience, every discipline problem must be dealt immediately, and concerning with the more serious conflicts, there must be a kind of punishment (every school has its own rules) because we can't allow disrespect. But at the same time, we have to be very wise to know the behavior of the students, because they are very explosive, but after a time, they always come saying sorry.