‘Sometimes you’ve got to chuckle’: five UK instructors on coping with ‘six-seven’ in the classroom

Around the UK, school pupils have been exclaiming the words ““67” during classes in the newest internet-inspired craze to take over schools.

Although some educators have opted to stoically ignore the phenomenon, some have incorporated it. Several educators explain how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

During September, I had been addressing my secondary school students about getting ready for their GCSE exams in June. I can’t remember precisely what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re working to results six, seven …” and the complete classroom started chuckling. It surprised me entirely unexpectedly.

My initial reaction was that I might have delivered an reference to something rude, or that they’d heard something in my pronunciation that seemed humorous. Slightly frustrated – but honestly intrigued and conscious that they weren’t trying to be hurtful – I asked them to elaborate. To be honest, the explanation they provided failed to create much difference – I still had no idea.

What could have rendered it particularly humorous was the considering motion I had executed while speaking. I have since discovered that this often accompanies ““sixseven”: I had intended it to assist in expressing the action of me thinking aloud.

To eliminate it I try to reference it as much as I can. Nothing deflates a craze like this more effectively than an teacher attempting to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it helps so that you can steer clear of just accidentally making statements like “indeed, there were 6, 7 hundred jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the numerical sequence is unpreventable, having a firm student discipline system and expectations on student conduct is advantageous, as you can sanction it as you would any different interruption, but I rarely been required to take that action. Guidelines are important, but if students embrace what the learning environment is implementing, they will become better concentrated by the online trends (especially in lesson time).

Concerning 67, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, other than for an infrequent eyebrow raise and commenting ““correct, those are digits, good job”. When you provide focus on it, it evolves into a wildfire. I handle it in the same way I would manage any different disruption.

There was the 9 + 10 = 21 phenomenon a while back, and certainly there will appear a new phenomenon subsequently. This is typical youth activity. Back when I was childhood, it was doing television personalities impersonations (honestly away from the learning space).

Children are unforeseeable, and I think it’s the educator’s responsibility to behave in a way that steers them toward the path that will help them where they need to go, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with qualifications as opposed to a conduct report extensive for the employment of arbitrary digits.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

Young learners use it like a connecting expression in the schoolyard: one says it and the others respond to show they are the same group. It’s like a interactive chant or a sports cheer – an agreed language they share. I believe it has any specific significance to them; they just know it’s a trend to say. No matter what the newest phenomenon is, they want to feel part of it.

It’s prohibited in my learning environment, nevertheless – it’s a warning if they call it out – similar to any different calling out is. It’s particularly challenging in numeracy instruction. But my class at year 5 are children aged nine to ten, so they’re relatively accepting of the regulations, whereas I appreciate that at high school it may be a different matter.

I have worked as a instructor for 15 years, and these phenomena last for a few weeks. This phenomenon will die out in the near future – they always do, especially once their younger siblings start saying it and it’s no longer trendy. Then they’ll be engaged with the following phenomenon.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I started noticing it in August, while instructing in English at a international school. It was mainly male students uttering it. I educated students from twelve to eighteen and it was widespread among the junior students. I had no idea its significance at the time, but being twenty-four and I understood it was just a meme comparable to when I attended classes.

The crazes are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme back when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t particularly occur as often in the educational setting. Differing from ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the board in lessons, so students were less equipped to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will laugh with them if I unintentionally utter it, attempting to understand them and appreciate that it’s simply pop culture. I think they simply desire to experience that feeling of belonging and friendship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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Katie James
Katie James

A passionate writer and tech enthusiast sharing insights on innovation and everyday life.