‘It’s impossible not to smile’: several UK teachers on coping with ‘six-seven’ in the classroom

Throughout the UK, school pupils have been exclaiming the words ““67” during instruction in the latest internet-inspired phenomenon to sweep across schools.

Although some instructors have decided to calmly disregard the trend, some have accepted it. Several educators share how they’re dealing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my eleventh grade class about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall specifically what it was in reference to, but I said something like “ … if you’re aiming for results six, seven …” and the entire group burst out laughing. It took me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I had created an hint at an offensive subject, or that they’d heard an element of my accent that sounded funny. Slightly frustrated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t trying to be malicious – I persuaded them to explain. Honestly, the explanation they then gave didn’t provide significant clarification – I remained with little comprehension.

What possibly made it extra funny was the weighing-up movement I had executed while speaking. Subsequently I found out that this frequently goes with “six-seven”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the action of me speaking my mind.

To eliminate it I attempt to mention it as often as I can. No strategy reduces a phenomenon like this more emphatically than an adult trying to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it helps so that you can prevent just unintentionally stating comments like “for example, there existed 6, 7 thousand people without work in Germany in 1933”. When the numerical sequence is unavoidable, having a strong school behaviour policy and expectations on pupil behavior proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any additional disruption, but I haven’t actually needed to implement that. Guidelines are important, but if students accept what the school is implementing, they will become more focused by the internet crazes (particularly in lesson time).

Concerning six-seven, I haven’t sacrificed any lesson time, except for an occasional eyebrow raise and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. If you give attention to it, then it becomes a blaze. I treat it in the equivalent fashion I would handle any other interruption.

Earlier occurred the mathematical meme craze a while back, and undoubtedly there will emerge a new phenomenon following this. This is typical youth activity. When I was youth, it was imitating Kevin and Perry mimicry (honestly away from the learning space).

Children are spontaneous, and I think it’s the educator’s responsibility to respond in a approach that steers them in the direction of the direction that will get them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with qualifications as opposed to a disciplinary record a mile long for the use of meaningless numerals.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Students utilize it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: a student calls it and the others respond to demonstrate they belong to the identical community. It’s like a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an common expression they possess. I don’t think it has any specific significance to them; they simply understand it’s a phenomenon to say. Whatever the newest phenomenon is, they want to experience belonging to it.

It’s forbidden in my learning environment, however – it results in a caution if they shout it out – similar to any additional shouting out is. It’s notably challenging in mathematics classes. But my pupils at primary level are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re quite accepting of the regulations, whereas I appreciate that at teen education it might be a different matter.

I’ve been a teacher for a decade and a half, and such trends persist for three or four weeks. This craze will die out in the near future – this consistently happens, notably once their younger siblings begin using it and it’s no longer cool. Then they’ll be on to the next thing.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a foreign language school. It was primarily male students repeating it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was widespread within the younger pupils. I didn’t understand what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I realised it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I was a student.

The crazes are constantly changing. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme during the period when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly exist as much in the educational setting. Differing from ““67”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the chalkboard in class, so learners were less equipped to embrace it.

I just ignore it, or occasionally I will laugh with them if I accidentally say it, attempting to understand them and appreciate that it’s simply youth culture. In my opinion they simply desire to experience that feeling of community and companionship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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