‘Sometimes you’ve got to chuckle’: several UK educators on handling ‘‘sixseven’ in the classroom

Throughout the UK, learners have been exclaiming the words ““six-seven” during lessons in the latest viral trend to sweep across classrooms.

While some instructors have decided to patiently overlook the trend, different educators have incorporated it. A group of instructors explain how they’re dealing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my year 11 tutor group about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall precisely what it was in connection with, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the complete classroom erupted in laughter. It surprised me totally off guard.

My first thought was that I might have delivered an reference to something rude, or that they’d heard something in my speech pattern that appeared amusing. Slightly frustrated – but truly interested and mindful that they weren’t trying to be mean – I got them to clarify. Honestly, the description they provided didn’t make greater understanding – I remained with little comprehension.

What possibly rendered it especially amusing was the weighing-up motion I had performed during speaking. Subsequently I discovered that this typically pairs with ““sixseven”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to kill it off I aim to mention it as much as I can. No approach diminishes a trend like this more thoroughly than an adult striving to participate.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Knowing about it assists so that you can prevent just blundering into statements like “well, there were 6, 7 million people without work in Germany in 1933”. If the number combination is unpreventable, having a firm student discipline system and expectations on learner demeanor is advantageous, as you can address it as you would any additional interruption, but I haven’t actually been required to take that action. Rules are necessary, but if students buy into what the educational institution is implementing, they will become more focused by the online trends (at least in class periods).

Regarding six-seven, I haven’t sacrificed any teaching periods, except for an periodic raised eyebrow and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. Should you offer attention to it, it transforms into a blaze. I address it in the identical manner I would manage any different interruption.

Previously existed the nine plus ten equals twenty-one phenomenon a previous period, and certainly there will appear a different trend after this. This is typical youth activity. During my own youth, it was performing Kevin and Perry impressions (honestly outside the learning space).

Children are unforeseeable, and I believe it falls to the teacher to respond in a manner that redirects them in the direction of the path that will enable them where they need to go, which, fingers crossed, is completing their studies with qualifications rather than a conduct report a mile long for the utilization of arbitrary digits.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children utilize it like a unifying phrase in the schoolyard: a student calls it and the others respond to show they are the same group. It’s like a call-and-response or a stadium slogan – an shared vocabulary they use. In my view it has any distinct importance to them; they simply understand it’s a trend to say. No matter what the newest phenomenon is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s prohibited in my classroom, though – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – similar to any other calling out is. It’s notably difficult in numeracy instruction. But my students at primary level are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re fairly compliant with the regulations, whereas I appreciate that at secondary [school] it may be a different matter.

I have worked as a educator for 15 years, and such trends persist for a month or so. This craze will fade away in the near future – this consistently happens, particularly once their younger siblings commence repeating it and it stops being fashionable. Then they’ll be focused on the subsequent trend.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I started noticing it in August, while instructing in English at a foreign language school. It was mainly male students saying it. I instructed teenagers and it was widespread among the junior students. I was unaware its meaning at the time, but as a young adult and I understood it was just a meme akin to when I attended classes.

The crazes are continuously evolving. “Skibidi toilet” was a familiar phenomenon back when I was at my educational institute, but it failed to appear as frequently in the classroom. Unlike ““67”, ““that particular meme” was not inscribed on the board in class, so students were less equipped to adopt it.

I simply disregard it, or occasionally I will smile with the students if I accidentally say it, attempting to empathise with them and appreciate that it’s simply youth culture. I think they merely seek to enjoy that sensation of belonging and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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Tracy Hubbard
Tracy Hubbard

A digital journalist passionate about uncovering viral trends and sharing compelling stories that captivate readers worldwide.