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Across the UK, students have been shouting out the expression “sixseven” during classes in the latest meme-based phenomenon to take over educational institutions.

Although some educators have decided to calmly disregard the trend, different educators have incorporated it. A group of instructors share how they’re dealing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Back in September, I had been speaking with my eleventh grade class about studying for their secondary school examinations in June. I don’t recall precisely what it was in connection with, but I said something like “ … if you’re aiming for marks six, seven …” and the whole class burst out laughing. It caught me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I might have delivered an allusion to something rude, or that they perceived a quality in my accent that seemed humorous. Slightly annoyed – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t trying to be hurtful – I got them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the clarification they then gave failed to create much difference – I still had no idea.

What might have rendered it particularly humorous was the weighing-up movement I had executed while speaking. I later discovered that this typically pairs with ““sixseven”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the act of me thinking aloud.

To eliminate it I attempt to bring it up as much as I can. Nothing deflates a phenomenon like this more thoroughly than an adult trying to join in.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it helps so that you can steer clear of just accidentally making remarks like “for example, there existed 6, 7 hundred jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the number combination is unavoidable, having a strong classroom conduct rules and requirements on pupil behavior really helps, as you can deal with it as you would any additional disturbance, but I’ve not really needed to implement that. Guidelines are necessary, but if learners accept what the school is practicing, they will remain more focused by the viral phenomena (at least in class periods).

Regarding six-seven, I haven’t sacrificed any lesson time, aside from an infrequent quizzical look and saying ““correct, those are digits, good job”. If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno. I handle it in the same way I would handle any different disruption.

Previously existed the 9 + 10 = 21 craze a few years ago, and certainly there will appear a different trend subsequently. That’s children’s behavior. Back when I was youth, it was doing television personalities impersonations (honestly out of the school environment).

Students are unpredictable, and I think it’s the educator’s responsibility to react in a way that guides them in the direction of the path that will help them to their educational goals, which, fingers crossed, is graduating with qualifications as opposed to a disciplinary record extensive for the employment of meaningless numerals.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children employ it like a bonding chant in the recreation area: one says it and the others respond to demonstrate they belong to the identical community. It’s like a interactive chant or a stadium slogan – an shared vocabulary they use. I believe it has any distinct meaning to them; they simply understand it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the current trend is, they desire to be included in it.

It’s prohibited in my teaching space, however – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – identical to any additional calling out is. It’s notably tricky in numeracy instruction. But my class at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re quite adherent to the guidelines, although I understand that at teen education it could be a distinct scenario.

I’ve been a educator for fifteen years, and these crazes persist for a few weeks. This craze will fade away soon – this consistently happens, notably once their junior family members begin using it and it ceases to be cool. Then they’ll be engaged with the subsequent trend.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I first detected it in August, while instructing in English at a international school. It was mostly male students saying it. I taught teenagers and it was widespread within the junior students. I was unaware what it was at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was just a meme similar to when I was at school.

Such phenomena are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it failed to appear as frequently in the learning environment. Unlike ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not scribbled on the board in class, so pupils were less able to embrace it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will laugh with them if I inadvertently mention it, trying to understand them and recognize that it’s simply youth culture. I think they merely seek to feel that sense of community and companionship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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