‘You just have to laugh’: several UK teachers on coping with ‘‘sixseven’ in the educational setting

Around the UK, students have been exclaiming the expression ““67” during instruction in the latest meme-based craze to spread through educational institutions.

While some teachers have chosen to calmly disregard the trend, different educators have incorporated it. Several educators describe how they’re dealing.

‘My initial assumption was that I’d uttered something offensive’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my secondary school tutor group about preparing for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall precisely what it was in connection with, but I said something like “ … if you’re targeting grades six, seven …” and the entire group started chuckling. It caught me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I had created an allusion to an inappropriate topic, or that they’d heard a quality in my accent that seemed humorous. Slightly frustrated – but genuinely curious and mindful that they had no intention of being mean – I asked them to explain. Honestly, the clarification they provided didn’t make much difference – I still had little comprehension.

What could have rendered it extra funny was the evaluating movement I had executed while speaking. I later discovered that this typically pairs with ““sixseven”: I had intended it to assist in expressing the act of me thinking aloud.

With the aim of kill it off I aim to reference it as much as I can. No strategy diminishes a phenomenon like this more emphatically than an grown-up striving to participate.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Knowing about it helps so that you can prevent just accidentally making comments like “well, there were 6, 7 million people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the number combination is unpreventable, possessing a firm classroom conduct rules and expectations on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can address it as you would any additional disturbance, but I’ve not really had to do that. Policies are one thing, but if learners accept what the educational institution is implementing, they’ll be less distracted by the internet crazes (at least in instructional hours).

Concerning six-seven, I haven’t sacrificed any instructional minutes, except for an periodic raised eyebrow and commenting ““correct, those are digits, good job”. Should you offer oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno. I treat it in the equivalent fashion I would handle any other disturbance.

There was the 9 + 10 = 21 phenomenon a previous period, and undoubtedly there will emerge another craze after this. That’s children’s behavior. When I was growing up, it was imitating Kevin and Perry impersonations (honestly away from the learning space).

Students are unpredictable, and I think it falls to the teacher to behave in a way that steers them back to the direction that will help them to their educational goals, which, hopefully, is coming out with qualifications as opposed to a conduct report extensive for the employment of random numbers.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

Students use it like a connecting expression in the recreation area: one says it and the other children answer to demonstrate they belong to the equivalent circle. It’s similar to a interactive chant or a sports cheer – an agreed language they use. I don’t think it has any particular importance to them; they just know it’s a phenomenon to say. Regardless of what the current trend is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my classroom, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they shout it out – just like any additional verbal interruption is. It’s notably difficult in numeracy instruction. But my class at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re relatively adherent to the rules, although I recognize that at high school it may be a different matter.

I have worked as a instructor for fifteen years, and these crazes persist for a few weeks. This trend will die out soon – it invariably occurs, especially once their junior family members begin using it and it stops being trendy. Afterward they shall be focused on the next thing.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I first detected it in August, while educating in English language at a language institute. It was primarily young men repeating it. I educated students from twelve to eighteen and it was common with the younger pupils. I had no idea what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I understood it was merely a viral phenomenon comparable to when I was a student.

The crazes are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” was a popular meme back when I was at my educational institute, but it failed to exist as much in the classroom. Unlike “six-seven”, “skibidi toilet” was not scribbled on the chalkboard in instruction, so students were less able to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, attempting to relate to them and recognize that it’s simply contemporary trends. I think they simply desire to experience that feeling of community and friendship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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