‘You just have to laugh’: several UK teachers on dealing with ‘six-seven’ in the educational setting

Throughout the UK, school pupils have been calling out the words “sixseven” during instruction in the newest meme-based trend to sweep across classrooms.

Whereas some educators have chosen to patiently overlook the phenomenon, others have accepted it. Five educators describe how they’re dealing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

During September, I had been addressing my year 11 tutor group about studying for their GCSE exams in June. I can’t remember exactly what it was in relation to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re working to marks six, seven …” and the whole class started chuckling. It took me completely by surprise.

My first thought was that I had created an allusion to something rude, or that they perceived an element of my pronunciation that appeared amusing. Somewhat exasperated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t trying to be mean – I asked them to clarify. To be honest, the clarification they then gave didn’t provide greater understanding – I still had little comprehension.

What possibly made it particularly humorous was the evaluating movement I had made while speaking. I later learned that this often accompanies “six-seven”: My purpose was it to assist in expressing the act of me verbalizing thoughts.

With the aim of eliminate it I aim to reference it as frequently as I can. No approach deflates a craze like this more thoroughly than an adult striving to join in.

‘If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno’

Knowing about it aids so that you can steer clear of just accidentally making remarks like “indeed, there were 6, 7 hundred people without work in Germany in 1933”. If the number combination is unpreventable, possessing a strong student discipline system and standards on student conduct proves beneficial, as you can deal with it as you would any other disturbance, but I’ve not really been required to take that action. Policies are one thing, but if pupils embrace what the educational institution is practicing, they will remain less distracted by the online trends (at least in lesson time).

With sixseven, I haven’t sacrificed any lesson time, except for an periodic raised eyebrow and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. Should you offer attention to it, it evolves into a blaze. I handle it in the identical manner I would treat any other disruption.

Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one craze a while back, and certainly there will appear a new phenomenon subsequently. It’s what kids do. During my own childhood, it was imitating Kevin and Perry mimicry (admittedly out of the classroom).

Young people are unpredictable, and I believe it’s an adult’s job to respond in a way that guides them back to the path that will enable them to their educational goals, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with qualifications as opposed to a behaviour list extensive for the utilization of meaningless numerals.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

The children employ it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: one says it and the remaining students reply to demonstrate they belong to the equivalent circle. It’s similar to a interactive chant or a football chant – an agreed language they share. I believe it has any distinct significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the latest craze is, they seek to be included in it.

It’s forbidden in my classroom, nevertheless – it results in a caution if they shout it out – just like any different shouting out is. It’s especially challenging in maths lessons. But my class at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re quite adherent to the rules, whereas I recognize that at high school it could be a distinct scenario.

I’ve been a educator for fifteen years, and these phenomena persist for a month or so. This trend will fade away in the near future – they always do, especially once their junior family members commence repeating it and it ceases to be cool. Then they’ll be focused on the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while teaching English at a foreign language school. It was mostly boys uttering it. I taught teenagers and it was common with the younger pupils. I was unaware its meaning at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I realised it was simply an internet trend akin to when I was a student.

The crazes are always shifting. ““Skibidi” was a well-known trend back when I was at my educational institute, but it failed to occur as often in the learning environment. Differing from ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was never written on the board in instruction, so learners were less able to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, attempting to empathise with them and understand that it is just youth culture. I believe they simply desire to feel that sense of togetherness and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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Eric Osborn
Eric Osborn

A passionate gaming expert and content creator, Lena explores the latest trends in digital entertainment and shares insights with her audience.