‘It’s impossible not to smile’: several UK educators on coping with ‘‘sixseven’ in the school environment

Throughout the UK, students have been exclaiming the words “sixseven” during lessons in the newest viral phenomenon to spread through classrooms.

While some educators have decided to calmly disregard the trend, others have embraced it. A group of teachers describe how they’re dealing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

During September, I had been addressing my secondary school tutor group about getting ready for their secondary school examinations in June. I don’t recall exactly what it was in reference to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re targeting results six, seven …” and the entire group erupted in laughter. It caught me totally off guard.

My initial reaction was that I had created an hint at an inappropriate topic, or that they perceived something in my pronunciation that sounded funny. Slightly frustrated – but truly interested and conscious that they weren’t trying to be malicious – I asked them to elaborate. Frankly speaking, the explanation they then gave didn’t make greater understanding – I continued to have no idea.

What could have rendered it particularly humorous was the considering motion I had made while speaking. I later learned that this typically pairs with “six-seven”: My purpose was it to aid in demonstrating the action of me thinking aloud.

With the aim of kill it off I attempt to reference it as much as I can. No approach reduces a trend like this more emphatically than an grown-up trying to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it aids so that you can prevent just accidentally making comments like “for example, there existed 6, 7 hundred jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. When the number combination is unpreventable, maintaining a firm student discipline system and requirements on learner demeanor really helps, as you can address it as you would any additional disruption, but I rarely had to do that. Guidelines are one thing, but if pupils buy into what the educational institution is doing, they’ll be more focused by the internet crazes (especially in lesson time).

Concerning six-seven, I haven’t lost any instructional minutes, other than for an occasional quizzical look and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. Should you offer oxygen to it, it transforms into a blaze. I handle it in the identical manner I would manage any different interruption.

There was the mathematical meme phenomenon a while back, and undoubtedly there will emerge a new phenomenon following this. It’s what kids do. When I was growing up, it was performing Kevin and Perry impersonations (admittedly away from the learning space).

Young people are spontaneous, and I think it falls to the teacher to react in a approach that redirects them in the direction of the course that will get them toward their academic objectives, which, with luck, is graduating with certificates rather than a disciplinary record extensive for the use of meaningless numerals.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Young learners utilize it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: a pupil shouts it and the others respond to indicate they’re part of the equivalent circle. It resembles a interactive chant or a stadium slogan – an shared vocabulary they possess. In my view it has any specific meaning to them; they simply understand it’s a thing to say. Whatever the newest phenomenon is, they seek to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my teaching space, however – it results in a caution if they shout it out – similar to any other calling out is. It’s particularly tricky in numeracy instruction. But my pupils at primary level are pre-teens, so they’re relatively compliant with the regulations, although I understand that at teen education it could be a distinct scenario.

I have worked as a teacher for 15 years, and these crazes last for a few weeks. This trend will die out shortly – it invariably occurs, especially once their junior family members commence repeating it and it stops being trendy. Afterward they shall be focused on the next thing.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I started noticing it in August, while teaching English at a international school. It was mainly boys saying it. I educated teenagers and it was prevalent with the junior students. I had no idea what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I recognized it was simply an internet trend similar to when I attended classes.

These trends are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme back when I was at my training school, but it didn’t particularly exist as much in the learning environment. In contrast to ““67”, “skibidi toilet” was never written on the chalkboard in lessons, so learners were less prepared to adopt it.

I simply disregard it, or periodically I will laugh with them if I unintentionally utter it, attempting to understand them and understand that it’s simply pop culture. I believe they just want to enjoy that sensation of community and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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