‘It’s impossible not to smile’: five UK educators on handling ‘‘sixseven’ in the educational setting

Throughout the UK, students have been calling out the phrase “sixseven” during classes in the most recent viral craze to spread through classrooms.

While some teachers have decided to stoically ignore the trend, different educators have incorporated it. Five teachers share how they’re managing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

During September, I had been addressing my secondary school class about getting ready for their secondary school examinations in June. I can’t remember precisely what it was in connection with, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re aiming for marks six, seven …” and the complete classroom burst out laughing. It took me totally off guard.

My immediate assumption was that I’d made an reference to something rude, or that they perceived something in my speech pattern that sounded funny. Somewhat frustrated – but truly interested and aware that they weren’t trying to be malicious – I persuaded them to explain. Frankly speaking, the description they then gave failed to create significant clarification – I still had little comprehension.

What could have rendered it especially amusing was the considering motion I had executed while speaking. I have since discovered that this often accompanies ““67”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

With the aim of eliminate it I try to bring it up as often as I can. Nothing deflates a phenomenon like this more emphatically than an grown-up striving to get involved.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Being aware of it aids so that you can prevent just blundering into comments like “for example, there existed 6, 7 million jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the number combination is inevitable, maintaining a strong classroom conduct rules and requirements on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any other interruption, but I haven’t actually needed to implement that. Policies are important, but if students embrace what the learning environment is implementing, they will become more focused by the internet crazes (particularly in instructional hours).

Regarding sixseven, I haven’t wasted any instructional minutes, other than for an periodic quizzical look and commenting ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. When you provide oxygen to it, it transforms into an inferno. I handle it in the equivalent fashion I would manage any additional disturbance.

Earlier occurred the mathematical meme phenomenon a few years ago, and undoubtedly there will emerge a new phenomenon subsequently. It’s what kids do. Back when I was youth, it was performing comedy characters mimicry (truthfully away from the school environment).

Students are unpredictable, and I believe it’s the educator’s responsibility to respond in a way that redirects them in the direction of the course that will enable them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is completing their studies with academic achievements as opposed to a disciplinary record extensive for the use of random numbers.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Students utilize it like a connecting expression in the schoolyard: a pupil shouts it and the others respond to show they are the equivalent circle. It’s similar to a verbal exchange or a sports cheer – an shared vocabulary they use. I don’t think it has any specific importance to them; they just know it’s a thing to say. Whatever the newest phenomenon is, they want to be included in it.

It’s forbidden in my teaching space, though – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – identical to any other verbal interruption is. It’s particularly difficult in mathematics classes. But my pupils 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 might be a different matter.

I’ve been a educator for fifteen years, and such trends continue for a few weeks. This trend will fade away shortly – they always do, especially once their junior family members commence repeating it and it ceases to be cool. Afterward they shall be engaged with the subsequent trend.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a international school. It was mainly male students repeating it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was prevalent among the younger pupils. I was unaware its meaning at the time, but being twenty-four and I recognized it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I attended classes.

These trends are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” was a well-known trend back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t really appear as frequently in the classroom. Differing from “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was not inscribed on the whiteboard in class, so pupils were less able to pick up on it.

I simply disregard it, or sometimes I will laugh with them if I accidentally say it, trying to relate to them and recognize that it is just youth culture. I believe they simply desire to experience that feeling of community and companionship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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Jennifer Murphy DVM
Jennifer Murphy DVM

Sustainable architect and writer passionate about eco-friendly construction and innovative dome designs.