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

Across the UK, school pupils have been shouting out the words “sixseven” during instruction in the latest meme-based phenomenon to take over classrooms.

Although some educators have decided to patiently overlook the craze, some have embraced it. A group of educators explain how they’re dealing.

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

Earlier in September, I had been addressing my eleventh grade students about studying for their GCSE exams in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in connection with, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to marks six, seven …” and the entire group started chuckling. It surprised me entirely unexpectedly.

My immediate assumption was that I’d made an hint at an inappropriate topic, or that they’d heard an element of my accent that seemed humorous. Somewhat frustrated – but genuinely curious and conscious that they weren’t mean – I persuaded them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the clarification they then gave didn’t provide significant clarification – I remained with minimal understanding.

What could have caused it to be extra funny was the considering movement I had made while speaking. Subsequently I learned that this typically pairs with ““sixseven”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the action of me thinking aloud.

In order to eliminate it I attempt to mention it as often as I can. Nothing reduces a trend like this more effectively than an teacher attempting to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it aids so that you can avoid just blundering into statements like “indeed, there were 6, 7 hundred people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the numerical sequence is unpreventable, having a firm school behaviour policy and expectations on pupil behavior proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any additional interruption, but I haven’t actually had to do that. Guidelines are important, but if students accept what the learning environment is doing, they’ll be less distracted by the online trends (particularly in class periods).

Regarding six-seven, I haven’t sacrificed any teaching periods, except for an infrequent raised eyebrow and commenting “yes, that’s a number, well done”. When you provide attention to it, it transforms into a blaze. I address it in the equivalent fashion I would handle any different disturbance.

Previously existed the 9 + 10 = 21 craze a while back, and certainly there will appear a new phenomenon subsequently. That’s children’s behavior. Back when I was childhood, it was doing Kevin and Perry impersonations (truthfully out of the classroom).

Children are unpredictable, and In my opinion it’s the educator’s responsibility to respond in a way that steers them toward the course that will help them where they need to go, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with certificates as opposed to a disciplinary record lengthy for the utilization of random numbers.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children utilize it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to show they are the identical community. It’s like a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an common expression they possess. In my view it has any particular importance to them; they simply understand it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they want to be included in it.

It’s banned in my classroom, though – it results in a caution if they shout it out – identical to any different verbal interruption is. It’s notably tricky in numeracy instruction. But my students at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re quite adherent to the rules, although I appreciate that at teen education it might be a distinct scenario.

I have served as a instructor for a decade and a half, and such trends continue for three or four weeks. This trend will diminish shortly – they always do, particularly once their younger siblings start saying it and it’s no longer fashionable. Afterward they shall be engaged with the subsequent trend.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I started noticing it in August, while educating in English language at a international school. It was mostly young men uttering it. I educated students from twelve to eighteen and it was common within the junior students. I didn’t understand what it was at the time, but being twenty-four and I recognized it was just a meme akin to when I attended classes.

These trends are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a familiar phenomenon back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t really appear as frequently in the learning environment. Unlike ““67”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the board in lessons, so students were less able to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, attempting to understand them and recognize that it’s merely youth culture. In my opinion they merely seek to experience that feeling of belonging and camaraderie.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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Mark Williams
Mark Williams

Elara is a passionate hiker and writer who documents her wilderness expeditions and shares insights on sustainable travel.