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Throughout the UK, school pupils have been shouting out the expression “sixseven” during instruction in the most recent internet-inspired craze to sweep across classrooms.

Whereas some teachers have opted to stoically ignore the phenomenon, different educators have accepted it. Five instructors describe how they’re dealing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my secondary school tutor group about preparing for their GCSE exams in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in reference to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the entire group erupted in laughter. It took me totally off guard.

My first thought was that I might have delivered an allusion to an inappropriate topic, or that they perceived a quality in my speech pattern that seemed humorous. A bit exasperated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t trying to be malicious – I asked them to clarify. To be honest, the explanation they then gave didn’t provide greater understanding – I continued to have minimal understanding.

What might have rendered it particularly humorous was the considering gesture I had performed during speaking. I have since found out that this often accompanies “six-seven”: I meant it to assist in expressing the action of me thinking aloud.

With the aim of end the trend I aim to bring it up as frequently as I can. Nothing reduces a phenomenon like this more thoroughly than an adult attempting to participate.

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

Understanding it helps so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating remarks like “well, there were 6, 7 million jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the number combination is unavoidable, possessing a firm classroom conduct rules and requirements on student conduct proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any different disruption, but I rarely had to do that. Policies are important, but if pupils accept what the educational institution is practicing, they will become less distracted by the viral phenomena (especially in lesson time).

Concerning six-seven, I haven’t lost any teaching periods, except for an occasional raised eyebrow and stating “yes, that’s a number, well done”. If you give attention to it, then it becomes a blaze. I treat it in the same way I would handle any different disturbance.

Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a previous period, and there will no doubt be another craze subsequently. This is typical youth activity. During my own growing up, it was performing television personalities impersonations (honestly out of the school environment).

Students are unforeseeable, and I believe it’s the educator’s responsibility to respond in a approach that guides them toward the direction that will help them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with academic achievements rather than a conduct report lengthy for the use of random numbers.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Young learners use it like a bonding chant in the recreation area: a student calls it and the others respond to show they are the identical community. It’s similar to a call-and-response or a stadium slogan – an common expression they share. I don’t think it has any distinct significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a thing to say. Regardless of what the latest craze is, they want to experience belonging to it.

It’s prohibited in my classroom, though – it’s a warning if they exclaim it – just like any other shouting out is. It’s particularly tricky in mathematics classes. But my class at year 5 are pre-teens, so they’re quite adherent to the regulations, while I understand that at teen education it might be a different matter.

I have worked as a educator for a decade and a half, and such trends persist for three or four weeks. This phenomenon will die out in the near future – they always do, notably once their junior family members commence repeating it and it stops being trendy. Then they’ll be focused on the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I started noticing it in August, while teaching English at a language institute. It was mainly boys saying it. I instructed ages 12 to 18 and it was widespread among the junior students. I had no idea its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I realised it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I attended classes.

These trends are continuously evolving. “Skibidi toilet” was a well-known trend during the period when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t really occur as often in the learning environment. Differing from “six-seven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the whiteboard in class, so students were less able to embrace it.

I simply disregard it, or periodically I will smile with the students if I unintentionally utter it, trying to understand them and appreciate that it’s simply pop culture. I think they simply desire to enjoy that sensation of togetherness and friendship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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