‘Sometimes you’ve got to chuckle’: several UK teachers on dealing with ‘six-seven’ in the educational setting

Around the UK, learners have been shouting out the expression ““six-seven” during lessons in the newest viral phenomenon to take over classrooms.

Although some educators have opted to stoically ignore the trend, others have accepted it. Several educators share how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

During September, I had been addressing my year 11 students about preparing for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall specifically what it was in connection with, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to marks six, seven …” and the complete classroom burst out laughing. It took me totally off guard.

My first thought was that I’d made an reference to something rude, or that they detected something in my speech pattern that sounded funny. Somewhat exasperated – but genuinely curious and aware that they weren’t trying to be mean – I persuaded them to explain. To be honest, the explanation they then gave failed to create greater understanding – I remained with little comprehension.

What could have caused it to be especially amusing was the considering gesture I had made while speaking. I have since learned that this typically pairs with ““67”: My purpose was it to aid in demonstrating the process of me thinking aloud.

To kill it off I attempt to reference it as frequently as I can. No strategy deflates a craze like this more effectively than an grown-up trying to participate.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it aids so that you can prevent just accidentally making comments like “indeed, there were 6, 7 million people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the number combination is inevitable, maintaining a rock-solid school behaviour policy and expectations on student conduct proves beneficial, as you can address it as you would any different interruption, but I rarely needed to implement that. Rules are necessary, but if learners buy into what the school is implementing, they will become better concentrated by the viral phenomena (particularly in class periods).

Regarding 67, I haven’t sacrificed any instructional minutes, except for an infrequent eyebrow raise and stating “yes, that’s a number, well done”. If you give oxygen to it, it evolves into a blaze. I treat it in the identical manner I would manage any additional disturbance.

There was the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a previous period, and certainly there will appear a different trend following this. This is typical youth activity. Back when I was childhood, it was performing Kevin and Perry impersonations (admittedly out of the school environment).

Young people are spontaneous, and I believe it’s an adult’s job to behave in a manner that guides them back to the direction that will help them to their educational goals, which, with luck, is completing their studies with academic achievements as opposed to a behaviour list extensive for the utilization of random numbers.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Students employ it like a unifying phrase in the schoolyard: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to demonstrate they belong to the equivalent circle. It’s similar to a verbal exchange or a sports cheer – an common expression they share. I believe it has any distinct meaning to them; they merely recognize it’s a phenomenon to say. Whatever the newest phenomenon is, they seek to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my classroom, though – it’s a warning if they shout it out – identical to any other calling out is. It’s particularly challenging in mathematics classes. But my pupils at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re fairly accepting of the regulations, whereas I understand that at secondary [school] it could be a separate situation.

I have served as a teacher for a decade and a half, and these crazes persist for a month or so. This phenomenon will die out in the near future – this consistently happens, especially once their younger siblings begin using it and it ceases to be cool. Then they’ll be on to the next thing.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I began observing it in August, while instructing in English at a language institute. It was primarily boys repeating it. I educated teenagers and it was common with the junior students. I didn’t understand its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I recognized it was simply an internet trend comparable to when I was a student.

Such phenomena are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” was a familiar phenomenon during the period when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly appear as frequently in the educational setting. Differing from ““sixseven”, ““the skibidi trend” was never written on the chalkboard in instruction, so students were less able to embrace it.

I just ignore it, or sometimes I will laugh with them if I inadvertently mention it, attempting to relate to them and appreciate that it is just contemporary trends. I believe they simply desire to feel that sense of togetherness and camaraderie.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

I have worked in the {job|profession

David Nash
David Nash

Lena is a passionate surfer and travel writer who documents her global expeditions to uncover hidden surf spots and coastal cultures.