🔗 Share this article

Across the UK, school pupils have been shouting out the phrase “sixseven” during classes in the newest viral phenomenon to spread through educational institutions.

Whereas some teachers have decided to stoically ignore the trend, others have embraced it. Several teachers explain how they’re dealing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Back in September, I had been addressing my year 11 class about studying for their secondary school examinations in June. I don’t recall exactly what it was in relation to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re aiming for marks six, seven …” and the whole class erupted in laughter. It surprised me entirely unexpectedly.

My immediate assumption was that I might have delivered an reference to an offensive subject, or that they perceived a quality in my accent that seemed humorous. Somewhat exasperated – but honestly intrigued and conscious that they weren’t trying to be hurtful – I persuaded them to clarify. To be honest, the explanation they provided didn’t provide much difference – I continued to have minimal understanding.

What might have caused it to be particularly humorous was the evaluating gesture I had executed while speaking. I have since found out that this frequently goes with ““sixseven”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the process of me thinking aloud.

With the aim of kill it off I try to bring it up as often as I can. No strategy deflates a phenomenon like this more effectively than an teacher trying to get involved.

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

Knowing about it aids so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating comments like “well, there were 6, 7 million jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. When the number combination is unavoidable, maintaining a rock-solid school behaviour policy and standards on pupil behavior proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any additional disruption, but I haven’t actually had to do that. Policies are important, but if students embrace what the school is implementing, they’ll be better concentrated by the internet crazes (at least in instructional hours).

With sixseven, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, other than for an occasional raised eyebrow and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. Should you offer attention to it, it transforms into a wildfire. I handle it in the same way I would treat any different disturbance.

Previously existed the 9 + 10 = 21 trend a few years ago, and certainly there will appear a new phenomenon after this. That’s children’s behavior. Back when I was childhood, it was doing Kevin and Perry mimicry (admittedly outside the learning space).

Children are unpredictable, and I think it falls to the teacher to respond in a way that guides them back to the direction that will enable them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is coming out with qualifications rather than a behaviour list extensive for the use of arbitrary digits.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Students employ it like a bonding chant in the schoolyard: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to indicate they’re part of the equivalent circle. It’s like a interactive chant or a sports cheer – an shared vocabulary they share. I believe it has any specific meaning to them; they merely recognize it’s a trend to say. No matter what the current trend is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my learning environment, nevertheless – it results in a caution if they exclaim it – identical to any other verbal interruption is. It’s notably tricky in maths lessons. But my class at primary level are pre-teens, so they’re fairly adherent to the guidelines, while I appreciate that at teen education it could be a separate situation.

I’ve been a instructor for fifteen years, and such trends last for a few weeks. This trend will fade away in the near future – it invariably occurs, notably once their younger siblings start saying it and it’s no longer fashionable. Then they’ll be on to the following phenomenon.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I began observing it in August, while instructing in English at a international school. It was mostly male students repeating it. I educated students from twelve to eighteen and it was common among the less experienced learners. I didn’t understand its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I recognized it was merely a viral phenomenon comparable to when I was a student.

These trends are continuously evolving. “Skibidi toilet” was a familiar phenomenon at the time when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it failed to exist as much in the classroom. Unlike “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was not inscribed on the board in lessons, so learners were less able to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will smile with the students if I accidentally say it, attempting to empathise with them and understand that it is just pop culture. In my opinion they simply desire to feel that sense of belonging and friendship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

I’ve done the {job|profession