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Around the UK, learners have been shouting out the expression ““six-seven” during instruction in the latest internet-inspired craze to take over classrooms.

Whereas some instructors have chosen to patiently overlook the phenomenon, others have accepted it. A group of teachers explain how they’re dealing.

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

Back in September, I had been addressing my secondary school students about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in connection with, but I said something like “ … if you’re aiming for marks six, seven …” and the entire group burst out laughing. It took me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I might have delivered an reference to an inappropriate topic, or that they detected a quality in my pronunciation that sounded funny. Slightly frustrated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t malicious – I persuaded them to elaborate. Honestly, the description they offered failed to create greater understanding – I still had no idea.

What possibly made it extra funny was the considering gesture I had executed while speaking. Subsequently I learned that this often accompanies ““sixseven”: I meant it to help convey the action of me thinking aloud.

With the aim of end the trend I aim to mention it as often as I can. Nothing diminishes a trend like this more effectively than an grown-up trying to participate.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Understanding it assists so that you can prevent just blundering into remarks like “indeed, there were 6, 7 million jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. When the digit pairing is inevitable, maintaining a rock-solid student discipline system and standards on student conduct really helps, as you can address it as you would any other disturbance, but I’ve not really been required to take that action. Rules are one thing, but if learners buy into what the school is practicing, they will become less distracted by the internet crazes (at least in lesson time).

Concerning sixseven, I haven’t lost any instructional minutes, other than for an occasional eyebrow raise and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. Should you offer oxygen to it, it evolves into an inferno. I address it in the equivalent fashion I would manage any different disruption.

There was the nine plus ten equals twenty-one phenomenon a while back, and certainly there will appear a different trend after this. That’s children’s behavior. Back when I was growing up, it was imitating television personalities impressions (admittedly outside the classroom).

Children are unpredictable, and In my opinion it’s the educator’s responsibility to respond in a manner that redirects them back to the path that will help them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is graduating with academic achievements rather than a behaviour list lengthy for the use of meaningless numerals.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

The children utilize it like a connecting expression in the playground: a pupil shouts it and the others respond to show they are the equivalent circle. It resembles a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an common expression they share. In my view it has any particular significance to them; they just know it’s a thing to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they desire to be included in it.

It’s banned in my classroom, though – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – similar to any additional verbal interruption is. It’s particularly challenging in numeracy instruction. But my students at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly compliant with the rules, whereas I appreciate that at secondary [school] it could be a different matter.

I’ve been a educator for a decade and a half, and such trends continue for three or four weeks. This phenomenon will die out soon – it invariably occurs, notably once their junior family members commence repeating it and it stops being fashionable. Afterward they shall be on to the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a language institute. It was primarily young men saying it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was common within the less experienced learners. I had no idea what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I recognized it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I was at school.

The crazes are continuously evolving. “Skibidi toilet” was a popular meme during the period when I was at my educational institute, but it failed to appear as frequently in the classroom. In contrast to ““67”, ““the skibidi trend” was not inscribed on the board in lessons, so pupils were less able to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will smile with the students if I inadvertently mention it, attempting to understand them and recognize that it is just pop culture. I believe they just want to enjoy that sensation of togetherness and companionship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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