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Around the UK, students have been calling out the expression “sixseven” during classes in the newest viral phenomenon to take over educational institutions.

Whereas some teachers have opted to calmly disregard the phenomenon, different educators have embraced it. Five instructors explain how they’re coping.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

During September, I had been speaking with my year 11 class about studying for their secondary school examinations in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in reference to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re targeting grades six, seven …” and the entire group burst out laughing. It caught me completely by surprise.

My first thought was that I might have delivered an allusion to something rude, or that they perceived something in my accent that appeared amusing. Slightly exasperated – but genuinely curious and aware that they weren’t hurtful – I got them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the explanation they provided didn’t provide significant clarification – I remained with no idea.

What might have rendered it especially amusing was the weighing-up motion I had performed during speaking. I have since learned that this frequently goes with ““sixseven”: I meant it to help convey the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

To eliminate it I aim to mention it as frequently as I can. No strategy diminishes a trend like this more thoroughly than an teacher striving to join in.

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

Understanding it aids so that you can steer clear of just accidentally making statements like “well, there were 6, 7 hundred people without work in Germany in 1933”. When the number combination is unavoidable, having a firm classroom conduct rules and expectations on pupil behavior really helps, as you can deal with it as you would any different disturbance, but I haven’t actually had to do that. Guidelines are important, but if pupils embrace what the learning environment is doing, they’ll be less distracted by the online trends (particularly in lesson time).

Regarding six-seven, I haven’t sacrificed any lesson time, aside from an occasional eyebrow raise and stating “yes, that’s a number, well done”. If you give attention to it, then it becomes an inferno. I handle it in the same way I would treat any additional disturbance.

Earlier occurred the mathematical meme trend a few years ago, and certainly there will appear another craze after this. This is typical youth activity. When I was growing up, it was imitating television personalities mimicry (truthfully out of the learning space).

Children are unpredictable, and In my opinion it falls to the teacher to respond in a approach that steers them back to the path that will get them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is graduating with certificates as opposed to a disciplinary record lengthy for the utilization of random numbers.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

The children use it like a connecting expression in the playground: a pupil shouts it and the other children answer to indicate they’re part of the same group. It’s similar to a verbal exchange or a football chant – an common expression they possess. I don’t think it has any specific meaning to them; they simply understand it’s a trend to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my learning environment, though – it’s a warning if they exclaim it – just like any other shouting out is. It’s especially challenging in mathematics classes. But my class at primary level are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re fairly adherent to the rules, while I understand that at high school it could be a distinct scenario.

I have worked as a educator for fifteen years, and these crazes continue for a month or so. This craze will fade away shortly – this consistently happens, particularly once their little brothers and sisters start saying it and it ceases to be trendy. Afterward they shall be focused on the following phenomenon.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I started noticing it in August, while instructing in English at a language institute. It was mainly young men repeating it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was common within the less experienced learners. I was unaware what it was at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was merely a viral phenomenon similar to when I was at school.

Such phenomena are continuously evolving. “Skibidi toilet” was a familiar phenomenon back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t really occur as often in the educational setting. In contrast to ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the whiteboard in class, so students were less able to adopt it.

I just ignore it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, trying to understand them and understand that it’s merely pop culture. In my opinion they merely seek to experience that feeling of togetherness and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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