‘You just have to laugh’: a quintet of UK instructors on coping with ‘‘sixseven’ in the classroom

Across the UK, school pupils have been calling out the expression “sixseven” during classes in the most recent meme-based phenomenon to spread through classrooms.

Whereas some instructors have chosen to patiently overlook the trend, some have accepted it. Five instructors describe how they’re managing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my secondary school class about preparing for their GCSE exams in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in reference to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re targeting results six, seven …” and the complete classroom erupted in laughter. It took me entirely unexpectedly.

My first thought was that I had created an reference to an inappropriate topic, or that they’d heard a quality in my accent that appeared amusing. Somewhat annoyed – but honestly intrigued and conscious that they weren’t hurtful – I got them to explain. To be honest, the description they then gave didn’t provide significant clarification – I still had minimal understanding.

What might have made it especially amusing was the weighing-up motion I had performed during speaking. I have since found out that this typically pairs with “six-seven”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the action of me thinking aloud.

With the aim of kill it off I attempt to bring it up as often as I can. No approach diminishes a craze like this more effectively than an adult striving to get involved.

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

Knowing about it assists so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating comments like “indeed, there were 6, 7 million unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the digit pairing is unpreventable, maintaining a firm student discipline system and standards on pupil behavior is advantageous, as you can deal with it as you would any other interruption, but I’ve not really been required to take that action. Policies are necessary, but if students embrace what the school is doing, they will remain better concentrated by the internet crazes (especially in instructional hours).

Regarding sixseven, I haven’t wasted any teaching periods, aside from an periodic quizzical look and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. Should you offer oxygen to it, it evolves into a wildfire. I treat it in the same way I would treat any additional interruption.

Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one craze a few years ago, and certainly there will appear a new phenomenon following this. It’s what kids do. Back when I was childhood, it was imitating comedy characters impressions (truthfully out of the learning space).

Children are unpredictable, and I think it falls to the teacher to behave in a approach that redirects them toward the course that will get them to their educational goals, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with academic achievements rather than a conduct report a mile long for the employment of random numbers.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

Students utilize it like a bonding chant in the playground: one says it and the remaining students reply to demonstrate they belong to the identical community. It’s like a verbal exchange or a sports cheer – an agreed language they use. I don’t think it has any specific significance to them; they just know it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the current trend is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s forbidden in my teaching space, however – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – similar to any different shouting out is. It’s notably tricky in mathematics classes. But my pupils at primary level are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly compliant with the guidelines, whereas I appreciate that at teen education it might be a distinct scenario.

I have worked as a educator for 15 years, and these crazes persist for a few weeks. This phenomenon will fade away shortly – this consistently happens, especially once their junior family members start saying it and it stops being cool. Subsequently they will be engaged with the next thing.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a language institute. It was mostly male students saying it. I educated teenagers and it was common among the junior students. I was unaware its meaning at the time, but being twenty-four and I understood it was merely a viral phenomenon comparable to when I was at school.

The crazes are always shifting. ““Toilet meme” was a well-known trend during the period when I was at my training school, but it didn’t really exist as much in the educational setting. Unlike “six-seven”, “skibidi toilet” was never written on the whiteboard in instruction, so pupils were less equipped to adopt it.

I simply disregard it, or sometimes I will smile with the students if I accidentally say it, striving to relate to them and understand that it’s simply pop culture. I think they simply desire to feel that sense of togetherness and friendship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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Steven Ortiz
Steven Ortiz

Elara is an avid adventurer and travel writer, sharing personal tales and practical advice from years of exploring remote wilderness and cultures.