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Around the UK, school pupils have been shouting out the words “sixseven” during instruction in the most recent meme-based craze to spread through schools.

Although some educators have decided to calmly disregard the trend, different educators have embraced it. Several teachers describe how they’re coping.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Back in September, I had been addressing my year 11 students about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. I can’t remember precisely what it was in connection with, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re aiming for grades six, seven …” and the entire group started chuckling. It surprised me entirely unexpectedly.

My initial reaction was that I’d made an allusion to an inappropriate topic, or that they’d heard an element of my pronunciation that appeared amusing. A bit exasperated – but honestly intrigued and aware that they weren’t trying to be malicious – I got them to elaborate. Honestly, the clarification they offered didn’t make greater understanding – I remained with little comprehension.

What could have made it especially amusing was the evaluating movement I had executed while speaking. I have since learned that this typically pairs with “six-seven”: My purpose was it to help convey the process of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to eliminate it I attempt to bring it up as often as I can. No strategy reduces a trend like this more effectively than an teacher attempting to join in.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it helps so that you can avoid just blundering into remarks like “for example, there existed 6, 7 hundred unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the numerical sequence is unpreventable, having a strong classroom conduct rules and requirements on student conduct proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any additional interruption, but I’ve not really been required to take that action. Policies are one thing, but if learners buy into what the learning environment is implementing, they’ll be better concentrated by the internet crazes (at least in class periods).

With 67, I haven’t sacrificed any instructional minutes, aside from an infrequent raised eyebrow and stating “yes, that’s a number, well done”. If you give focus on it, then it becomes a wildfire. I treat it in the equivalent fashion I would manage any different disruption.

Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one craze a previous period, and there will no doubt be a different trend after this. It’s what kids do. Back when I was childhood, it was doing television personalities impersonations (honestly out of the classroom).

Students are unforeseeable, and I think it’s the educator’s responsibility to react in a approach that redirects them back to the direction that will enable them to their educational goals, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with certificates instead of a conduct report extensive for the utilization of arbitrary digits.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Students utilize it like a connecting expression in the schoolyard: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to indicate they’re part of the same group. It’s similar to a call-and-response or a stadium slogan – an agreed language they possess. I believe it has any particular significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a phenomenon to say. Whatever the latest craze is, they want to experience belonging to it.

It’s forbidden in my teaching space, however – it results in a caution if they exclaim it – similar to any additional shouting out is. It’s notably difficult in maths lessons. But my students at year 5 are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly compliant with the guidelines, whereas I recognize that at teen education it could be a separate situation.

I’ve been a instructor for 15 years, and these crazes continue for three or four weeks. This trend will fade away in the near future – they always do, particularly once their junior family members begin using it and it ceases to be trendy. Subsequently they will be focused on the subsequent trend.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I first detected it in August, while instructing in English at a international school. It was primarily boys saying it. I taught teenagers and it was widespread within the less experienced learners. I was unaware its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I realised it was merely a viral phenomenon similar to when I attended classes.

Such phenomena are constantly changing. ““Toilet meme” was a popular meme at the time when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t really occur as often in the classroom. In contrast to “six-seven”, ““the skibidi trend” was never written on the whiteboard in class, so pupils were less prepared to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or periodically I will smile with the students if I inadvertently mention it, striving to relate to them and appreciate that it’s merely pop culture. I believe they simply desire to experience that feeling of community and companionship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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