‘It’s impossible not to smile’: several UK teachers on handling ‘‘sixseven’ in the classroom

Across the UK, students have been exclaiming the words ““six-seven” during classes in the most recent viral trend to take over classrooms.

Although some educators have opted to calmly disregard the craze, others have accepted it. A group of teachers explain how they’re dealing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Back in September, I had been speaking with my secondary school students about getting ready for their secondary school examinations in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in connection with, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re targeting grades six, seven …” and the entire group started chuckling. It took me totally off guard.

My initial reaction was that I’d made an allusion to an inappropriate topic, or that they’d heard something in my speech pattern that sounded funny. A bit exasperated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they had no intention of being malicious – I got them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the explanation they then gave didn’t make greater understanding – I remained with no idea.

What might have caused it to be especially amusing was the evaluating movement I had made while speaking. I later found out that this frequently goes with ““67”: I meant it to help convey the action of me thinking aloud.

With the aim of kill it off I try to reference it as much as I can. No strategy diminishes a trend like this more effectively than an grown-up striving to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Understanding it assists so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating remarks like “well, there were 6, 7 million unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the digit pairing is inevitable, maintaining a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and expectations on student conduct is advantageous, as you can sanction it as you would any additional disruption, but I rarely had to do that. Policies are necessary, but if pupils accept what the learning environment is implementing, they will become less distracted by the internet crazes (particularly in class periods).

Regarding sixseven, I haven’t lost any instructional minutes, except for an occasional raised eyebrow and commenting ““correct, those are digits, good job”. If you give focus on it, it transforms into an inferno. I handle it in the same way I would manage any other disturbance.

Previously existed the mathematical meme craze a previous period, and undoubtedly there will emerge another craze subsequently. That’s children’s behavior. When I was childhood, it was doing comedy characters impressions (truthfully away from the learning space).

Children are unforeseeable, and I believe it’s the educator’s responsibility to react in a approach that redirects them toward the direction that will help them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is coming out with academic achievements rather than a conduct report lengthy for the utilization of arbitrary digits.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

The children use it like a unifying phrase in the schoolyard: a student calls it and the others respond to show they are the same group. It resembles a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an common expression they use. In my view it has any distinct meaning to them; they merely recognize it’s a phenomenon to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they seek to be included in it.

It’s prohibited in my learning environment, though – it triggers a reminder if they shout it out – just like any different shouting out is. It’s especially challenging in maths lessons. But my class at year 5 are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly compliant with the guidelines, although I recognize that at high school it could be a distinct scenario.

I have served as a instructor for fifteen years, and these phenomena continue for a few weeks. This phenomenon will die out in the near future – they always do, particularly once their little brothers and sisters begin using it and it ceases to be fashionable. Afterward they shall be engaged with the subsequent trend.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I began observing it in August, while instructing in English at a language institute. It was mainly boys saying it. I taught students from twelve to eighteen and it was widespread within the less experienced learners. I had no idea its significance at the time, but being twenty-four and I realised it was simply an internet trend akin to when I attended classes.

These trends are continuously evolving. ““Toilet meme” was a popular meme during the period when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t really occur as often in the learning environment. Unlike ““sixseven”, ““that particular meme” was not inscribed on the chalkboard in class, so students were less prepared to pick up on it.

I simply disregard it, or occasionally I will smile with the students if I unintentionally utter it, striving to empathise with them and understand that it’s simply contemporary trends. I believe they merely seek to experience that feeling of belonging and friendship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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Tamara Taylor
Tamara Taylor

Elara is a dedicated writer and spiritual mentor with a passion for sharing faith-based wisdom and encouraging personal growth in everyday life.