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Across the UK, students have been exclaiming the phrase ““six-seven” during classes in the most recent internet-inspired craze to spread through educational institutions.

Whereas some teachers have opted to calmly disregard the craze, different educators have incorporated it. Several instructors share how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

During September, I had been talking to my eleventh grade students about preparing for their qualification tests in June. It escapes me exactly what it was in reference to, but I said something like “ … if you’re aiming for marks six, seven …” and the entire group erupted in laughter. It caught me entirely unexpectedly.

My immediate assumption was that I had created an hint at an inappropriate topic, or that they detected something in my pronunciation that sounded funny. Slightly exasperated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t hurtful – I persuaded them to explain. To be honest, the description they provided didn’t provide significant clarification – I still had little comprehension.

What might have caused it to be especially amusing was the weighing-up motion I had made while speaking. I later learned that this typically pairs with ““67”: My purpose was it to assist in expressing the action of me thinking aloud.

In order to kill it off I try to mention it as frequently as I can. No strategy deflates a phenomenon like this more emphatically than an grown-up trying to participate.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it assists so that you can avoid just accidentally making comments like “for example, there existed 6, 7 million people without work in Germany in 1933”. When the number combination is inevitable, possessing a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and expectations on pupil behavior is advantageous, as you can sanction it as you would any different disruption, but I’ve not really needed to implement that. Guidelines are necessary, but if learners embrace what the learning environment is doing, they’ll be more focused by the internet crazes (at least in lesson time).

With 67, I haven’t sacrificed any instructional minutes, other than for an periodic quizzical look and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. When you provide attention to it, then it becomes a wildfire. I treat it in the same way I would treat any different disturbance.

Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a while back, and undoubtedly there will emerge a different trend following this. That’s children’s behavior. When I was youth, it was performing television personalities impersonations (admittedly away from the classroom).

Students are unforeseeable, and I believe it’s the educator’s responsibility to react in a manner that steers them toward the direction that will get them to their educational goals, which, hopefully, is graduating with academic achievements as opposed to a disciplinary record extensive for the utilization of arbitrary digits.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

Young learners employ it like a bonding chant in the schoolyard: one says it and the others respond to indicate they’re part of the equivalent circle. It’s similar to a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an agreed language they share. In my view it has any particular importance to them; they just know it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the latest craze is, they want to feel part of it.

It’s prohibited in my teaching space, though – it results in a caution if they call it out – similar to any other verbal interruption is. It’s particularly difficult in numeracy instruction. But my class at primary level are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly compliant with the rules, while I understand that at secondary [school] it could be a different matter.

I’ve been a teacher for fifteen years, and these crazes persist for a month or so. This trend will die out shortly – this consistently happens, especially once their younger siblings begin using it and it’s no longer cool. Then they’ll be focused on the subsequent trend.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while teaching English at a international school. It was mostly boys uttering it. I taught teenagers and it was widespread with the younger pupils. I didn’t understand what it was at the time, but being twenty-four and I realised it was simply an internet trend comparable to when I was a student.

The crazes are continuously evolving. ““Toilet meme” was a well-known trend back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly occur as often in the learning environment. Unlike ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the board in lessons, so students were less prepared to adopt it.

I simply disregard it, or periodically I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, striving to empathise with them and appreciate that it is just youth culture. I think they merely seek to experience that feeling of togetherness and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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