‘You just have to laugh’: a quintet of UK teachers on handling ‘‘sixseven’ in the classroom

Across the UK, students have been shouting out the expression ““six-seven” during instruction in the latest meme-based trend to spread through schools.

While some educators have chosen to calmly disregard the trend, others have incorporated it. Several instructors describe how they’re dealing.

‘My initial assumption was that I’d uttered something offensive’

Back in September, I had been addressing my year 11 tutor group about studying for their qualification tests in June. I can’t remember exactly what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re targeting grades six, seven …” and the complete classroom erupted in laughter. It caught me entirely unexpectedly.

My initial reaction was that I had created an hint at an offensive subject, or that they perceived something in my pronunciation that appeared amusing. A bit annoyed – but genuinely curious and mindful that they had no intention of being mean – I persuaded them to elaborate. Frankly speaking, the description they provided didn’t provide much difference – I still had little comprehension.

What could have made it especially amusing was the evaluating movement I had executed while speaking. I later found out that this often accompanies “six-seven”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the action of me speaking my mind.

To end the trend I aim to bring it up as much as I can. No strategy deflates a trend like this more thoroughly than an grown-up striving to participate.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Being aware of it assists so that you can steer clear of just accidentally making comments like “for example, there existed 6, 7 thousand unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. If the number combination is inevitable, possessing a firm student discipline system and requirements on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can deal with it as you would any additional disturbance, but I haven’t actually been required to take that action. Policies are necessary, but if students buy into what the educational institution is doing, they’ll be less distracted by the online trends (especially in instructional hours).

Concerning sixseven, I haven’t wasted any teaching periods, except for an occasional raised eyebrow and saying ““correct, those are digits, good job”. If you give attention to it, it evolves into a wildfire. I address it in the equivalent fashion I would treat any additional disturbance.

Earlier occurred the 9 + 10 = 21 phenomenon a previous period, and there will no doubt be a different trend after this. It’s what kids do. Back when I was youth, it was doing television personalities impersonations (honestly away from the learning space).

Young people are spontaneous, and I think it’s an adult’s job to respond in a approach that redirects them toward the direction that will enable them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with certificates instead of a conduct report lengthy for the utilization of arbitrary digits.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Students use it like a connecting expression in the recreation area: a student calls it and the remaining students reply to indicate they’re part of the equivalent circle. It resembles a call-and-response or a football chant – an agreed language they use. I believe it has any specific significance to them; they just know it’s a thing to say. No matter what the newest phenomenon is, they seek to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my classroom, nevertheless – it results in a caution if they call it out – just like any additional calling out is. It’s especially tricky in mathematics classes. But my students at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re relatively adherent to the guidelines, while I understand that at secondary [school] it might be a separate situation.

I have served as a educator for a decade and a half, and these phenomena last for a month or so. This craze will diminish soon – it invariably occurs, notably once their little brothers and sisters begin using it and it stops being trendy. Then they’ll be focused on the subsequent trend.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I started noticing it in August, while instructing in English at a international school. It was mainly young men uttering it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was widespread with the less experienced learners. I had no idea what it was at the time, but being twenty-four and I realised it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I was a student.

These trends are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” was a popular meme at the time when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly appear as frequently in the learning environment. Unlike ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the chalkboard in lessons, so students were less prepared to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, attempting to empathise with them and appreciate that it’s simply contemporary trends. In my opinion they simply desire to feel that sense of community and companionship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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Mr. Russell Morris
Mr. Russell Morris

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience, specializing in consumer electronics and digital trends.

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