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Throughout the UK, students have been exclaiming the words “sixseven” during classes in the newest meme-based trend to take over schools.

Whereas some instructors have chosen to stoically ignore the phenomenon, different educators have incorporated it. Several educators explain how they’re managing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Back in September, I had been addressing my secondary school class about preparing for their secondary school examinations in June. I don’t recall exactly what it was in reference to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the complete classroom burst out laughing. It took me totally off guard.

My immediate assumption was that I might have delivered an reference to something rude, or that they perceived something in my pronunciation that appeared amusing. Somewhat frustrated – but genuinely curious and aware that they weren’t trying to be hurtful – I asked them to elaborate. To be honest, the explanation they provided didn’t make greater understanding – I still had little comprehension.

What could have caused it to be particularly humorous was the considering gesture I had performed during speaking. I later learned that this frequently goes with “six-seven”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to eliminate it I aim to mention it as often as I can. Nothing deflates a phenomenon like this more thoroughly than an adult striving to join in.

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

Being aware of it assists so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating comments like “indeed, there were 6, 7 million people without work in Germany in 1933”. If the number combination is inevitable, maintaining a strong classroom conduct rules and standards on student conduct is advantageous, as you can sanction it as you would any other disturbance, but I rarely had to do that. Guidelines are important, but if learners accept what the learning environment is implementing, they will remain less distracted by the viral phenomena (especially in instructional hours).

Regarding sixseven, I haven’t sacrificed any teaching periods, aside from an infrequent eyebrow raise and stating “yes, that’s a number, well done”. If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes a blaze. I treat it in the equivalent fashion I would treat any other interruption.

Previously existed the mathematical meme trend a while back, and there will no doubt be another craze after this. This is typical youth activity. Back when I was growing up, it was imitating comedy characters impersonations (honestly out of the classroom).

Young people are unforeseeable, and I believe it falls to the teacher to behave in a manner that guides them toward the path that will get them to their educational goals, which, with luck, is coming out with qualifications instead of a behaviour list a mile long for the employment of meaningless numerals.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Students employ it like a unifying phrase in the playground: a pupil shouts it and the other children answer to indicate they’re part of the identical community. It resembles a verbal exchange or a football chant – an common expression they share. I don’t think it has any distinct meaning to them; they simply understand it’s a trend to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they want to feel part of it.

It’s forbidden in my classroom, however – it’s a warning if they shout it out – just like any different verbal interruption is. It’s particularly tricky in mathematics classes. But my class at primary level are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re fairly compliant with the rules, while I appreciate that at high school it could be a different matter.

I have worked as a teacher for fifteen years, and such trends persist for a month or so. This phenomenon will fade away in the near future – they always do, especially once their younger siblings start saying it and it’s no longer cool. Subsequently they will be engaged with the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while teaching English at a foreign language school. It was primarily young men uttering it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was common with the younger pupils. I was unaware its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I was a student.

The crazes are always shifting. ““Toilet meme” was a well-known trend back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t really occur as often in the learning environment. Unlike “six-seven”, ““the skibidi trend” was never written on the whiteboard in instruction, so students were less prepared to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will laugh with them if I inadvertently mention it, trying to understand them and understand that it is just youth culture. I believe they simply desire to experience that feeling of togetherness and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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