🔗 Share this article

Around the UK, learners have been calling out the words ““six-seven” during instruction in the newest meme-based craze to sweep across classrooms.

Although some educators have chosen to patiently overlook the craze, others have embraced it. Several teachers share how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my secondary school class about preparing for their GCSE exams in June. I don’t recall precisely what it was in relation to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re aiming for results six, seven …” and the complete classroom erupted in laughter. It took me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I’d made an hint at an inappropriate topic, or that they detected an element of my speech pattern that seemed humorous. A bit frustrated – but honestly intrigued and aware that they had no intention of being hurtful – I persuaded them to clarify. To be honest, the clarification they offered didn’t make significant clarification – I continued to have little comprehension.

What possibly rendered it particularly humorous was the weighing-up gesture I had made while speaking. I later learned that this typically pairs with ““67”: I had intended it to assist in expressing the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

With the aim of end the trend I aim to bring it up as much as I can. Nothing deflates a phenomenon like this more emphatically than an adult striving to participate.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it helps so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating statements like “indeed, there were 6, 7 hundred jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the number combination is inevitable, having a rock-solid student discipline system and standards on pupil behavior proves beneficial, as you can address it as you would any different disruption, but I haven’t actually had to do that. Rules are one thing, but if pupils accept what the learning environment is implementing, they’ll be less distracted by the viral phenomena (particularly in instructional hours).

With six-seven, I haven’t wasted any teaching periods, except for an occasional eyebrow raise and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. When you provide oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno. I address it in the same way I would treat any additional interruption.

Previously existed the 9 + 10 = 21 phenomenon a few years ago, and there will no doubt be another craze after this. This is typical youth activity. Back when I was growing up, it was doing comedy characters mimicry (truthfully away from the school environment).

Young people are spontaneous, and I believe it falls to the teacher to behave in a way that guides them toward the path that will enable them toward their academic objectives, which, hopefully, is graduating with qualifications rather than a conduct report extensive for the use of meaningless numerals.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

The children use it like a bonding chant in the recreation area: one says it and the other children answer to demonstrate they belong to the same group. It resembles a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an shared vocabulary they use. I don’t think it has any particular meaning to them; they simply understand it’s a trend to say. No matter what the current trend is, they want to be included in it.

It’s prohibited in my teaching space, however – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – identical to any different calling out is. It’s particularly tricky in maths lessons. But my students at primary level are pre-teens, so they’re relatively compliant with the regulations, although I recognize that at high school it might be a different matter.

I’ve been a instructor for a decade and a half, and these crazes last for a month or so. This trend will die out in the near future – this consistently happens, notably once their younger siblings begin using it and it stops being cool. Then they’ll be on to the following phenomenon.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I began observing it in August, while instructing in English at a international school. It was mostly boys uttering it. I educated teenagers and it was widespread within the less experienced learners. I had no idea its meaning at the time, but being twenty-four and I recognized it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I attended classes.

Such phenomena are always shifting. ““Skibidi” was a well-known trend back when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t really occur as often in the educational setting. In contrast to ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not scribbled on the whiteboard in instruction, so students were less equipped to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will laugh with them if I inadvertently mention it, attempting to empathise with them and understand that it’s merely pop culture. I think they just want to enjoy that sensation of belonging and camaraderie.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

I have performed the {job|profession