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Across the UK, school pupils have been exclaiming the phrase “sixseven” during lessons in the newest meme-based phenomenon to sweep across schools.

While some educators have chosen to patiently overlook the trend, some have incorporated it. Several teachers describe how they’re dealing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

During September, I had been speaking with my year 11 tutor group about studying for their secondary school examinations in June. It escapes me exactly what it was in reference to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the whole class erupted in laughter. It caught me totally off guard.

My initial reaction was that I might have delivered an hint at something rude, or that they detected a quality in my speech pattern that seemed humorous. A bit exasperated – but truly interested and mindful that they had no intention of being hurtful – I asked them to elaborate. Frankly speaking, the explanation they then gave didn’t provide much difference – I continued to have minimal understanding.

What might have made it particularly humorous was the considering motion I had performed during speaking. I have since found out that this often accompanies ““sixseven”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the action of me speaking my mind.

To end the trend I try to mention it as frequently as I can. Nothing diminishes a phenomenon like this more emphatically than an grown-up trying to join in.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it helps so that you can steer clear of just unintentionally stating comments like “well, there were 6, 7 hundred jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is unpreventable, having a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and standards on student conduct proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any other interruption, but I haven’t actually been required to take that action. Policies are necessary, but if pupils buy into what the learning environment is implementing, they will remain less distracted by the internet crazes (particularly in class periods).

Regarding 67, I haven’t lost any instructional minutes, other than for an periodic raised eyebrow and saying ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. When you provide attention to it, it evolves into a blaze. I treat it in the equivalent fashion I would manage any additional disturbance.

There was the mathematical meme trend a previous period, and certainly there will appear another craze following this. It’s what kids do. Back when I was growing up, it was doing Kevin and Perry impersonations (truthfully outside the learning space).

Students are spontaneous, and In my opinion it falls to the teacher to behave in a way that redirects them back to the course that will help them to their educational goals, which, fingers crossed, is completing their studies with qualifications instead of a disciplinary record a mile long for the utilization of meaningless numerals.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

Young learners utilize it like a bonding chant in the schoolyard: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to show they are the identical community. It resembles a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an common expression they share. In my view it has any particular importance to them; they merely recognize it’s a trend to say. No matter what the current trend is, they want to experience belonging to it.

It’s prohibited in my learning environment, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – identical to any different calling out is. It’s notably challenging in mathematics classes. But my students at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re fairly accepting of the guidelines, while I understand that at secondary [school] it could be a different matter.

I have served as a educator for fifteen years, and these phenomena last for three or four weeks. This craze will fade away soon – it invariably occurs, particularly once their junior family members begin using it and it’s no longer trendy. Then they’ll be focused on the next thing.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I first detected it in August, while educating in English language at a foreign language school. It was mostly male students uttering it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was common among the less experienced learners. I didn’t understand what it was at the time, but being twenty-four and I realised it was merely a viral phenomenon comparable to when I was a student.

These trends are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” 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 classroom. In contrast to ““sixseven”, ““the skibidi trend” was not scribbled on the whiteboard in instruction, so pupils were less equipped to embrace it.

I typically overlook it, or periodically I will smile with the students if I accidentally say it, trying to understand them and appreciate that it’s simply pop culture. In my opinion they just want to enjoy that sensation of community and companionship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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