‘It’s impossible not to smile’: several UK teachers on coping with ‘‘sixseven’ in the school environment

Throughout the UK, students have been calling out the words ““67” during classes in the most recent viral trend to spread through schools.

Although some instructors have opted to stoically ignore the trend, different educators have accepted it. Five instructors explain how they’re dealing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

During September, I had been talking to my eleventh grade class about preparing for their GCSE exams in June. I can’t remember exactly what it was in relation to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to results six, seven …” and the complete classroom started chuckling. It caught me entirely unexpectedly.

My immediate assumption was that I had created an allusion to an inappropriate topic, or that they detected an element of my pronunciation that seemed humorous. Somewhat exasperated – but genuinely curious and conscious that they weren’t malicious – I got them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the explanation they offered didn’t provide greater understanding – I continued to have no idea.

What could have rendered it especially amusing was the considering gesture I had made while speaking. Subsequently I found out that this frequently goes with ““67”: I meant it to assist in expressing the process of me speaking my mind.

In order to eliminate it I attempt to mention it as much as I can. No approach deflates a phenomenon like this more effectively than an teacher attempting to participate.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Knowing about it assists so that you can prevent just blundering into comments like “well, there were 6, 7 million jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the number combination is unpreventable, maintaining a strong student discipline system and standards on student conduct really helps, as you can deal with it as you would any different disturbance, but I haven’t actually been required to take that action. Policies are important, but if learners accept what the educational institution is practicing, they will remain better concentrated by the internet crazes (especially in lesson time).

With sixseven, I haven’t lost any lesson time, other than for an periodic eyebrow raise and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. Should you offer oxygen to it, it evolves into a blaze. I handle it in the equivalent fashion I would manage any different disruption.

Earlier occurred the 9 + 10 = 21 craze a while back, and there will no doubt be a new phenomenon after this. That’s children’s behavior. Back when I was youth, it was imitating comedy characters impersonations (truthfully away from the learning space).

Children are unpredictable, and I believe it’s an adult’s job to behave in a approach that guides them in the direction of the course that will get them toward their academic objectives, which, hopefully, is coming out with certificates rather than a disciplinary record extensive for the employment of random numbers.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Young learners employ it like a unifying phrase in the schoolyard: a pupil shouts it and the other children answer to demonstrate they belong to the same group. It’s similar to a interactive chant or a stadium slogan – an agreed language they share. In my view it has any distinct meaning to them; they just know it’s a thing to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they want to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my learning environment, however – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – similar to any other shouting out is. It’s especially challenging in maths lessons. But my pupils at fifth grade are pre-teens, so they’re fairly adherent to the guidelines, while I recognize that at teen education it might be a different matter.

I’ve been a teacher for 15 years, and these crazes continue for a few weeks. This trend will die out soon – they always do, especially once their junior family members commence repeating it and it ceases to be trendy. Afterward they shall be on to the next thing.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I first detected it in August, while educating in English language at a foreign language school. It was mainly young men saying it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was prevalent with the younger pupils. I had no idea what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I realised it was simply an internet trend akin to when I was at school.

Such phenomena are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a well-known trend at the time when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly exist as much in the learning environment. Unlike ““sixseven”, ““the skibidi trend” was not scribbled on the board in class, so learners were less able to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will laugh with them if I accidentally say it, striving to relate to them and understand that it’s merely pop culture. I believe they simply desire to enjoy that sensation of togetherness and companionship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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