‘You just have to laugh’: several UK instructors on coping with ‘‘sixseven’ in the educational setting

Across the UK, students have been shouting out the phrase ““67” during instruction in the newest meme-based craze to take over classrooms.

Although some teachers have chosen to patiently overlook the trend, others have accepted it. Five instructors explain how they’re dealing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Back in September, I had been talking to my year 11 class about studying for their secondary school examinations in June. I can’t remember precisely what it was in reference to, but I said something like “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the entire group burst out laughing. It took me entirely unexpectedly.

My first thought was that I might have delivered an reference to an offensive subject, or that they detected a quality in my speech pattern that seemed humorous. Somewhat annoyed – but truly interested and aware that they had no intention of being mean – I asked them to elaborate. Honestly, the explanation they provided failed to create greater understanding – I still had no idea.

What possibly rendered it extra funny was the considering movement I had executed while speaking. I later learned that this typically pairs with ““67”: I had intended it to help convey the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

With the aim of eliminate it I try to reference it as frequently as I can. Nothing reduces a craze like this more emphatically than an grown-up trying to join in.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Being aware of it assists so that you can steer clear of just accidentally making statements like “well, there were 6, 7 million jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the number combination is unavoidable, maintaining a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and expectations on pupil behavior proves beneficial, as you can address it as you would any other disruption, but I’ve not really needed to implement that. Guidelines are one thing, but if pupils accept what the school is implementing, they will become better concentrated by the online trends (at least in lesson time).

With sixseven, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, other than for an infrequent raised eyebrow and saying ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. Should you offer focus on it, then it becomes an inferno. I handle it in the identical manner I would handle any different interruption.

Earlier occurred the 9 + 10 = 21 craze a while back, and undoubtedly there will emerge a different trend following this. This is typical youth activity. When I was childhood, it was doing comedy characters impersonations (admittedly away from the learning space).

Young people are unpredictable, and I believe it falls to the teacher to react in a way that redirects them in the direction of the course that will get them toward their academic objectives, which, hopefully, is coming out with qualifications instead of a conduct report lengthy for the use of arbitrary digits.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

The children employ it like a connecting expression in the recreation area: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to indicate they’re part of the same group. It’s similar to a verbal exchange or a football chant – an common expression they possess. In my view it has any distinct importance to them; they simply understand it’s a trend to say. Whatever the current trend is, they desire to be included in it.

It’s banned in my teaching space, though – it’s a warning if they call it out – similar to any different verbal interruption is. It’s particularly tricky in mathematics classes. But my students at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re relatively adherent to the rules, although I recognize that at high school it may be a separate situation.

I have served as a teacher for 15 years, and such trends continue for three or four weeks. This phenomenon will diminish in the near future – this consistently happens, especially once their younger siblings begin using it and it stops being cool. Afterward they shall be focused on the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a language institute. It was mainly male students saying it. I instructed teenagers and it was common among the junior students. I had no idea its significance at the time, but as a young adult and I realised it was simply an internet trend similar to when I was at school.

Such phenomena are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme back when I was at my educational institute, but it failed to appear as frequently in the learning environment. Unlike “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the board in instruction, so learners were less equipped to embrace it.

I simply disregard it, or occasionally I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, striving to empathise with them and recognize that it’s simply youth culture. I think they just want to enjoy that sensation of community and friendship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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Christopher Barker
Christopher Barker

A seasoned business strategist with over a decade of experience in leadership development and corporate transformation.