‘It’s impossible not to smile’: several UK educators on handling ‘‘sixseven’ in the classroom

Across the UK, students have been exclaiming the expression ““six-seven” during classes in the newest viral trend to take over schools.

Although some instructors have decided to calmly disregard the phenomenon, different educators have incorporated it. A group of teachers describe how they’re coping.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my secondary school tutor group about getting ready for their GCSE exams in June. I can’t remember specifically what it was in connection with, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re aiming for results six, seven …” and the whole class started chuckling. It caught me entirely unexpectedly.

My initial reaction was that I’d made an hint at an offensive subject, or that they’d heard a quality in my speech pattern that seemed humorous. Somewhat frustrated – but genuinely curious and aware that they had no intention of being hurtful – I persuaded them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the clarification they offered didn’t make greater understanding – I remained with little comprehension.

What possibly made it extra funny was the evaluating movement I had performed during speaking. I later discovered that this frequently goes with “six-seven”: I meant it to assist in expressing the process of me verbalizing thoughts.

With the aim of eliminate it I attempt to reference it as much as I can. No approach reduces a phenomenon like this more effectively than an adult trying to get involved.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Being aware of it aids so that you can prevent just accidentally making statements like “for example, there existed 6, 7 hundred people without work in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is unavoidable, possessing a firm student discipline system and requirements on pupil behavior proves beneficial, as you can address it as you would any different disturbance, but I’ve not really been required to take that action. Policies are one thing, but if pupils buy into what the learning environment is doing, they will remain better concentrated by the internet crazes (especially in lesson time).

With sixseven, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, other than for an occasional raised eyebrow and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. When you provide focus on it, it transforms into a blaze. I treat it in the identical manner I would manage any other disruption.

There was the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a previous period, and there will no doubt be another craze subsequently. It’s what kids do. During my own growing up, it was imitating Kevin and Perry impersonations (admittedly out of the learning space).

Young people are unpredictable, and I think it falls to the teacher to respond in a approach that redirects them in the direction of the course that will enable them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is completing their studies with certificates as opposed to a disciplinary record extensive for the use of arbitrary digits.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

The children use it like a connecting expression in the playground: one says it and the other children answer to demonstrate they belong to the equivalent circle. It resembles a interactive chant or a sports cheer – an shared vocabulary they possess. I believe it has any particular significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a trend to say. Whatever the newest phenomenon is, they want to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my learning environment, nevertheless – it results in a caution if they shout it out – identical to any other calling out is. It’s especially difficult in mathematics classes. But my class at year 5 are pre-teens, so they’re relatively compliant with the rules, while I understand that at high school it may be a separate situation.

I’ve been a teacher for 15 years, and these phenomena persist for three or four weeks. This craze will die out soon – they always do, particularly once their little brothers and sisters start saying it and it ceases to be trendy. Afterward they shall be engaged with the subsequent trend.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I first detected it in August, while educating in English language at a international school. It was primarily young men uttering it. I instructed teenagers and it was widespread among the younger pupils. I had no idea its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I recognized it was merely a viral phenomenon comparable to when I was a student.

The crazes are continuously evolving. “Skibidi toilet” was a familiar phenomenon at the time when I was at my educational institute, but it failed to occur as often in the educational setting. Differing from “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the whiteboard in instruction, so learners were less able to embrace it.

I typically overlook it, or periodically I will smile with the students if I inadvertently mention it, trying to empathise with them and understand that it’s simply contemporary trends. I think they merely seek to experience that feeling of belonging and camaraderie.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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Jimmy Hunter
Jimmy Hunter

A passionate gamer and tech writer with over a decade of experience covering video games and industry developments.