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Throughout the UK, students have been exclaiming the words “sixseven” during classes in the latest viral phenomenon to spread through classrooms.

Although some teachers have opted to patiently overlook the trend, different educators have incorporated it. Five teachers share how they’re coping.

‘My initial assumption was that I’d uttered something offensive’

Back in September, I had been addressing my secondary school class about studying for their GCSE exams in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in reference to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re targeting marks six, seven …” and the whole class started chuckling. It took me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I had created an reference to an offensive subject, or that they’d heard a quality in my pronunciation that sounded funny. Somewhat exasperated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t trying to be hurtful – I persuaded them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the clarification they offered didn’t make greater understanding – I continued to have little comprehension.

What could have made it particularly humorous was the weighing-up gesture I had made while speaking. Subsequently I discovered that this frequently goes with ““67”: My purpose was it to aid in demonstrating the act of me verbalizing thoughts.

With the aim of kill it off I aim to mention it as frequently as I can. No strategy diminishes a phenomenon like this more effectively than an teacher attempting to join in.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it helps so that you can prevent just accidentally making comments like “well, there were 6, 7 hundred unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the number combination is unpreventable, maintaining a strong classroom conduct rules and expectations on learner demeanor really helps, as you can address it as you would any other disturbance, but I haven’t actually been required to take that action. Policies are one thing, but if pupils buy into what the educational institution is practicing, they will become less distracted by the viral phenomena (particularly in instructional hours).

With sixseven, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, other than for an occasional quizzical look and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. If you give focus on it, it transforms into an inferno. I handle it in the identical manner I would manage any different disruption.

Previously existed the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a while back, and certainly there will appear a different trend after this. This is typical youth activity. During my own youth, it was performing Kevin and Perry mimicry (honestly out of the learning space).

Students are unforeseeable, and I believe it falls to the teacher to respond in a way that steers them in the direction of the path that will get them where they need to go, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with qualifications instead of a behaviour list extensive for the employment of random numbers.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children utilize it like a connecting expression in the schoolyard: a student calls it and the other children answer to demonstrate they belong to the identical community. It resembles a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an common expression they possess. In my view it has any particular meaning to them; they simply understand it’s a thing to say. No matter what the current trend is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s prohibited in my learning environment, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they shout it out – just like any other calling out is. It’s especially tricky in numeracy instruction. But my pupils at year 5 are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re relatively accepting of the rules, although I recognize that at secondary [school] it could be a different matter.

I’ve been a teacher for 15 years, and these phenomena persist for three or four weeks. This trend will die out shortly – it invariably occurs, especially once their younger siblings commence repeating it and it’s no longer fashionable. Subsequently they will be on to the subsequent trend.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I first detected it in August, while educating in English language at a language institute. It was primarily male students saying it. I educated teenagers and it was prevalent with the less experienced learners. I had no idea what it was at the time, but being twenty-four and I recognized it was simply an internet trend similar to when I attended classes.

The crazes are constantly changing. “Skibidi toilet” was a well-known trend back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t really occur as often in the educational setting. Unlike ““sixseven”, ““that particular meme” was not inscribed on the chalkboard in class, so pupils were less equipped to embrace it.

I simply disregard it, or occasionally I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, trying to understand them and recognize that it is just youth culture. In my opinion they merely seek to feel that sense of togetherness and companionship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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