‘It’s impossible not to smile’: a quintet of UK instructors on coping with ‘‘sixseven’ in the school environment

Across the UK, school pupils have been calling out the phrase “sixseven” during classes in the newest viral phenomenon to take over educational institutions.

Whereas some educators have chosen to stoically ignore the phenomenon, different educators have incorporated it. Five instructors share how they’re dealing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Back in September, I had been speaking with my eleventh grade class about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall specifically what it was in reference to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re working to marks six, seven …” and the entire group burst out laughing. It surprised me completely by surprise.

My immediate assumption was that I had created an hint at an offensive subject, or that they detected something in my pronunciation that appeared amusing. Slightly frustrated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t trying to be malicious – I persuaded them to elaborate. To be honest, the explanation they then gave didn’t make much difference – I still had little comprehension.

What could have caused it to be especially amusing was the weighing-up gesture I had executed while speaking. I later learned that this typically pairs with “six-seven”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the action of me speaking my mind.

To kill it off I try to reference it as much as I can. No strategy reduces a phenomenon like this more effectively than an grown-up attempting to join in.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Being aware of it assists so that you can avoid just blundering into remarks like “for example, there existed 6, 7 million jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is inevitable, maintaining a strong student discipline system and expectations on learner demeanor is advantageous, as you can deal with it as you would any other disturbance, but I’ve not really had to do that. Guidelines are important, but if students accept what the school is practicing, they will become more focused by the online trends (especially in instructional hours).

Regarding 67, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, except for an infrequent quizzical look and commenting “yes, that’s a number, well done”. When you provide oxygen to it, it transforms into a wildfire. I handle it in the identical manner I would treat any other disturbance.

Previously existed the 9 + 10 = 21 trend a while back, and undoubtedly there will emerge a new phenomenon following this. It’s what kids do. Back when I was growing up, it was imitating Kevin and Perry mimicry (admittedly out of the classroom).

Young people are spontaneous, and I believe it falls to the teacher to respond in a way that guides them in the direction of the course that will enable them to their educational goals, which, fingers crossed, is graduating with academic achievements as opposed to a behaviour list extensive for the employment of random numbers.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children use it like a connecting expression in the playground: a student calls it and the others respond to demonstrate they belong to the same group. It’s similar to a verbal exchange or a football chant – an shared vocabulary they share. I don’t think it has any particular significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a phenomenon to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they seek to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my classroom, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they shout it out – identical to any different verbal interruption is. It’s particularly difficult in numeracy instruction. But my class at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re quite accepting of the rules, while I recognize that at high school it might be a separate situation.

I have served as a educator for fifteen years, and such trends persist for three or four weeks. This craze will die out shortly – this consistently happens, especially once their junior family members commence repeating it and it’s no longer cool. Subsequently they will be focused on the subsequent trend.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a language institute. It was mainly young men repeating it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was widespread within the less experienced learners. I was unaware what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I understood it was just a meme similar to when I was a student.

These trends are always shifting. ““Skibidi” was a familiar phenomenon back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it failed to occur as often in the classroom. Unlike ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was never written on the chalkboard in class, so pupils were less prepared to embrace it.

I simply disregard it, or periodically I will smile with the students if I inadvertently mention it, trying to empathise with them and understand that it is just pop culture. I think they simply desire to enjoy that sensation of togetherness and companionship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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Julie Wheeler
Julie Wheeler

An avid mountaineer and gear tester with over a decade of experience exploring remote trails and sharing actionable advice for outdoor enthusiasts.