‘You just have to laugh’: a quintet of UK instructors on dealing with ‘‘sixseven’ in the classroom

Throughout the UK, learners have been calling out the phrase ““67” during lessons in the newest meme-based trend to take over schools.

While some instructors have opted to stoically ignore the trend, others have accepted it. A group of teachers describe how they’re dealing.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Earlier in September, I had been addressing my secondary school students about preparing for their GCSE exams in June. I don’t recall precisely what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the complete classroom started chuckling. It took me completely by surprise.

My first thought was that I had created an allusion to an inappropriate topic, or that they detected something in my speech pattern that appeared amusing. A bit exasperated – but genuinely curious and mindful that they weren’t trying to be mean – I asked them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the description they then gave failed to create significant clarification – I still had no idea.

What might have caused it to be extra funny was the evaluating gesture I had executed while speaking. Subsequently I learned that this typically pairs with ““67”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the action of me thinking aloud.

In order to eliminate it I attempt to bring it up as frequently as I can. No approach deflates a trend like this more emphatically than an teacher trying to participate.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Understanding it assists so that you can steer clear of just unintentionally stating remarks like “indeed, there were 6, 7 hundred jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the digit pairing is inevitable, possessing a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and requirements on learner demeanor really helps, as you can sanction it as you would any additional interruption, but I haven’t actually had to do that. Rules are one thing, but if learners embrace what the school is practicing, they’ll be less distracted by the internet crazes (especially in lesson time).

Regarding 67, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, other than for an infrequent quizzical look and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. Should you offer attention to it, it evolves into a blaze. I address it in the same way I would treat any other disturbance.

Earlier occurred the 9 + 10 = 21 craze a while back, and certainly there will appear another craze subsequently. This is typical youth activity. During my own childhood, it was doing comedy characters impersonations (honestly away from the school environment).

Students are unforeseeable, and In my opinion it’s the educator’s responsibility to react in a way that steers them back to the path that will help them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is coming out with qualifications rather than a behaviour list lengthy for the utilization of meaningless numerals.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

Students utilize it like a unifying phrase in the playground: a pupil shouts it and the other children answer to show they are the equivalent circle. It’s like a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an common expression they possess. I believe it has any distinct importance to them; they merely recognize it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the current trend is, they seek to feel part of it.

It’s prohibited in my teaching space, nevertheless – it’s a warning if they call it out – similar to any other verbal interruption is. It’s especially difficult in numeracy instruction. But my students at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re quite adherent to the guidelines, although I recognize that at high school it might be a distinct scenario.

I have worked as a educator for a decade and a half, and such trends persist for a few weeks. This craze will fade away in the near future – it invariably occurs, particularly once their junior family members commence repeating it and it stops being trendy. Afterward they shall be on to the following phenomenon.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I began observing it in August, while instructing in English at a language institute. It was primarily boys saying it. I educated ages 12 to 18 and it was common with the less experienced learners. I didn’t understand its significance at the time, but being twenty-four and I recognized it was just a meme akin to when I was a student.

The crazes are always shifting. ““Toilet meme” was a familiar phenomenon at the time when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t really appear as frequently in the classroom. Unlike “six-seven”, ““the skibidi trend” was not scribbled on the whiteboard in class, so students were less equipped to pick up on it.

I simply disregard it, or occasionally I will smile with the students if I accidentally say it, trying to empathise with them and recognize that it’s merely youth culture. I believe they merely seek to enjoy that sensation of community and camaraderie.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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Dustin Zhang
Dustin Zhang

A passionate gamer and writer specializing in creating detailed guides to help players master their favorite games and improve their skills.