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Across the UK, students have been exclaiming the expression “sixseven” during instruction in the newest internet-inspired trend to take over schools.

While some teachers have opted to stoically ignore the phenomenon, some have incorporated it. Five educators explain how they’re coping.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Back in September, I had been speaking with my secondary school class about preparing for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall specifically what it was in relation to, but I said something like “ … if you’re targeting marks six, seven …” and the complete classroom started chuckling. It caught me totally off guard.

My first thought was that I had created an hint at an offensive subject, or that they detected something in my pronunciation that sounded funny. Somewhat frustrated – but truly interested and aware that they weren’t trying to be malicious – I asked them to explain. Frankly speaking, the description they then gave failed to create significant clarification – I remained with minimal understanding.

What might have caused it to be particularly humorous was the weighing-up movement I had made while speaking. I later discovered that this typically pairs with ““sixseven”: I had intended it to assist in expressing the action of me thinking aloud.

In order to eliminate it I aim to bring it up as much as I can. No strategy reduces a phenomenon like this more effectively than an teacher trying to get involved.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Being aware of it assists so that you can prevent just blundering into statements like “for example, there existed 6, 7 million people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the digit pairing is unavoidable, maintaining a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and standards on student conduct really helps, as you can sanction it as you would any other disturbance, but I haven’t actually been required to take that action. Guidelines are necessary, but if pupils accept what the educational institution is practicing, they will become less distracted by the internet crazes (particularly in lesson time).

With 67, I haven’t wasted any teaching periods, other than for an infrequent raised eyebrow and stating “yes, that’s a number, well done”. When you provide oxygen to it, it evolves into an inferno. I address it in the equivalent fashion I would treat any different disruption.

Previously existed the 9 + 10 = 21 craze a previous period, and undoubtedly there will emerge a different trend subsequently. That’s children’s behavior. When I was growing up, it was imitating television personalities impersonations (admittedly outside the classroom).

Students are unforeseeable, and In my opinion it falls to the teacher to react in a way that steers them in the direction of the direction that will help them where they need to go, which, with luck, is graduating with qualifications instead of a conduct report a mile long for the use of arbitrary digits.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Students use it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: a student calls it and the remaining students reply to show they are the identical community. It’s similar to a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an agreed language they use. In my view it has any distinct importance to them; they just know it’s a thing to say. No matter what the newest phenomenon is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s forbidden in my learning environment, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they shout it out – similar to any additional verbal interruption is. It’s notably challenging in numeracy instruction. But my students at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re quite compliant with the guidelines, although I appreciate that at secondary [school] it could be a different matter.

I have worked as a educator for 15 years, and such trends continue for three or four weeks. This trend will fade away in the near future – this consistently happens, notably once their younger siblings begin using it and it’s no longer fashionable. Then they’ll be engaged with the next thing.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I first detected it in August, while teaching English at a language institute. It was mostly male students repeating it. I taught teenagers and it was prevalent among the younger pupils. I had no idea its significance at the time, but being twenty-four and I recognized it was simply an internet trend akin to when I was a student.

These trends are constantly changing. ““Skibidi” was a familiar phenomenon back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly exist as much in the classroom. Unlike ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not scribbled on the chalkboard in class, so learners were less prepared to embrace it.

I simply disregard it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, trying to relate to them and recognize that it’s simply contemporary trends. I believe they simply desire to experience that feeling of belonging and friendship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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