‘You just have to laugh’: several UK instructors on coping with ‘‘sixseven’ in the school environment

Across the UK, learners have been calling out the words “sixseven” during classes in the most recent internet-inspired trend to sweep across schools.

Although some instructors have decided to patiently overlook the trend, some have incorporated it. Five educators describe how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

During September, I had been addressing my eleventh grade tutor group about preparing for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall exactly what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re working to results six, seven …” and the whole class started chuckling. It caught me totally off guard.

My immediate assumption was that I had created an reference to something rude, or that they’d heard an element of my accent that sounded funny. A bit frustrated – but truly interested and mindful that they weren’t trying to be hurtful – I asked them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the clarification they offered didn’t make significant clarification – I continued to have little comprehension.

What might have caused it to be particularly humorous was the considering gesture I had made while speaking. I later learned that this typically pairs with ““67”: My purpose was it to aid in demonstrating the process of me verbalizing thoughts.

With the aim of end the trend I try to bring it up as frequently as I can. Nothing diminishes a craze like this more effectively than an adult trying to participate.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it aids so that you can avoid just accidentally making statements like “for example, there existed 6, 7 million unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is inevitable, maintaining a strong school behaviour policy and standards on learner demeanor really helps, as you can deal with it as you would any different disturbance, but I haven’t actually had to do that. Policies are one thing, but if students embrace what the educational institution is doing, they’ll be more focused by the internet crazes (at least in class periods).

Concerning 67, I haven’t wasted any teaching periods, except for an periodic raised eyebrow and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. When you provide focus on it, it evolves into an inferno. I handle it in the identical manner I would treat any different disruption.

Earlier occurred the 9 + 10 = 21 phenomenon a few years ago, and undoubtedly there will emerge another craze following this. It’s what kids do. Back when I was growing up, it was doing Kevin and Perry impressions (truthfully out of the school environment).

Students are unforeseeable, and I think it falls to the teacher to behave in a approach that guides them in the direction of the course that will enable them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is completing their studies with qualifications instead of a conduct report a mile long for the employment of meaningless numerals.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

The children utilize it like a unifying phrase in the playground: one says it and the other children answer to indicate they’re part of the same group. It resembles a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an common expression they share. I don’t think it has any distinct importance to them; they simply understand it’s a phenomenon to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they seek to experience belonging to it.

It’s prohibited in my teaching space, nevertheless – it results in a caution if they call it out – identical to any other shouting out is. It’s notably tricky in numeracy instruction. But my students at year 5 are pre-teens, so they’re fairly accepting of the guidelines, although I recognize that at secondary [school] it may be a separate situation.

I have served as a instructor for 15 years, and these crazes continue for a month or so. This trend will diminish soon – this consistently happens, especially once their little brothers and sisters begin using it and it stops being fashionable. Afterward they shall be focused on the next thing.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I began observing it in August, while instructing in English at a foreign language school. It was mostly male students saying it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was prevalent among the less experienced learners. I had no idea what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I recognized it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I was at school.

Such phenomena are always shifting. ““Skibidi” was a well-known trend back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly appear as frequently in the educational setting. Unlike ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not scribbled on the whiteboard in instruction, so students were less able to pick up on it.

I just ignore it, or occasionally I will chuckle alongside them if I unintentionally utter it, attempting to relate to them and appreciate that it’s merely pop culture. In my opinion they merely seek to experience that feeling of belonging and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

I have worked in the {job|profession

Sonya Williams
Sonya Williams

Elara is a passionate writer and digital storyteller with over a decade of experience in blogging and creative nonfiction.