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Throughout the UK, students have been exclaiming the words ““six-seven” during classes in the most recent internet-inspired phenomenon to spread through classrooms.

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

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Back in September, I had been talking to my secondary school class about preparing for their GCSE exams in June. I can’t remember exactly what it was in relation to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re targeting marks six, seven …” and the entire group erupted in laughter. It caught me completely by surprise.

My immediate assumption was that I had created an allusion to something rude, or that they perceived a quality in my speech pattern that appeared amusing. A bit annoyed – but genuinely curious and conscious that they had no intention of being hurtful – I got them to clarify. Honestly, the explanation they then gave failed to create much difference – I remained with minimal understanding.

What possibly caused it to be especially amusing was the considering gesture I had executed while speaking. I have since found out that this often accompanies ““sixseven”: My purpose was it to assist in expressing the act of me speaking my mind.

With the aim of eliminate it I aim to reference it as frequently as I can. No approach diminishes a trend like this more thoroughly than an grown-up striving to participate.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Understanding it assists so that you can prevent just accidentally making statements like “indeed, there were 6, 7 hundred jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. When the number combination is unavoidable, possessing a strong classroom conduct rules and standards on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any different disruption, but I haven’t actually been required to take that action. Rules are one thing, but if students buy into what the learning environment is doing, they will remain more focused by the online trends (particularly in instructional hours).

Regarding six-seven, I haven’t lost any instructional minutes, other than for an occasional eyebrow raise and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. Should you offer oxygen to it, it transforms into a wildfire. I address it in the identical manner I would handle any additional disruption.

There was the mathematical meme craze a few years ago, and there will no doubt be a different trend following this. That’s children’s behavior. During my own growing up, it was imitating Kevin and Perry impersonations (admittedly out of the school environment).

Young people are spontaneous, and I believe it falls to the teacher to respond in a approach that steers them toward the path that will get them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is graduating with certificates rather than a conduct report extensive for the employment of meaningless numerals.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

Young learners use it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: a student calls it and the others respond to demonstrate they belong to the same group. It resembles a call-and-response or a stadium slogan – an shared vocabulary they possess. I don’t think it has any distinct significance to them; they just know it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the current trend is, they seek to be included in it.

It’s forbidden in my teaching space, nevertheless – it results in a caution if they exclaim it – just like any other shouting out is. It’s especially tricky in mathematics classes. But my pupils at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly accepting of the guidelines, while I understand that at secondary [school] it could be a distinct scenario.

I’ve been a educator for a decade and a half, and these phenomena last for a month or so. This trend will die out shortly – this consistently happens, particularly once their younger siblings commence repeating it and it ceases to be fashionable. Then they’ll be engaged with the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I first detected it in August, while educating in English language at a language institute. It was mainly young men uttering it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was widespread among the younger pupils. I didn’t understand its significance at the time, but as a young adult and I recognized it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I was a student.

The crazes are continuously evolving. ““Toilet meme” was a well-known trend at the time when I was at my training school, but it failed to appear as frequently in the learning environment. Unlike “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the chalkboard in class, so students were less prepared to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will smile with the students if I accidentally say it, striving to empathise with them and appreciate that it’s simply contemporary trends. I think they just want to feel that sense of togetherness and camaraderie.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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