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Around the UK, students have been calling out the expression ““six-seven” during instruction in the latest internet-inspired trend to sweep across educational institutions.

Whereas some teachers have opted to calmly disregard the craze, some have embraced it. Five instructors explain how they’re coping.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my secondary school tutor group about studying for their secondary school examinations in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in connection with, but I said something like “ … if you’re aiming for results six, seven …” and the entire group burst out laughing. It took me totally off guard.

My immediate assumption was that I’d made an reference to an inappropriate topic, or that they perceived something in my speech pattern that appeared amusing. Slightly frustrated – but honestly intrigued and conscious that they weren’t trying to be mean – I got them to explain. Honestly, the description they offered failed to create much difference – I remained with little comprehension.

What could have made it especially amusing was the evaluating motion I had performed during speaking. Subsequently I found out that this often accompanies “six-seven”: I had intended it to help convey the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

With the aim of end the trend I try to reference it as often as I can. Nothing deflates a trend like this more effectively than an grown-up striving to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it aids so that you can prevent just unintentionally stating comments like “well, there were 6, 7 million unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. When the number combination is unpreventable, having a rock-solid school behaviour policy and expectations on pupil behavior proves beneficial, as you can deal with it as you would any different interruption, but I’ve not really needed to implement that. Policies are necessary, but if students buy into what the learning environment is doing, they will become more focused by the viral phenomena (particularly in class periods).

Concerning six-seven, I haven’t lost any instructional minutes, except for an infrequent raised eyebrow and commenting ““correct, those are digits, good job”. If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno. I treat it in the equivalent fashion I would manage any other disturbance.

Earlier occurred the mathematical meme phenomenon a few years ago, and certainly there will appear a different trend subsequently. This is typical youth activity. Back when I was youth, it was doing comedy characters impressions (truthfully outside the classroom).

Students are unpredictable, and In my opinion it’s an adult’s job to behave in a manner that guides them back to the course that will get them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is completing their studies with qualifications rather than a conduct report a mile long for the use of meaningless numerals.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children use it like a connecting expression in the playground: one says it and the others respond to show they are the equivalent circle. It resembles a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an agreed language they possess. I don’t think it has any particular importance to them; they just know it’s a phenomenon to say. Whatever the newest phenomenon is, they want to be included in it.

It’s forbidden in my classroom, however – it results in a caution if they shout it out – just like any additional shouting out is. It’s notably challenging in numeracy instruction. But my students at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re quite compliant with the rules, although I understand that at secondary [school] it could be a distinct scenario.

I’ve been a teacher for 15 years, and these crazes continue for three or four weeks. This phenomenon will fade away in the near future – they always do, especially once their junior family members start saying it and it ceases to be fashionable. Subsequently they will be engaged with the next thing.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I started noticing it in August, while instructing in English at a foreign language school. It was mainly male students uttering it. I taught students from twelve to eighteen and it was prevalent among the junior students. I was unaware its significance at the time, but being twenty-four and I recognized it was simply an internet trend similar to when I was at school.

These trends are always shifting. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme back when I was at my training school, but it didn’t really occur as often in the learning environment. Differing from “six-seven”, “skibidi toilet” was not scribbled on the chalkboard in class, so pupils were less equipped to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I unintentionally utter it, attempting to understand them and appreciate that it’s merely pop culture. I think they just want to enjoy that sensation of belonging and camaraderie.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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