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Across the UK, learners have been shouting out the words “sixseven” during classes in the newest meme-based craze to take over schools.

Although some instructors have chosen to stoically ignore the phenomenon, others have embraced it. Several teachers explain how they’re dealing.

‘My initial assumption was that I’d uttered something offensive’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my secondary school students about studying for their GCSE exams in June. It escapes me precisely what it was in connection with, but I said something like “ … if you’re targeting grades six, seven …” and the entire group burst out laughing. It caught me entirely unexpectedly.

My immediate assumption was that I might have delivered an allusion to an offensive subject, or that they’d heard a quality in my accent that appeared amusing. A bit frustrated – but genuinely curious and conscious that they weren’t trying to be malicious – I asked them to clarify. Honestly, the explanation they then gave didn’t provide significant clarification – I still had no idea.

What could have caused it to be extra funny was the weighing-up motion I had executed while speaking. I have since learned that this frequently goes with ““sixseven”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the act of me speaking my mind.

With the aim of eliminate it I aim to bring it up as frequently as I can. Nothing deflates a phenomenon like this more thoroughly than an grown-up attempting to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it assists so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating remarks like “well, there were 6, 7 thousand people without work in Germany in 1933”. When the numerical sequence is unavoidable, maintaining a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and requirements on student conduct really helps, as you can sanction it as you would any different disruption, but I haven’t actually had to do that. Rules are one thing, but if pupils buy into what the learning environment is practicing, they will remain less distracted by the internet crazes (at least in lesson time).

Concerning six-seven, I haven’t wasted any teaching periods, other than for an periodic quizzical look and saying ““correct, those are digits, good job”. If you give attention to it, it transforms into an inferno. I address it in the equivalent fashion I would handle any other disruption.

Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one craze a few years ago, and undoubtedly there will emerge a different trend after this. It’s what kids do. During my own youth, it was doing comedy characters mimicry (admittedly out of the school environment).

Young people are spontaneous, and I believe it falls to the teacher to react in a manner that guides them toward the path that will get them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is graduating with certificates as opposed to a behaviour list lengthy for the utilization of arbitrary digits.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Young learners utilize it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: a student calls it and the other children answer to show they are the equivalent circle. It resembles a interactive chant or a stadium slogan – an common expression they possess. In my view it has any particular meaning to them; they merely recognize it’s a thing to say. Regardless of what the latest craze is, they desire to experience belonging to it.

It’s forbidden in my learning environment, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they shout it out – identical to any additional shouting out is. It’s notably challenging in numeracy instruction. But my class at fifth grade are pre-teens, so they’re relatively adherent to the guidelines, although I appreciate that at secondary [school] it could be a separate situation.

I have served as a teacher for a decade and a half, and these crazes last for a few weeks. This phenomenon will die out in the near future – this consistently happens, notably once their younger siblings commence repeating it and it ceases to be cool. Then they’ll be engaged with the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I started noticing it in August, while educating in English language at a international school. It was mostly male students repeating it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was common with the less experienced learners. I had no idea its meaning at the time, but being twenty-four and I understood it was just a meme akin to when I was at school.

The crazes are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme during the period when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly occur as often in the classroom. In contrast to ““67”, “skibidi toilet” was not scribbled on the chalkboard in lessons, so students were less equipped to pick up on it.

I simply disregard it, or sometimes I will smile with the students if I inadvertently mention it, attempting to relate to them and understand that it’s merely youth culture. I think they merely seek to feel that sense of belonging and friendship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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