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Across the UK, students have been calling out the phrase ““six-seven” during instruction in the latest internet-inspired trend to sweep across schools.

While some educators have decided to stoically ignore the trend, some have incorporated it. A group of teachers share how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my year 11 students about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re aiming for grades six, seven …” and the whole class erupted in laughter. It surprised me completely by surprise.

My immediate assumption was that I might have delivered an reference to an inappropriate topic, or that they’d heard an element of my speech pattern that appeared amusing. Somewhat annoyed – but genuinely curious and conscious that they had no intention of being mean – I persuaded them to elaborate. Frankly speaking, the description they offered failed to create much difference – I still had no idea.

What might have made it especially amusing was the considering gesture I had performed during speaking. I have since learned that this frequently goes with ““sixseven”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to end the trend I try to mention it as frequently as I can. No strategy diminishes a phenomenon like this more thoroughly than an adult striving to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it assists so that you can steer clear of just unintentionally stating remarks like “well, there were 6, 7 thousand jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the digit pairing is inevitable, maintaining a strong classroom conduct rules and requirements on learner demeanor is advantageous, as you can address it as you would any different interruption, but I’ve not really been required to take that action. Guidelines are important, but if learners accept what the educational institution is practicing, they will remain less distracted by the viral phenomena (especially in instructional hours).

Concerning sixseven, I haven’t lost any lesson time, aside from an infrequent raised eyebrow and commenting “yes, that’s a number, well done”. If you give attention to it, it transforms into a wildfire. I address it in the equivalent fashion I would manage any additional disturbance.

Previously existed the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a previous period, and certainly there will appear a different trend subsequently. It’s what kids do. Back when I was growing up, it was imitating comedy characters impressions (truthfully outside the school environment).

Young people are spontaneous, and I think it’s an adult’s job to behave in a manner that guides them toward the course that will help them to their educational goals, which, hopefully, is completing their studies with academic achievements as opposed to a behaviour list extensive for the use of meaningless numerals.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children employ it like a unifying phrase in the schoolyard: one says it and the remaining students reply to demonstrate they belong to the same group. It’s like a interactive chant or a football chant – an shared vocabulary they share. In my view it has any specific importance to them; they simply understand it’s a phenomenon to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they want to feel part of it.

It’s prohibited in my classroom, however – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – identical to any other calling out is. It’s particularly challenging in mathematics classes. But my students at year 5 are pre-teens, so they’re quite accepting of the regulations, although I understand that at teen education it might be a distinct scenario.

I have worked as a teacher for 15 years, and these crazes last for a few weeks. This craze will die out soon – they always do, notably once their little brothers and sisters start saying it and it ceases to be cool. Afterward they shall be focused on the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a international school. It was primarily boys uttering it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was widespread with the less experienced learners. I was unaware what it was at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was merely a viral phenomenon similar to when I was a student.

The crazes are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a well-known trend back when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t really appear as frequently in the classroom. Unlike “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the chalkboard in lessons, so pupils were less prepared to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or periodically I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, striving to empathise with them and recognize that it’s simply youth culture. I believe they merely seek to feel that sense of belonging and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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