‘You just have to laugh’: several UK teachers on coping with ‘‘sixseven’ in the classroom
Around the UK, students have been shouting out the expression ““six-seven” during classes in the latest internet-inspired phenomenon to spread through classrooms.
While some educators have chosen to calmly disregard the phenomenon, different educators have accepted it. Several teachers share how they’re coping.
‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’
Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my eleventh grade class about getting ready for their secondary school examinations in June. I don’t recall precisely what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re working to results six, seven …” and the entire group burst out laughing. It took me entirely unexpectedly.
My first thought was that I had created an hint at something rude, or that they perceived a quality in my pronunciation that seemed humorous. Slightly exasperated – but genuinely curious and aware that they had no intention of being malicious – I got them to elaborate. To be honest, the explanation they provided failed to create greater understanding – I still had minimal understanding.
What possibly caused it to be extra funny was the considering gesture I had made while speaking. I have since found out that this often accompanies ““67”: My purpose was it to assist in expressing the process of me verbalizing thoughts.
To end the trend I aim to mention it as frequently as I can. Nothing deflates a trend like this more effectively than an grown-up striving to join in.
‘Providing attention fuels the fire’
Being aware of it aids so that you can avoid just accidentally making comments like “for example, there existed 6, 7 hundred unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is inevitable, possessing a strong student discipline system and expectations on learner demeanor really helps, as you can address it as you would any additional interruption, but I haven’t actually had to do that. Guidelines are one thing, but if pupils embrace what the educational institution is doing, they will become more focused by the internet crazes (especially in class periods).
Concerning six-seven, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, other than for an periodic eyebrow raise and saying ““correct, those are digits, good job”. Should you offer attention to it, then it becomes a blaze. I address it in the same way I would manage any additional disruption.
There was the mathematical meme craze a few years ago, and certainly there will appear a new phenomenon subsequently. This is typical youth activity. During my own growing up, it was imitating television personalities mimicry (admittedly away from the learning space).
Children are spontaneous, and I believe it’s an adult’s job to react in a approach that steers them back to the path that will enable them to their educational goals, which, hopefully, is completing their studies with certificates as opposed to a disciplinary record extensive for the use of arbitrary digits.
‘Students desire belonging to a community’
Young learners employ it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: one says it and the other children answer to show they are the equivalent circle. It’s similar to a interactive chant or a football chant – an shared vocabulary they possess. I don’t think it has any specific significance to them; they just know it’s a phenomenon to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they want to be included in it.
It’s prohibited in my learning environment, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – identical to any additional shouting out is. It’s particularly challenging in numeracy instruction. But my students at primary level are pre-teens, so they’re relatively compliant with the regulations, although I recognize that at teen education it could be a separate situation.
I have worked as a educator for 15 years, and these crazes continue for a month or so. This trend will fade away in the near future – this consistently happens, notably once their younger siblings commence repeating it and it’s no longer fashionable. Then they’ll be focused on the subsequent trend.
‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’
I started noticing it in August, while educating in English language at a foreign language school. It was mostly boys repeating it. I educated teenagers and it was prevalent among the younger pupils. I was unaware its meaning at the time, but being twenty-four and I realised it was simply an internet trend akin to when I was at school.
Such phenomena are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” was a well-known trend back when I was at my training school, but it didn’t really exist as much in the learning environment. Differing from ““67”, ““the skibidi trend” was never written on the board in class, so pupils were less equipped to embrace it.
I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will laugh with them if I accidentally say it, striving to relate to them and understand that it’s simply contemporary trends. In my opinion they merely seek to feel that sense of belonging and companionship.
‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’
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