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Throughout the UK, students have been calling out the words “sixseven” during instruction in the newest meme-based craze to spread through educational institutions.

Whereas some instructors have opted to calmly disregard the trend, others have accepted it. A group of instructors share how they’re coping.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my year 11 class about preparing for their qualification tests in June. It escapes me precisely what it was in relation to, but I said something like “ … if you’re aiming for results six, seven …” and the whole class started chuckling. It caught me entirely unexpectedly.

My immediate assumption was that I had created an hint at an inappropriate topic, or that they perceived a quality in my accent that seemed humorous. Slightly annoyed – but genuinely curious and conscious that they weren’t malicious – I got them to elaborate. To be honest, the clarification they then gave failed to create much difference – I continued to have little comprehension.

What might have caused it to be especially amusing was the evaluating motion I had executed while speaking. I have since found out that this typically pairs with ““67”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the act of me verbalizing thoughts.

To eliminate it I try to reference it as often as I can. No strategy diminishes a craze like this more thoroughly than an grown-up striving to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it assists so that you can prevent just accidentally making remarks like “for example, there existed 6, 7 million people without work in Germany in 1933”. If the digit pairing is unavoidable, having a firm student discipline system and requirements on pupil behavior really helps, as you can sanction it as you would any other interruption, but I’ve not really needed to implement that. Policies are necessary, but if learners buy into what the educational institution is practicing, they will remain less distracted by the internet crazes (at least in class periods).

Concerning six-seven, I haven’t lost any lesson time, except for an periodic quizzical look and commenting ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. When you provide oxygen to it, it evolves into a blaze. I treat it in the same way I would handle any other disruption.

There was the 9 + 10 = 21 trend a previous period, and undoubtedly there will emerge a new phenomenon after this. It’s what kids do. Back when I was growing up, it was imitating comedy characters impressions (honestly outside the school environment).

Children are unforeseeable, and In my opinion it’s an adult’s job to respond in a way that redirects them back to the path that will get them where they need to go, which, with luck, is completing their studies with certificates instead of a behaviour list extensive for the utilization of meaningless numerals.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

The children employ it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to show they are the same group. It resembles a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an common expression they share. I don’t think it has any specific meaning to them; they just know it’s a thing to say. Regardless of what the current trend is, they seek to be included in it.

It’s prohibited in my teaching space, though – it’s a warning if they shout it out – similar to any different calling out is. It’s particularly challenging in maths lessons. But my class at primary level are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly adherent to the guidelines, although I recognize that at high school it could be a separate situation.

I’ve been a teacher for a decade and a half, and these phenomena continue for three or four weeks. This trend will diminish shortly – it invariably occurs, notably once their younger siblings commence repeating it and it ceases to be cool. Subsequently they will be engaged with the following phenomenon.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I first detected it in August, while instructing in English at a language institute. It was primarily boys saying it. I educated ages 12 to 18 and it was common with the younger pupils. I had no idea its meaning at the time, but as a young adult and I recognized it was just a meme comparable to when I was a student.

These trends are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” was a popular meme during the period when I was at my educational institute, but it failed to exist as much in the educational setting. Differing from “six-seven”, ““the skibidi trend” was not scribbled on the board in class, so pupils were less prepared to adopt it.

I simply disregard it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, trying to relate to them and understand that it’s merely contemporary trends. I think they simply desire to enjoy that sensation of community and friendship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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