🔗 Share this article ‘It’s impossible not to smile’: a quintet of UK teachers on coping with ‘‘sixseven’ in the school environment Throughout the UK, learners have been calling out the phrase ““67” during instruction in the most recent meme-based craze to sweep across schools. Whereas some educators have opted to patiently overlook the trend, others have accepted it. Five educators explain how they’re dealing. ‘My initial assumption was that I’d uttered something offensive’ Back in September, I had been speaking with my year 11 class about getting ready for their GCSE exams in June. I can’t remember exactly what it was in reference to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to marks six, seven …” and the complete classroom burst out laughing. It caught me totally off guard. My initial reaction was that I might have delivered an allusion to an offensive subject, or that they perceived something in my pronunciation that seemed humorous. A bit frustrated – but genuinely curious and conscious that they weren’t trying to be hurtful – I persuaded them to elaborate. Honestly, the explanation they offered didn’t provide greater understanding – I remained with minimal understanding. What possibly caused it to be particularly humorous was the weighing-up motion I had made while speaking. Subsequently I learned that this typically pairs with ““sixseven”: I meant it to assist in expressing the act of me verbalizing thoughts. With the aim of kill it off I aim to bring it up as much as I can. No strategy deflates a craze like this more effectively than an teacher attempting to participate. ‘Providing attention fuels the fire’ Understanding it helps so that you can prevent just unintentionally stating comments like “indeed, there were 6, 7 million people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the numerical sequence is unpreventable, possessing a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and expectations on student conduct proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any different disruption, but I’ve not really had to do that. Guidelines are important, but if pupils buy into what the learning environment is practicing, they will become better concentrated by the online trends (particularly in class periods). Regarding sixseven, I haven’t wasted any instructional minutes, except for an occasional eyebrow raise and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. Should you offer focus on it, it transforms into a wildfire. I address it in the identical manner I would treat any additional disturbance. Previously existed the 9 + 10 = 21 craze a while back, and there will no doubt be another craze subsequently. This is typical youth activity. Back when I was childhood, it was imitating comedy characters mimicry (honestly out of the school environment). Young people are spontaneous, and I think it’s an adult’s job to respond in a manner that steers them toward the path that will help them to their educational goals, which, with luck, is graduating with qualifications instead of a disciplinary record a mile long for the utilization of random numbers. ‘They want to feel a part of a group’ Students employ it like a bonding chant in the playground: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to show they are the equivalent circle. It’s similar to a interactive chant or a stadium slogan – an common expression they share. In my view it has any distinct meaning to them; they simply understand it’s a trend to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they desire to be included in it. It’s banned in my learning environment, however – it results in a caution if they shout it out – similar to any different verbal interruption is. It’s notably tricky in numeracy instruction. But my students at primary level are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re quite compliant with the regulations, whereas I understand that at high school it could be a separate situation. I have served as a instructor for 15 years, and these crazes persist for three or four weeks. This trend will fade away shortly – it invariably occurs, particularly once their little brothers and sisters start saying it and it’s no longer fashionable. Subsequently they will be on to the subsequent trend. ‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’ I first detected it in August, while educating in English language at a international school. It was primarily young men repeating it. I educated ages 12 to 18 and it was common among the younger pupils. I was unaware its meaning at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was simply an internet trend akin to when I attended classes. Such phenomena are constantly changing. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme at the time when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t really appear as frequently in the classroom. In contrast to ““67”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the board in class, so learners were less able to adopt it. I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will laugh with them if I inadvertently mention it, trying to understand them and recognize that it’s simply youth culture. In my opinion they simply desire to experience that feeling of togetherness and camaraderie. ‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’ I’ve done the {job|profession