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Across the UK, students have been exclaiming the words “sixseven” during lessons in the most recent meme-based trend to spread through educational institutions.

While some instructors have chosen to patiently overlook the craze, some have accepted it. Five instructors explain how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Back in September, I had been speaking with my year 11 students about preparing for their secondary school examinations in June. It escapes me precisely what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re aiming for results six, seven …” and the whole class burst out laughing. It caught me totally off guard.

My immediate assumption was that I’d made an hint at something rude, or that they perceived a quality in my pronunciation that sounded funny. Somewhat frustrated – but truly interested and aware that they weren’t malicious – I persuaded them to clarify. Honestly, the explanation they then gave didn’t make much difference – I remained with minimal understanding.

What could have rendered it especially amusing was the weighing-up motion I had made while speaking. I later found out that this frequently goes with ““67”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the process of me speaking my mind.

With the aim of eliminate it I try to mention it as much as I can. No approach deflates a craze like this more effectively than an adult trying to get involved.

‘If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno’

Knowing about it assists so that you can steer clear of just accidentally making remarks like “for example, there existed 6, 7 thousand unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. If the digit pairing is unavoidable, maintaining a strong school behaviour policy and standards on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any other disruption, but I haven’t actually needed to implement that. Guidelines are important, but if learners accept what the educational institution is doing, they will become better concentrated by the internet crazes (particularly in lesson time).

With six-seven, I haven’t sacrificed any lesson time, other than for an periodic quizzical look and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. Should you offer attention to it, then it becomes an inferno. I address it in the same way I would treat any different disruption.

There was the mathematical meme phenomenon a few years ago, and undoubtedly there will emerge a different trend subsequently. It’s what kids do. Back when I was childhood, it was imitating television personalities impersonations (honestly outside the school environment).

Young people are spontaneous, and In my opinion it falls to the teacher to respond in a way that steers them in the direction of the course that will help them toward their academic objectives, which, hopefully, is graduating with qualifications rather than a behaviour list lengthy for the employment of random numbers.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children use it like a bonding chant in the recreation area: a student calls it and the others respond to show they are the same group. It’s like a interactive chant or a football chant – an shared vocabulary they possess. In my view it has any specific importance to them; they just know it’s a thing to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they want to be included in it.

It’s forbidden in my teaching space, however – it results in a caution if they call it out – just like any additional verbal interruption is. It’s especially difficult in maths lessons. But my pupils at primary level are children aged nine to ten, so they’re relatively adherent to the regulations, although I appreciate that at teen education it could be a separate situation.

I have served as a instructor for 15 years, and these phenomena last for a month or so. This trend will die out shortly – they always do, particularly once their junior family members start saying it and it stops being fashionable. Subsequently they will be engaged with the next thing.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I started noticing it in August, while educating in English language at a language institute. It was primarily boys repeating it. I educated teenagers and it was common among the younger pupils. I was unaware what it was at the time, but being twenty-four and I realised it was simply an internet trend akin to when I was at school.

The crazes are always shifting. ““Toilet meme” was a well-known trend at the time when I was at my training school, but it didn’t really occur as often in the classroom. In contrast to “six-seven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the chalkboard in class, so pupils were less equipped to adopt it.

I simply disregard it, or periodically I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, striving to understand them and understand that it is just youth culture. I believe they merely seek to feel that sense of belonging and friendship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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