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Across the UK, school pupils have been calling out the expression “sixseven” during lessons in the most recent internet-inspired craze to take over educational institutions.

Whereas some educators have opted to stoically ignore the trend, some have accepted it. A group of instructors describe how they’re coping.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

During September, I had been speaking with my secondary school students about preparing for their secondary school examinations in June. I can’t remember precisely what it was in reference to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re aiming for marks six, seven …” and the whole class burst out laughing. It took me totally off guard.

My initial reaction was that I might have delivered an reference to an offensive subject, or that they perceived a quality in my accent that seemed humorous. Slightly annoyed – but honestly intrigued and conscious that they had no intention of being malicious – I persuaded them to explain. Honestly, the description they then gave failed to create much difference – I still had no idea.

What could have rendered it extra funny was the weighing-up gesture I had made while speaking. I have since learned that this often accompanies ““sixseven”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

To eliminate it I attempt to mention it as much as I can. No approach deflates a phenomenon like this more thoroughly than an grown-up attempting to join in.

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

Knowing about it aids so that you can prevent just blundering into remarks like “well, there were 6, 7 thousand people without work in Germany in 1933”. When the numerical sequence is unpreventable, possessing a firm classroom conduct rules and requirements on learner demeanor is advantageous, as you can sanction it as you would any other disruption, but I rarely needed to implement that. Policies are one thing, but if pupils accept what the learning environment is doing, they will become more focused by the online trends (at least in class periods).

Concerning 67, I haven’t wasted any instructional minutes, except for an occasional raised eyebrow and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. When you provide focus on it, it evolves into a blaze. I address it in the same way I would manage any other disturbance.

Previously existed the mathematical meme phenomenon a few years ago, and certainly there will appear a new phenomenon after this. That’s children’s behavior. When I was growing up, it was performing television personalities impersonations (admittedly outside the learning space).

Children are unforeseeable, and I think it’s an adult’s job to respond in a way that redirects them in the direction of the path that will get them to their educational goals, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with qualifications instead of a disciplinary record extensive for the employment of arbitrary digits.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Young learners use it like a unifying phrase in the playground: one says it and the other children answer to show they are the identical community. It resembles a interactive chant or a football chant – an common expression they share. I believe it has any particular significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a thing to say. Whatever the newest phenomenon is, they seek to feel part of it.

It’s forbidden in my learning environment, nevertheless – it’s a warning if they shout it out – just like any other shouting out is. It’s particularly tricky in mathematics classes. But my students at year 5 are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly adherent to the guidelines, although I appreciate that at secondary [school] it may be a distinct scenario.

I have worked as a teacher for fifteen years, and these crazes continue for a few weeks. This craze will diminish soon – it invariably occurs, particularly once their little brothers and sisters commence repeating it and it stops being fashionable. Subsequently they will be focused on the subsequent trend.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I started noticing it in August, while teaching English at a international school. It was mostly boys uttering it. I taught students from twelve to eighteen and it was prevalent among the younger pupils. I was unaware its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I recognized it was simply an internet trend similar to when I attended classes.

The crazes are always shifting. ““Skibidi” was a well-known trend back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it failed to occur as often in the learning environment. In contrast to ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the chalkboard in lessons, so pupils were less able to adopt it.

I simply disregard it, or periodically I will chuckle alongside them if I unintentionally utter it, trying to relate to them and understand that it’s simply contemporary trends. I believe they simply desire to enjoy that sensation of togetherness and companionship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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