‘Sometimes you’ve got to chuckle’: a quintet of UK teachers on handling ‘‘67’ in the educational setting

Around the UK, learners have been exclaiming the expression “sixseven” during lessons in the latest internet-inspired phenomenon to take over educational institutions.

While some teachers have chosen to stoically ignore the trend, others have embraced it. Five educators explain how they’re dealing.

‘My initial assumption was that I’d uttered something offensive’

During September, I had been talking to my year 11 students about studying for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall exactly what it was in reference to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re targeting results six, seven …” and the complete classroom started chuckling. It surprised me entirely unexpectedly.

My initial reaction was that I might have delivered an hint at an inappropriate topic, or that they detected a quality in my pronunciation that appeared amusing. A bit frustrated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t hurtful – I persuaded them to elaborate. Frankly speaking, the clarification they offered failed to create significant clarification – I continued to have no idea.

What could have made it extra funny was the evaluating motion I had performed during speaking. Subsequently I discovered that this often accompanies ““67”: My purpose was it to help convey the process of me thinking aloud.

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

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it helps so that you can steer clear of just blundering into statements like “indeed, there were 6, 7 thousand people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the number combination is unpreventable, possessing a strong classroom conduct rules and requirements on pupil behavior is advantageous, as you can deal with it as you would any additional interruption, but I’ve not really been required to take that action. Guidelines are one thing, but if pupils accept what the school is implementing, they will remain more focused by the viral phenomena (at least in class periods).

Regarding six-seven, I haven’t lost any lesson time, aside from an infrequent raised eyebrow and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. Should you offer attention to it, then it becomes an inferno. I address it in the equivalent fashion I would manage any other disturbance.

There was the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a few years ago, and there will no doubt be another craze following this. This is typical youth activity. When I was growing up, it was imitating television personalities impressions (truthfully outside the learning space).

Children are unpredictable, and In my opinion it’s the educator’s responsibility to react in a manner that steers them back to the course that will enable them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is completing their studies with certificates as opposed to a conduct report extensive for the utilization of meaningless numerals.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Young learners employ it like a connecting expression in the recreation area: a student calls it and the others respond to show they are the identical community. It’s like a interactive chant or a stadium slogan – an shared vocabulary they possess. In my view it has any particular meaning to them; they merely recognize it’s a thing to say. No matter what the newest phenomenon is, they seek to be included in it.

It’s prohibited in my teaching space, nevertheless – it results in a caution if they exclaim it – identical to any different calling out is. It’s notably tricky in numeracy instruction. But my pupils at year 5 are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re fairly compliant with the guidelines, while I appreciate that at teen education it may be a distinct scenario.

I have worked as a educator for fifteen years, and these phenomena last for a few weeks. This phenomenon will diminish soon – it invariably occurs, notably once their younger siblings begin using it and it stops being fashionable. Then they’ll be engaged with the subsequent trend.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I first detected it in August, while teaching English at a language institute. It was primarily young men saying it. I taught students from twelve to eighteen and it was widespread among the younger pupils. I had no idea its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I realised it was just a meme similar to when I was a student.

Such phenomena are constantly changing. “Skibidi toilet” was a well-known trend at the time when I was at my training school, but it failed to occur as often in the learning environment. Unlike ““sixseven”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the chalkboard in class, so pupils were less equipped to adopt it.

I just ignore it, or sometimes I will smile with the students if I unintentionally utter it, striving to understand them and recognize that it’s simply pop culture. I think they simply desire to feel that sense of community and companionship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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Sean Moyer
Sean Moyer

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about exploring how innovation shapes our daily lives and future possibilities.

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