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Across the UK, students have been shouting out the expression “sixseven” during classes in the most recent viral craze to sweep across schools.

Although some teachers have chosen to stoically ignore the craze, others have incorporated it. A group of educators explain how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my secondary school tutor group about preparing for their secondary school examinations in June. It escapes me precisely what it was in relation to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to marks six, seven …” and the whole class burst out laughing. It caught me totally off guard.

My first thought was that I had created an allusion to something rude, or that they detected something in my accent that sounded funny. Slightly annoyed – but truly interested and aware that they had no intention of being malicious – I persuaded them to elaborate. Honestly, the explanation they provided didn’t provide greater understanding – I still had minimal understanding.

What might have caused it to be particularly humorous was the weighing-up motion I had executed while speaking. I have since found out that this typically pairs with ““67”: My purpose was it to help convey the process of me speaking my mind.

To end the trend I attempt to mention it as much as I can. No approach diminishes a craze like this more emphatically than an teacher trying to get involved.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Knowing about it assists so that you can avoid just accidentally making remarks like “indeed, there were 6, 7 thousand unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. When the numerical sequence is inevitable, possessing a firm classroom conduct rules and standards on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can deal with it as you would any additional disruption, but I rarely been required to take that action. Rules are necessary, but if students accept what the learning environment is doing, they will remain better concentrated by the viral phenomena (particularly in class periods).

Concerning sixseven, I haven’t sacrificed any instructional minutes, aside from an infrequent eyebrow raise and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. If you give oxygen to it, it transforms into a wildfire. I handle it in the same way I would handle any additional disturbance.

There was the nine plus ten equals twenty-one phenomenon a previous period, and there will no doubt be another craze subsequently. This is typical youth activity. During my own youth, it was performing Kevin and Perry impressions (truthfully outside the classroom).

Children are unpredictable, and In my opinion it’s the educator’s responsibility to behave in a manner that steers them back to the course that will enable them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is coming out with certificates rather than a conduct report a mile long for the use of arbitrary digits.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

The children employ it like a bonding chant in the recreation area: a student calls it and the remaining students reply to demonstrate they belong to the equivalent circle. It’s similar to a interactive chant or a football chant – an common expression they possess. In my view it has any particular significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a phenomenon to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they seek to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my teaching space, however – it’s a warning if they call it out – similar to any other shouting out is. It’s especially tricky in numeracy instruction. But my class at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly compliant with the guidelines, whereas I recognize that at secondary [school] it might be a separate situation.

I’ve been a teacher for fifteen years, and such trends persist for a month or so. This phenomenon will diminish shortly – this consistently happens, particularly once their younger siblings start saying it and it stops being fashionable. Then they’ll be focused on the following phenomenon.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a foreign language school. It was mainly young men uttering it. I educated ages 12 to 18 and it was common with the junior students. I had no idea its meaning at the time, but as a young adult and I recognized it was merely a viral phenomenon akin to when I was a student.

Such phenomena are constantly changing. ““Toilet meme” was a familiar phenomenon during the period when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t really occur as often in the learning environment. Differing from ““67”, ““that particular meme” was not scribbled on the chalkboard in class, so pupils were less prepared to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will laugh with them if I unintentionally utter it, trying to empathise with them and appreciate that it’s simply contemporary trends. I believe they merely seek to feel that sense of togetherness and friendship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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