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Around the UK, school pupils have been calling out the words ““six-seven” during lessons in the most recent internet-inspired phenomenon to spread through educational institutions.

While some teachers have opted to calmly disregard the phenomenon, some have accepted it. A group of instructors describe how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my secondary school tutor group about preparing for their GCSE exams in June. I can’t remember specifically what it was in relation to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re aiming for marks six, seven …” and the whole class started chuckling. It took me completely by surprise.

My first thought was that I might have delivered an allusion to an inappropriate topic, or that they perceived a quality in my speech pattern that sounded funny. Slightly exasperated – but genuinely curious and conscious that they had no intention of being mean – I persuaded them to elaborate. Frankly speaking, the description they then gave didn’t provide significant clarification – I remained with no idea.

What might have caused it to be particularly humorous was the evaluating movement I had executed while speaking. I have since learned that this often accompanies ““67”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the process of me verbalizing thoughts.

With the aim of end the trend I attempt to mention it as much as I can. No approach deflates a trend like this more effectively than an grown-up attempting to join in.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it assists so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating comments like “well, there were 6, 7 hundred people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the numerical sequence is unpreventable, maintaining a strong student discipline system and requirements on learner demeanor really helps, as you can sanction it as you would any other disruption, but I haven’t actually needed to implement that. Guidelines are one thing, but if students embrace what the educational institution is implementing, they will remain less distracted by the internet crazes (particularly in lesson time).

Regarding 67, I haven’t lost any teaching periods, except for an periodic quizzical look and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. Should you offer attention to it, it transforms into a blaze. I handle it in the same way I would manage any different disturbance.

Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a previous period, and undoubtedly there will emerge a new phenomenon after this. This is typical youth activity. Back when I was childhood, it was imitating Kevin and Perry mimicry (truthfully away from the classroom).

Children are unpredictable, and I think it’s an adult’s job to respond in a manner that steers them in the direction of the path that will get them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is coming out with academic achievements instead of a behaviour list extensive for the utilization of arbitrary digits.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Students employ it like a connecting expression in the schoolyard: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to demonstrate they belong to the equivalent circle. It’s similar to a verbal exchange or a football chant – an shared vocabulary they possess. In my view it has any distinct meaning to them; they just know it’s a thing to say. Regardless of what the current trend is, they desire to experience belonging to it.

It’s prohibited in my teaching space, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – similar to any other shouting out is. It’s notably challenging in mathematics classes. But my class at fifth grade are pre-teens, so they’re relatively adherent to the regulations, while I understand that at secondary [school] it may be a distinct scenario.

I have worked as a teacher for 15 years, and such trends persist for three or four weeks. This craze will die out soon – this consistently happens, notably once their younger siblings begin using it and it stops being trendy. Subsequently they will be focused on the next thing.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a foreign language school. It was mostly boys saying it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was widespread with the junior students. I had no idea what it was at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was simply an internet trend comparable to when I was at school.

Such phenomena are constantly changing. “Skibidi toilet” was a familiar phenomenon at the time when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t really appear as frequently in the learning environment. In contrast to “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the chalkboard in instruction, so pupils were less prepared to embrace it.

I just ignore it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, striving to empathise with them and understand that it’s simply pop culture. In my opinion they just want to experience that feeling of belonging and friendship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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