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Around the UK, school pupils have been calling out the expression “sixseven” during lessons in the latest viral craze to sweep across classrooms.

While some instructors have chosen to calmly disregard the phenomenon, some have incorporated it. A group of educators share how they’re coping.

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

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my secondary school students about preparing for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall precisely what it was in relation to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re aiming for results six, seven …” and the complete classroom erupted in laughter. It surprised me totally off guard.

My initial reaction was that I had created an hint at something rude, or that they detected a quality in my accent that sounded funny. Slightly exasperated – but honestly intrigued and conscious that they had no intention of being malicious – I asked them to explain. To be honest, the description they provided failed to create greater understanding – I still had minimal understanding.

What might have caused it to be particularly humorous was the weighing-up motion I had performed during speaking. I have since learned that this often accompanies ““sixseven”: I meant it to assist in expressing the process of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to end the trend I try to bring it up as frequently as I can. No approach diminishes a phenomenon like this more effectively than an adult attempting to participate.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Knowing about it assists so that you can prevent just accidentally making remarks like “well, there were 6, 7 hundred people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the number combination is unavoidable, having a strong school behaviour policy and expectations on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can address it as you would any additional disturbance, but I haven’t actually needed to implement that. Guidelines are one thing, but if students buy into what the school is implementing, they’ll be better concentrated by the internet crazes (especially in lesson time).

Regarding 67, I haven’t sacrificed any lesson time, aside from an infrequent quizzical look and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. When you provide attention to it, then it becomes a blaze. I treat it in the equivalent fashion I would handle any additional disruption.

There was the mathematical meme craze a while back, and certainly there will appear another craze subsequently. This is typical youth activity. During my own childhood, it was imitating Kevin and Perry impressions (admittedly out of the school environment).

Young people are unpredictable, and I believe it falls to the teacher to behave in a way that redirects them in the direction of the course that will get them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is coming out with certificates as opposed to a disciplinary record extensive for the employment of random numbers.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Students use it like a connecting expression in the recreation area: one says it and the remaining students reply to show they are the same group. It’s similar to a interactive chant or a sports cheer – an common expression they possess. I believe it has any distinct significance to them; they just know it’s a phenomenon to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they seek to be included in it.

It’s forbidden in my learning environment, though – it’s a warning if they call it out – just like any different verbal interruption is. It’s especially challenging in mathematics classes. But my pupils at year 5 are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re fairly compliant with the regulations, although I appreciate that at high school it may be a distinct scenario.

I’ve been a educator for 15 years, and these phenomena persist for a few weeks. This craze will fade away in the near future – it invariably occurs, notably once their little brothers and sisters begin using it and it’s no longer cool. Then they’ll be on to the next thing.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I started noticing it in August, while instructing in English at a international school. It was mostly male students saying it. I educated teenagers and it was widespread among the junior students. I didn’t understand its meaning at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was just a meme similar to when I was a student.

These trends are constantly changing. “Skibidi toilet” was a familiar phenomenon during the period when I was at my training school, but it failed to appear as frequently in the educational setting. Differing from ““67”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the whiteboard in class, so learners were less able to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or periodically I will laugh with them if I inadvertently mention it, attempting to understand them and appreciate that it’s merely pop culture. I believe they just want to enjoy that sensation of belonging and friendship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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