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Across the UK, learners have been exclaiming the phrase “sixseven” during instruction in the most recent viral trend to take over educational institutions.

Whereas some teachers have chosen to calmly disregard the phenomenon, some have embraced it. Several teachers share how they’re dealing.

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

Back in September, I had been talking to my year 11 tutor group about getting ready for their secondary school examinations in June. I don’t recall exactly what it was in relation to, but I said something like “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the complete classroom burst out laughing. It took me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I had created an allusion to an offensive subject, or that they perceived a quality in my speech pattern that seemed humorous. Slightly exasperated – but truly interested and aware that they weren’t hurtful – I asked them to elaborate. To be honest, the clarification they provided didn’t make much difference – I remained with minimal understanding.

What might have made it particularly humorous was the evaluating motion I had made while speaking. I have since discovered that this often accompanies ““67”: I meant it to help convey the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to eliminate it I try to mention it as frequently as I can. No approach diminishes a trend like this more thoroughly than an teacher attempting to participate.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Knowing about it aids so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating statements like “for example, there existed 6, 7 thousand unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. If the digit pairing is inevitable, possessing a firm student discipline system and standards on student conduct is advantageous, as you can deal with it as you would any additional disturbance, but I haven’t actually needed to implement that. Rules are important, but if pupils accept what the school is implementing, they’ll be less distracted by the online trends (particularly in class periods).

Regarding six-seven, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, except for an occasional eyebrow raise and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. Should you offer attention to it, it transforms into a wildfire. I address it in the same way I would manage any other disruption.

Previously existed the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a few years ago, and certainly there will appear a new phenomenon subsequently. It’s what kids do. During my own growing up, it was doing television personalities mimicry (truthfully outside the classroom).

Children are unforeseeable, and I think it’s the educator’s responsibility to behave in a manner that guides them back to the course that will get them toward their academic objectives, which, hopefully, is coming out with certificates as opposed to a disciplinary record a mile long for the use of meaningless numerals.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Students employ it like a bonding chant in the schoolyard: a student calls it and the remaining students reply to indicate they’re part of the same group. It resembles a verbal exchange or a sports cheer – an common expression they use. I don’t think it has any specific significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a phenomenon to say. No matter what the newest phenomenon is, they seek to be included in it.

It’s prohibited in my classroom, nevertheless – it’s a warning if they shout it out – just like any additional calling out is. It’s notably challenging in maths lessons. But my pupils at primary level are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re fairly adherent to the rules, while I recognize that at teen education it may be a separate situation.

I have served as a educator for a decade and a half, and these crazes last for three or four weeks. This craze will diminish in the near future – this consistently happens, especially once their junior family members begin using it and it’s no longer trendy. Subsequently they will be on to the following phenomenon.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I started noticing it in August, while teaching English at a foreign language school. It was primarily young men saying it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was prevalent within the less experienced learners. I didn’t understand what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I understood it was just a meme comparable to when I attended classes.

The crazes are always shifting. ““Toilet meme” was a popular meme during the period when I was at my training school, but it didn’t really occur as often in the learning environment. Differing from ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the whiteboard in lessons, so pupils were less prepared to embrace it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will smile with the students if I unintentionally utter it, trying to relate to them and appreciate that it is just pop culture. I believe they merely seek to enjoy that sensation of community and friendship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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