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Across the UK, school pupils have been shouting out the words ““six-seven” during lessons in the most recent meme-based phenomenon to sweep across classrooms.

While some instructors have chosen to calmly disregard the phenomenon, others have incorporated it. Several teachers explain how they’re dealing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Back in September, I had been talking to my year 11 class about preparing for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall exactly what it was in relation to, but I said something like “ … if you’re targeting results six, seven …” and the entire group erupted in laughter. It caught me entirely unexpectedly.

My immediate assumption was that I might have delivered an hint at an inappropriate topic, or that they’d heard an element of my speech pattern that seemed humorous. A bit exasperated – but genuinely curious and conscious that they weren’t trying to be mean – I asked them to explain. Honestly, the description they offered didn’t provide greater understanding – I continued to have no idea.

What possibly caused it to be particularly humorous was the considering gesture I had executed while speaking. I have since learned that this typically pairs with ““67”: I had intended it to help convey the action of me speaking my mind.

With the aim of end the trend I attempt to reference it as often as I can. No approach deflates a phenomenon like this more thoroughly than an adult striving to join in.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Being aware of it helps so that you can prevent just accidentally making statements like “well, there were 6, 7 thousand jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. When the digit pairing is unpreventable, maintaining a firm student discipline system and requirements on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any other disturbance, but I’ve not really had to do that. Rules are important, but if students embrace what the school is doing, they will remain more focused by the internet crazes (particularly in instructional hours).

Regarding 67, I haven’t lost any instructional minutes, except for an occasional eyebrow raise and commenting ““correct, those are digits, good job”. If you give focus on it, it evolves into an inferno. I handle it in the identical manner I would treat any different disturbance.

Previously existed the 9 + 10 = 21 trend a previous period, and there will no doubt be a new phenomenon following this. It’s what kids do. When I was youth, it was imitating comedy characters impressions (admittedly out of the school environment).

Students are unpredictable, and I believe it’s an adult’s job to respond in a manner that steers them in the direction of the course that will help them where they need to go, which, fingers crossed, is completing their studies with qualifications instead of a disciplinary record a mile long for the employment of meaningless numerals.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

The children utilize it like a bonding chant in the playground: one says it and the remaining students reply to demonstrate they belong to the same group. It’s like a call-and-response or a football chant – an agreed language they share. In my view it has any particular meaning to them; they merely recognize it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the current trend is, they desire to be included in it.

It’s forbidden in my classroom, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – similar to any additional verbal interruption is. It’s particularly challenging in numeracy instruction. But my students at year 5 are children aged nine to ten, so they’re quite accepting of the regulations, although I understand that at secondary [school] it could be a distinct scenario.

I’ve been a teacher for fifteen years, and these crazes continue for a few weeks. This phenomenon will fade away in the near future – they always do, especially once their little brothers and sisters start saying it and it ceases to be trendy. Subsequently they will be focused on the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while teaching English at a foreign language school. It was primarily boys uttering it. I instructed teenagers and it was widespread among the less experienced learners. I didn’t understand what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I understood it was simply an internet trend akin to when I was at school.

These trends are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a familiar phenomenon back when I was at my training school, but it failed to appear as frequently in the learning environment. Differing from ““sixseven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the chalkboard in class, so students were less able to embrace it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, attempting to relate to them and appreciate that it’s simply contemporary trends. I think they simply desire to feel that sense of belonging and camaraderie.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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