‘Sometimes you’ve got to chuckle’: several UK teachers on coping with ‘‘67’ in the school environment
Around the UK, learners have been exclaiming the expression ““six-seven” during lessons in the latest internet-inspired phenomenon to sweep across classrooms.
Whereas some teachers have decided to stoically ignore the phenomenon, some have accepted it. Several teachers share how they’re managing.
‘I thought I had said something rude’
Earlier in September, I had been talking to my year 11 tutor group about studying 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 aiming for grades six, seven …” and the whole class burst out laughing. It caught me completely by surprise.
My first thought was that I might have delivered an reference to something rude, or that they perceived a quality in my speech pattern that seemed humorous. A bit exasperated – but honestly intrigued and conscious that they weren’t hurtful – I asked them to explain. Honestly, the description they then gave didn’t provide greater understanding – I remained with minimal understanding.
What could have made it extra funny was the evaluating movement I had made while speaking. I have since found out that this typically pairs with ““67”: My purpose was it to aid in demonstrating the process of me speaking my mind.
In order to end the trend I try to bring it up as much as I can. No strategy deflates a phenomenon like this more emphatically than an teacher trying to participate.
‘Providing attention fuels the fire’
Understanding it assists so that you can prevent just blundering into remarks like “indeed, there were 6, 7 hundred unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is unavoidable, maintaining a strong student discipline system and standards on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any other interruption, but I rarely been required to take that action. Rules are one thing, but if learners embrace what the educational institution is doing, they’ll be less distracted by the online trends (especially in lesson time).
Regarding sixseven, I haven’t wasted any instructional minutes, except for an periodic raised eyebrow and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. If you give attention to it, it transforms into a blaze. I address it in the identical manner I would manage any different disturbance.
Earlier occurred the 9 + 10 = 21 craze a previous period, and certainly there will appear a new phenomenon following this. This is typical youth activity. During my own growing up, it was imitating comedy characters mimicry (honestly away from the classroom).
Students are unpredictable, and I believe it’s the educator’s responsibility to respond in a way that guides them in the direction of the course that will get them to their educational goals, which, with luck, is coming out with academic achievements rather than a disciplinary record extensive for the employment of random numbers.
‘They want to feel a part of a group’
Students utilize it like a connecting expression in the recreation area: one says it and the others respond to show they are the identical community. It’s similar to a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an shared vocabulary they use. In my view it has any specific significance to them; they simply understand it’s a phenomenon to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they seek to experience belonging to it.
It’s prohibited in my learning environment, however – it results in a caution if they call it out – just like any different verbal interruption is. It’s particularly tricky in mathematics classes. But my pupils at primary level are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re relatively adherent to the regulations, although I recognize that at secondary [school] it may be a distinct scenario.
I have worked as a educator for 15 years, and these crazes last for a few weeks. This craze will fade away in the near future – it invariably occurs, notably once their little brothers and sisters start saying it and it’s no longer trendy. Subsequently they will be on to the next thing.
‘You just have to laugh with them’
I first detected it in August, while instructing in English at a international school. It was primarily young men repeating it. I instructed ages 12 to 18 and it was common within the junior students. I didn’t understand its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I realised it was just a meme akin to when I attended classes.
Such phenomena are always shifting. ““Toilet meme” was a familiar phenomenon during the period when I was at my educational institute, but it failed to occur as often in the classroom. In contrast to ““67”, “skibidi toilet” was not scribbled on the chalkboard in lessons, so pupils were less prepared to adopt it.
I simply disregard it, or periodically I will laugh with them if I accidentally say it, attempting to understand them and understand that it is just youth culture. I think they simply desire to feel that sense of togetherness and friendship.
‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’
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