‘You just have to laugh’: five UK educators on coping with ‘six-seven’ in the educational setting
Around the UK, students have been exclaiming the expression ““six-seven” during instruction in the most recent viral trend to take over classrooms.
Although some teachers have opted to patiently overlook the craze, different educators have incorporated it. A group of instructors share how they’re coping.
‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’
Earlier in September, I had been talking to my secondary school class about getting ready for their secondary school examinations in June. I can’t remember precisely what it was in connection with, but I said something like “ … if you’re working to results six, seven …” and the whole class erupted in laughter. It surprised me entirely unexpectedly.
My immediate assumption was that I’d made an hint at an offensive subject, or that they’d heard something in my speech pattern that seemed humorous. A bit frustrated – but truly interested and conscious that they weren’t trying to be hurtful – I got them to clarify. To be honest, the clarification they provided didn’t provide greater understanding – I continued to have no idea.
What could have caused it to be extra funny was the considering gesture I had performed during speaking. I have since learned that this often accompanies ““sixseven”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the action of me speaking my mind.
With the aim of end the trend I attempt to mention it as much as I can. Nothing diminishes a trend like this more thoroughly than an grown-up trying to get involved.
‘If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno’
Understanding it helps so that you can steer clear of just unintentionally stating statements like “for example, there existed 6, 7 thousand people without work in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is inevitable, maintaining a firm student discipline system and requirements on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any other disruption, but I rarely been required to take that action. Policies are necessary, but if pupils buy into what the educational institution is implementing, they will remain more focused by the viral phenomena (especially in instructional hours).
Regarding sixseven, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, other than for an infrequent raised eyebrow and stating “yes, that’s a number, well done”. Should you offer focus on it, then it becomes a wildfire. I address it in the identical manner I would treat any additional disruption.
Previously existed the nine plus ten equals twenty-one phenomenon a few years ago, and certainly there will appear another craze after this. That’s children’s behavior. During my own growing up, it was doing Kevin and Perry impressions (admittedly outside the learning space).
Young people are unforeseeable, and I think it’s the educator’s responsibility to behave in a way that redirects them back to the course that will get them toward their academic objectives, which, fingers crossed, is graduating with academic achievements rather than a disciplinary record lengthy for the employment of random numbers.
‘Students desire belonging to a community’
Young learners use it like a connecting expression in the playground: a student calls it and the remaining students reply to show they are the equivalent circle. It resembles a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an agreed language they share. I believe it has any distinct significance to them; they simply understand it’s a thing to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they want to feel part of it.
It’s banned in my classroom, nevertheless – it’s a warning if they exclaim it – similar to any different verbal interruption is. It’s notably difficult in numeracy instruction. But my pupils at primary level are children aged nine to ten, so they’re quite compliant with the guidelines, while I appreciate that at high school it might be a different matter.
I have served as a educator for a decade and a half, and these crazes continue for a few weeks. This phenomenon will fade away shortly – it invariably occurs, notably once their younger siblings start saying it and it stops being fashionable. Then they’ll be engaged with the next thing.
‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’
I started noticing it in August, while educating in English language at a foreign language school. It was primarily male students saying it. I educated teenagers and it was common with the junior students. I had no idea what it was at the time, but being twenty-four and I recognized it was simply an internet trend comparable to when I attended classes.
The crazes are constantly changing. “Skibidi toilet” was a popular meme back when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t particularly exist as much in the classroom. Unlike ““67”, ““that particular meme” was not inscribed on the whiteboard in instruction, so pupils were less equipped to adopt it.
I just ignore it, or sometimes I will laugh with them if I accidentally say it, striving to understand them and appreciate that it’s simply youth culture. I think they just want to enjoy that sensation of belonging and camaraderie.
‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’
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