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Around the UK, learners have been shouting out the words “sixseven” during instruction in the newest meme-based craze to spread through schools.

While some educators have decided to stoically ignore the phenomenon, some have accepted it. Five educators share how they’re managing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Back in September, I had been addressing my year 11 tutor group about getting ready for their secondary school examinations in June. I can’t remember precisely what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re aiming for marks six, seven …” and the whole class erupted in laughter. It caught me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I might have delivered an reference to an offensive subject, or that they perceived a quality in my accent that appeared amusing. Somewhat frustrated – but truly interested and conscious that they had no intention of being mean – I persuaded them to clarify. To be honest, the explanation they then gave didn’t make greater understanding – I still had minimal understanding.

What might have made it particularly humorous was the evaluating motion I had performed during speaking. I later discovered that this typically pairs with “six-seven”: I meant it to assist in expressing the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to end the trend I try to reference it as much as I can. No strategy reduces a phenomenon like this more emphatically than an grown-up trying to get involved.

‘If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno’

Understanding it aids so that you can avoid just accidentally making comments like “indeed, there were 6, 7 thousand unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. If the number combination is unavoidable, having a strong student discipline system and standards on pupil behavior is advantageous, as you can address it as you would any other disturbance, but I’ve not really needed to implement that. Policies are necessary, but if learners embrace what the school is implementing, they’ll be more focused by the internet crazes (particularly in lesson time).

With six-seven, I haven’t wasted any teaching periods, aside from an occasional quizzical look and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. When you provide focus on it, it evolves into a blaze. I address it in the same way I would manage any additional interruption.

There was the mathematical meme phenomenon a few years ago, and there will no doubt be a new phenomenon after this. This is typical youth activity. During my own childhood, it was performing comedy characters impersonations (truthfully out of the learning space).

Young people are spontaneous, and I believe it falls to the teacher to respond in a manner that redirects them back to the direction that will help them where they need to go, which, hopefully, is coming out with academic achievements instead of a behaviour list a mile long for the use of meaningless numerals.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children employ it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: one says it and the others respond to demonstrate they belong to the equivalent circle. It’s like a verbal exchange or a sports cheer – an shared vocabulary they possess. In my view it has any distinct importance to them; they simply understand it’s a thing to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they want to be included in it.

It’s forbidden in my classroom, though – it results in a caution if they shout it out – identical to any other verbal interruption is. It’s especially tricky in numeracy instruction. But my pupils at year 5 are pre-teens, so they’re quite adherent to the regulations, although I understand that at secondary [school] it could be a different matter.

I’ve been a instructor for fifteen years, and such trends persist for a month or so. This craze will fade away shortly – they always do, especially once their little brothers and sisters begin using it and it stops being cool. Subsequently they will be focused on the next thing.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while educating in English language at a foreign language school. It was mostly young men saying it. I instructed ages 12 to 18 and it was common within the junior students. I didn’t understand its meaning at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I recognized it was simply an internet trend comparable to when I attended classes.

These trends are continuously evolving. “Skibidi toilet” was a popular meme during the period when I was at my educational institute, but it failed to exist as much in the educational setting. In contrast to ““sixseven”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the chalkboard in class, so students were less able to pick up on it.

I simply disregard it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, trying to understand them and appreciate that it’s simply youth culture. I think they just want to feel that sense of togetherness and companionship.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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