‘It’s impossible not to smile’: a quintet of UK instructors on coping with ‘six-seven’ in the school environment
Throughout the UK, students have been calling out the words ““67” during instruction in the latest internet-inspired trend to sweep across educational institutions.
Whereas some instructors have decided to calmly disregard the craze, some have embraced it. Several teachers describe how they’re managing.
‘I thought I had said something rude’
During September, I had been addressing my year 11 tutor group about studying for their secondary school examinations in June. I don’t recall precisely what it was in reference to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to results six, seven …” and the whole class burst out laughing. It caught me totally off guard.
My initial reaction was that I had created an allusion to an offensive subject, or that they perceived a quality in my accent that appeared amusing. A bit annoyed – but honestly intrigued and aware that they had no intention of being mean – I asked them to clarify. To be honest, the clarification they provided didn’t provide much difference – I continued to have no idea.
What could have made it extra funny was the considering movement I had made while speaking. I have since discovered that this frequently goes with ““67”: I meant it to help convey the action of me verbalizing thoughts.
To kill it off I try to bring it up as often as I can. No strategy diminishes a craze like this more emphatically than an grown-up attempting to get involved.
‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’
Being aware of it assists so that you can steer clear of just blundering into remarks like “indeed, there were 6, 7 thousand people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the numerical sequence is inevitable, possessing a strong classroom conduct rules and expectations on student conduct really helps, as you can deal with it as you would any different disruption, but I haven’t actually been required to take that action. Policies are necessary, but if students buy into what the school is implementing, they’ll be better concentrated by the online trends (at least in instructional hours).
Concerning six-seven, I haven’t lost any instructional minutes, except for an infrequent eyebrow raise and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. Should you offer oxygen to it, then it becomes a blaze. I treat it in the equivalent fashion I would treat any additional interruption.
Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one phenomenon a few years ago, and there will no doubt be a new phenomenon following this. It’s what kids do. When I was childhood, it was imitating Kevin and Perry impressions (truthfully outside the learning space).
Children are unpredictable, and I believe it’s an adult’s job to behave in a way that guides them in the direction of the direction that will help them to their educational goals, which, hopefully, is graduating with certificates as opposed to a disciplinary record extensive for the employment of meaningless numerals.
‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’
Young learners employ it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: one says it and the others respond to indicate they’re part of the same group. It’s like a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an common expression they share. In my view it has any particular meaning to them; they just know it’s a thing to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they seek to feel part of it.
It’s prohibited in my classroom, however – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – similar to any different shouting out is. It’s notably difficult in numeracy instruction. But my pupils at year 5 are children aged nine to ten, so they’re relatively accepting of the guidelines, whereas I recognize that at teen education it may be a distinct scenario.
I have worked as a educator for 15 years, and these phenomena continue for three or four weeks. This phenomenon will die out shortly – it invariably occurs, notably once their younger siblings start saying it and it stops being trendy. Afterward they shall be on to the next thing.
‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’
I began observing it in August, while teaching English at a international school. It was primarily male students repeating it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was common with the younger pupils. I didn’t understand what it was at the time, but being twenty-four and I recognized it was simply an internet trend similar to when I attended classes.
Such phenomena are continuously evolving. ““Toilet meme” was a familiar phenomenon at the time when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly occur as often in the learning environment. In contrast to ““67”, ““that particular meme” was not scribbled on the whiteboard in class, so students were less able to pick up on it.
I simply disregard it, or periodically I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, striving to understand them and understand that it’s merely pop culture. I believe they merely seek to feel that sense of togetherness and camaraderie.
‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’
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