‘Sometimes you’ve got to chuckle’: several UK instructors on dealing with ‘six-seven’ in the educational setting
Across the UK, learners have been exclaiming the expression ““six-seven” during classes in the newest meme-based phenomenon to spread through schools.
While some instructors have chosen to patiently overlook the phenomenon, others have incorporated it. A group of instructors share how they’re managing.
‘I thought I had said something rude’
Back in September, I had been talking to my year 11 tutor group about studying for their secondary school examinations in June. I can’t remember exactly what it was in reference to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the whole class burst out laughing. It caught me entirely unexpectedly.
My immediate assumption was that I might have delivered an reference to something rude, or that they’d heard an element of my accent that seemed humorous. Somewhat annoyed – but truly interested and aware that they weren’t hurtful – I asked them to explain. Honestly, the explanation they provided didn’t make significant clarification – I still had no idea.
What might have rendered it especially amusing was the considering motion I had executed while speaking. I have since found out that this typically pairs with “six-seven”: I meant it to assist in expressing the process of me speaking my mind.
With the aim of kill it off I try to bring it up as frequently as I can. No strategy diminishes a trend like this more thoroughly than an grown-up striving to join in.
‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’
Understanding it aids so that you can prevent just unintentionally stating comments like “well, there were 6, 7 thousand jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is unavoidable, possessing a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and standards on student conduct proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any other interruption, but I rarely had to do that. Rules are important, but if learners accept what the educational institution is doing, they will become more focused by the internet crazes (at least in class periods).
With six-seven, I haven’t lost any instructional minutes, other than for an occasional raised eyebrow and stating ““correct, those are digits, good job”. When you provide attention to it, it transforms into a wildfire. I address it in the same way I would handle any different disturbance.
Previously existed the mathematical meme craze a previous period, and there will no doubt be another craze after this. This is typical youth activity. When I was growing up, it was performing comedy characters mimicry (admittedly away from the learning space).
Young people are spontaneous, and I believe it’s the educator’s responsibility to respond in a manner that steers them back to the course that will get them to their educational goals, which, fingers crossed, is graduating with certificates as opposed to a conduct report lengthy for the utilization of arbitrary digits.
‘They want to feel a part of a group’
Young learners employ it like a connecting expression in the playground: a student calls it and the others respond to show they are the same group. It’s like a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an common expression they use. In my view it has any distinct importance to them; they merely recognize it’s a thing to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they desire to experience belonging to it.
It’s forbidden in my classroom, nevertheless – it’s a warning if they call it out – similar to any other calling out is. It’s especially tricky in mathematics classes. But my pupils at fifth grade are pre-teens, so they’re relatively accepting of the guidelines, whereas I recognize that at secondary [school] it could be a separate situation.
I’ve been a educator for 15 years, and these crazes continue for a few weeks. This phenomenon will fade away in the near future – it invariably occurs, particularly once their little brothers and sisters begin using it and it ceases to be fashionable. Subsequently they will be engaged with the next thing.
‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’
I first detected it in August, while teaching English at a language institute. It was mostly male students uttering it. I taught ages 12 to 18 and it was prevalent among the junior students. I was unaware its meaning at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was merely a viral phenomenon comparable to when I attended classes.
Such phenomena are always shifting. ““Skibidi” was a familiar phenomenon during the period when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly exist as much in the classroom. Unlike “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was not inscribed on the whiteboard in instruction, so students were less able to adopt it.
I just ignore it, or sometimes I will smile with the students if I accidentally say it, striving to relate to them and understand that it’s merely pop culture. In my opinion they just want to enjoy that sensation of togetherness and camaraderie.
‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’
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