You just have to laugh': five teachers on dealing with six-seven' in the classroom

"I can't remember exactly what it was in reference to, but I said something like if you're working to grades six, seven and the whole class burst out laughing. It took me completely by surprise. My first thought was that I'd made an allusion to something rude, or that they'd heard something in my accent that sounded funny. A bit exasperated but genuinely curious and aware that they weren't intending to be mean I got them to explain."

"What might have made it extra funny was the weighing-up gesture I had made while speaking. I have since found out that this often accompanies six-seven: I had intended it to help convey the act of me thinking aloud. In order to kill it off I try to mention it as much as I can. Nothing deflates a craze like this more emphatically than an adult trying to join in. James, secondary school teacher, north London"

"'If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno' Being aware of it helps so that you can avoid just blundering into statements like well, there were 6, 7 million unemployed people in Germany in 1933. If the number combination is unavoidable, having a rock-solid school behaviour policy and expectations on student conduct really helps, as you can sanction it as you would any other disruption, but I've not really had to do that."

A meme in which pupils shout 'six-seven' has spread across UK classrooms, causing laughter and occasional disruption during lessons. Some teachers ignore the craze while others actively discourage it by drawing attention to it or using behaviour policies. One teacher explains that mimicking the gesture students find funny can deflate the trend, while another emphasizes awareness to avoid accidental triggers and the value of clear conduct expectations and sanctions. Teachers report minimal lost lesson time, relying on student buy-in to school rules to reduce distraction. Strategies include mentioning the craze deliberately, enforcing behaviour policies, and avoiding statements that echo the number combination.

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