How to Handle Students Who Make Disruptive Noises and Say “6-7” in Class (Without Going Crazy)
- Erin Sponaugle
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
If you’ve been in a school building for longer than 30 seconds, you’ve heard it.
“6-7.”“Siiiigma.”“Oop.”Random noises. Repeated endlessly.
Welcome to the soundtrack of modern classrooms—where teaching competes with TikTok brain rot and teachers are already overstimulated before the first bell rings. No matter what grade or subject you teach, student disruptive noises will take the focus off the learning faster than a single snowflake falling outside your classroom window.
Let’s talk about why this happens, why it’s not harmless, and what you can do about it—without yelling, shaming, or losing your joy for teaching.
Want to listen to this message instead of read? You can hear the audio version in my podcast or click the Mp3 below.
Why Repetitive Sounds in the Classroom Feel So Overwhelming
As a teacher, you are already managing any of the following on a minute-by-minute basis:
Constant decision-making
Emotional labor
Noise
Behavior
Curriculum pressure
So when a meaningless phrase gets repeated over and over, it’s not “just kids being kids.” It’s one more straw on a very overloaded camel (who probably hasn't had a bathroom break since morning hall duty).
These kinds of classroom noises are enough to make any saint of a teacher feel like he or she is about to break their halo and grow horns, because these disruptions:
Break focus
Disrupt learning
Increase teacher overstimulation
Contribute directly to burnout
And no, you’re not dramatic for feeling that way. With all that you are expected to do, having to compete with kids calling out numbers like bullfrogs while you're trying to teach long division can and will drive you nuts.
Why Are Students Saying “6-7” and Other Random Disruptive Noises?
1. Social Media Is the Source (Surprise!)
These phrases don’t appear out of thin air. They come from:
TikTok
Reels
YouTube Shorts
Kids hear it repeated online → their brains latch onto it → they repeat it in real life.
Input in. Output out. Even if kids shouldn't be on these sites, we can't control what they do outside school hours.
2. It’s Social Currency
Repetitive phrases:
Get laughs
Get attention
Get reactions
Positive (friends laughing) and negative (teachers groaning) responses both give students a dopamine hit. Yes, sometimes the irritation is part of the appeal.
3. Familiar Sounds are Comforting (Even If It’s Maddening!)
Repetition can feel soothing to kids because it’s predictable and familiar, especially (or maybe ironically) when trying to concentrate and complete assignments. Important note: This is not about students stimming or meeting sensory needs. That’s a different conversation entirely.
This is about controllable, learned behavior that has become disruptive.
Why “Just Ignore It” Doesn’t Work
Ignoring it might feel easier in the moment, and there are definitely classroom behaviors that don't warrant stopping class to address. But here’s the issue with things like "6-7":
It disrupts learning
It distracts other students
It erodes classroom culture (especially that of establishing respect for others' needs in the learning environment)
It communicates that boundaries don’t matter when it comes to rules and expectations.
And when a student continues after being asked to stop? That’s not quirky—that’s straight up disrespectful and should not be tolerated. I said what I said. Learning how to stop when asked is a life skill.
The Big Rule: If You Want a Behavior, You Have to Teach It
Students aren’t mind readers.
If you don’t want repetitive noises in your room, you must:
Clearly state expectations
Explain when it’s okay and when it’s not
Enforce it calmly and consistently
Example:
“That might be fine at recess, but it’s not okay during learning time—especially in the school building.”
Simple, direct, and firm, no need to even raise your voice. But you do need to let your students know what you expect and what needs to stop.
Practical Strategies to Stop Repetitive Classroom Noises
1. Redirect Without Emotion
Instead of engaging with the phrase, redirect the behavior:
“We’re working silently right now.”
“This is discussion time—talk about the task.”
“That sound isn’t part of what we’re doing.”
No lectures. No sarcasm. No power struggle. Save your emotional energy for teaching rather than dealing with nonsensical noise.
2. Reteach Transitions (Yes, Even When It’s Annoying)
Hallways and downtime are prime time for nonsense. If students can’t correct their behavior themselves:
Practice walking quietly
Re-teach expectations
Reset without anger
You’re not punishing them, even if that's how it feels when you're running late for recess. What you're doing instead is teaching and reinforcing how to behave in your classroom, and that's essential to make it until the end of your school year with your sanity intact.
3. Build Stamina for Quiet
Many students are uncomfortable with silence thanks to constant stimulation.
Teach regulation skills like:
Box breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4)
Background music or white noise
Focused work intervals
Quiet is a skill, and skills must be practiced. In a super-noisy world of social media and television, learning to cultivate quiet stamina is seriously underrated.
4. Give Students Ownership
One of the most effective phrases you can use:
“I’m giving you a chance to fix this. Can you do that?”
It doesn't mean they won't do it again, or that they will be able to fix it without intervention. But it is an opportunity for them to self-regulate, which, with practice, can create quiet stamina. This also fosters responsibility rather than escalation.
5. Set the Boundary: “Not in My Classroom.”
Your classroom is your space. Sure, it's your students' space too, but it's a space you create for them to learn and for you to teach. Just like someone else’s house, students follow the rules of the space they’re in, even if they don’t love them. Clear expectations so that others can have the learning environment they deserve isn't intolerance on your part.
Why This Matters More Than Just “Annoying Sounds”
Unchecked classroom noise:
Pulls attention from learning
Overstimulates teachers and students
Creates chaos instead of structure
And teachers are already carrying too much weight, meeting the needs of their students and all the expectations put upon them to "prove" they are doing their job (side note: you have nothing to prove, friend. You are doing more than enough). Protecting your classroom environment is protecting your mental health.
This Is Bigger Than “6-7”
This trend will fade, and another will take its place.
How you respond now becomes the blueprint for the next distraction and the next..
Boundaries today lead to peace tomorrow, even when it's the latest craze on social media.
A Quick Note on Protecting Teacher Well-Being
If managing overstimulation, boundaries, and burnout feels like a constant battle, this is exactly what I address in my book:
It’s about protecting your energy without guilt—and staying in teaching without losing yourself.
Looking for a way to save yourself from burnout without leaving the classroom? I've created a free guide with reflection questions, graphic organizers, and a quiz to help you get started on your journey. Download your free Teachaholic Action Guide to get started on your journey below!