No red ink to correct students' papers??

Question

I heard somewhere (don't remember where) that teachers should not use red ink to correct papers for fear that it brings the morale of the students down and could actually do psychological damage.

I happen to like using red ink to correct papers...it stands out and points out the errors. If it happens to, god forbid, show that I am in a position of authority, so be it...I am, that's why I'm the teacher.

Thoughts? Opinions?

Answer 1

the reason they don't like teachers to use red is because it causes panic in kids. they see red and think "fail"

i think red is fine to use but not everyone agrees. i have alot of college professors who don't use red because of the whole panic idea but i also have teachers who do use. i don't care either way.

Answer 2

Psh, it doesn't matter.  Use red.  As a student, I like having comments stand out on my papers.

Answer 3

I think the first paragragh was a bunch of baloney. I totally agree with the 2nd paragraph. You're the teacher and you grade the papers. It's your choice.

Answer 4

I think it's fine using red ink if the whole page isn't red. why not try blue or purple

Answer 5

try a different color (blue/purple). it also tends to lessen the parents' anxiety if they see the child's test gone wrong. color counts, and whichever you choose, yes, you still have the power.

Answer 6

I've been teaching for five years and I use red all of the time. I was told as a student teacher that using red makes kids think that we've "killed" the paper and the red represents blood. I soaked all that junk up as a student teacher, but as an experienced teacher, I think that is hogwash.

Plus, red pens are cheaper than friendly pink, green, orange, etc. pens. Since I buy 95% of the supplies used in my class, I buy what's on sale or I would live out of my car (I might have to if gas prices stay the way they are).

Lastly, I think that treating the kids with respect and teaching them standards and stuff of life is what matters.

So, I say "USE RED!"

P.s. For practicality purposes, my kids use pencil or blue/black ink...I say grade in any color besides blue/black ink!!

Answer 7

I think that it's discouraging... but honestly i don't think that it's going to hinder people... but thats just me...

Answer 8

Choose the color & type of marks for grading and be consistent.  Red is the traditional color, and I think that some of us as adults are kind of 'scarred' from seeing red marks on our papers as kids. However, a young child hasn’t had those types of experiences and therefore has no negative connotations.   Some teachers avoid the whole mess by using green or purple.  Lots of corrections can be intimidating in any color, so it's important to focus on what types of marks you are making on the paper, as well. For example, I don't make circle or make big X's over wrong answers, I just draw a small slash through the problem numbers. Use the same color with stamps, so the kids associate the color you choose with positive messages.

Answer 9

I am a student (3rd year of college) and I don't take offense to red ink.  I actually like feedback from my teacher and knowing that they examined my assignment.  You can write positive things in red ink as well :-)

Answer 10

i think its true that kids get scared from the red ink since they no it means trouble and bad news. a lot of my teachers use green ink now and i actually dont mind it as much (im in college)

Answer 11

You should use purple to correct papers.

Answer 12

UGH, I am so SICK of hurting the babies feelings!

I agree with you.  THIS is part of why kids are the way they are nowdays!

Parents and others don't want their kids to suffer, to feel bad, etc. They hand them anything they want.

Even into the KIDS old age because they never want them to hurt. *SHEESH*

I guess they ALSO  don't want  them to grow up, and be responsible adults !!

When they get out in the world, their employers ain't gone give a d**n about their feelings !

This is why people have that 'entitlement' feeling.

Answer 13

I don't like red ink on papers, especially writing assignments. I think that errors shouldn't be the focus of writing, it should be content, and red ink just illuminates what is wrong with the assignment.

From a math standpoint, I can see how red ink is more effective in some ways. I have heard that it can be damaging to see a paper marked up in red ink, but I think that seeing a paper marked up in any color ink can be damaging. Handing back papers covered in error corrections doesn't really teach the students anything.  I think what's really important is the comments you are writing, how much extra help is available, and that you are choosing effective ways to actually teach the subject in the first place.

Answer 14

My teachers have always used red ink for both wrong and correct answers. I think a big fat F or 0 brings down morale more than red ink, tbh.

Answer 15

I am in high school...and I actually don't like when teachers use bright colored inks or w/e to make people feel better.

I like having papers graded in red because I don't like seeing it--therefore encouraging me to do better in the future to see less red. haha

I know its weird but it helps me.

Answer 16

I say use whatever the h**l color you want. Except maybe for yellow. Because that would be hard to read.

Answer 17

Oh, no, now that's just too much!  A friend of mine said you can't tell a student how c**p they are for fear of scarring them for life, so you have to tell everybody they're good even if they're not.

Well, I too think the only purpose of using red rather than any other color is so that the corrections are easier to spot.  It is dismaying to see a lot of red ink, but that just means the students has got to try harder.  Brutal truth?  Yes, but babying them is not good for them.  

I used to correct student lab reports, and some students thinks that the longer their answer is, the better.  I used the red ink to underline the short answer, picked out of the waffle, but of course still gave full marks on it.  Only one student was worried enough to ask about all the red marks, and I told her, and she was fine with it.

Answer 18

I agree with you 100%.  The red is the easiest to read.  What you're writing with the ink is what's important.  You're the teacher; your decision.

Answer 19

I heard the same thing and I think that WE survived with red writing all over the place as kids!  I was also spanked as a child and made it out ok...SO GO FOR IT - USE THE RED PEN!  We really don't need to put our children in this happy little bubble!

Answer 20

I buy Sharpie Fine Point markers.  I use orange, green, purple and pink.  The only bad part is that if the assignment is double sided, they leak.  For those I use a fine point crayola marker of one of those colors!  I know it was always embarassing when I was in school to see red all over my paper.  I also write comments or put smiley faces by something they did very good, so even if there are marks all over everybody's papers, nobody knows why but them!

Answer 21

If we believe everything we read, see or hear WITHOUT proof for ourselves, we would either be fat, sick or dead, so we need to make our best judgment as to what we think is the right plan of action to take.

If you want to use red ink instead of blue, green, pink, purple or some other color, GO FOR IT!  Red ink isn't going to cause cancer, psychological damage (other than a bruised ego from the student's missing the correct answer) or anything else; otherwise, they wouldn't sell pens with any other colored ink except for blue or black, right?

Answer 22

I am also a teacher and have heard the same as you about red.  I grade in red, purple, green or whatever other color I happen to have handy.  The kids don't seem to mind what color, they hate making mistakes anyways.  I get tired of red all the time so when I find a good pen in a different color, I use it.

Answer 23

I just grab whatever pen I have around.  I usually try to avoid black because it blends in to their writing.  These are probably the same people who ban tag at recess. We're going to be wondering what the rest of the world is doing with out us.

Answer 24

The next thing that'll happen is you won't be allowed to correct papers with any color. Being corrected will lower student morale.

Keep using the red, and continue being an authority figure. Best of luck to you.

Answer 25

If that theory is true you don't have to use red... there are lots of other colors to use like green that's what my math teacher uses :)