Today my students and I were "clearing our plates" and talking about some things that were bothering us. "Things teachers do that bother me..." has been a topic every once in a while. Well, today, my kids and I were talking about the dreaded red pen. They pointed out that I never use a red pen to grade their work and they asked me why.
Why? Where do I start?
- I told them that I hated getting school work returned to me (especially math) that looked like a murder scene with red ink.... everywhere.
- I told them for some weird reason it made me feel "less than" as a student.
- I told them how even though a teacher returned papers in class without being able to see the grade someone got, you always knew it wasn't good because "back in the day" when "I was a kid" any writing on the papers was not "feedback" like it is now.
Yes, I've been teaching for 13 years and I don't even own a red pen. I don't think I'm "better" than teachers who do use the red pen. I'm just saying that for some reason, I can't bring myself to do it. I'll grade in any other color. Pink is pushing it.
This is just MY ISSUE/QUIRK... but apparently, it's been discussed before!
Come on, we all have them! What's your teacher issue/quirk?
