What excites the red pen for me? It is the symbol of guidance, motivation and concern. Sure, it’s not an ideal situation for an assignment, but as opposed to a source of complaint, I regard this as an occasion to connect with my students. Every article I write does not just highlight what’s gone wrong; it opens a door to a child finding out just how incredible they really are.
I pay attention to how I can best use my red pen to underscore strengths, and I use my red pen to illuminate the positive as well as the negative. A simple “Great job!” or “Keep it up, you’re almost there!” can absolutely make a student’s day and give them a push in confidence.” Though I try to make positive comments so the child feels uplifted, not downtrodden when I gently put them right, i.e. correct their spellings, handwriting, their sentences, etc.
So, my red pen goes from a symbol of defeat to a connection between mistakes with learning and effort with success.
Authored Article by: Mariya Sultana, EY Facilitator,
Advita International School, Karimnagar
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