Red Pens

It is considered "best practice" by most teachers not to mark in red pen (although other colors are acceptable). Today one of my students was writing a journal entry in pen that he found in my caddy, and I told him I didn't use it. He asked why and unable to explain the psychology behind people being scarred about markings with red pens, I just said I didn't like them. His reply?

"Do go you to church? Because in the Bible God's words are in red and those are important. "

A nine year old might have just turned my philosophy about marking pens on it's head.