Bad grades Quote by Susane Colasanti
“When I’m a teacher, I won’t be using red pens to grade papers. Red pens will forever be associated with criticism and bad grades in my mind. I don’t want this person to get their short story back with harsh red pen marks all over it. Purple is much friendlier.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Author interview, 2015, discussing teaching philosophy
The speaker prefers not to use red pens for grading because red is linked to criticism, opting for a friendlier color to reduce negative emotional impact on students.
In simple terms: Red pens feel critical; choose softer colors to be kinder.
Key Takeaway
Use gentle feedback methods.
Themes
education
feedback
empathy
psychology
Mood
consider
reflective
Type
advice
reflective
educational
When to use this quote
- classroom grading
- parent-teacher meetings
- online feedback
- peer review
Key Concepts
color psychology
student motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does color affect student confidence?
- What other subtle cues influence learning?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue color choice is minor compared to content quality.
