TheApple

I think it's only important that your remarks are visible but againn not agressive. I try to be as "modest" as possible  in the use of my ink and I do try to use positive, sometimes even humorous remarks and positive criticism.

What I never do is make a  diagonal red line across what students have written!

Tom,

I agree but what I see is that there's a big gap between the weaker and the better students ( the less and tho more self-cofident). By being too harsh on the weaker ones, we can be counter-productive with our corrections. A little bit of ecouragement can lead to better results.

Good comments, all.  However, how long will it be before purple or green becomes the "new red"?  I agree that some kids are more affected by wrong answers marked than others, simply because they have more of them.  So with those students, the encouragement is definitely in line, correction is a subtler and gentler manner, until they can get the material. 

I know when I got a paper back with lots of slashes on it, the first  place it went was the circular file by the door on the way out.  However, I have survived it, and most kids will also.  Life is not a bowl cherries, be they red or purple.

Thanks for your comments. Good discussion.