The Literature Circle: The English Teacher’s Red Pen

Daniels urges us to leave the red pen in the desk and ensure that kids understand the purpose of writing: communication. Give students an authentic reason to write and a real audience, and the writing will be meaningful. Meanwhile, resist the pressure from parents, administrators, and legislators—everyone who remembers the blood-red papers of their youth to mark every little flaw. What they’ve forgotten is, that didn’t work for them, and it’s not working now.