Please keep me sane while I am marking!

[harrisey]

About to launch into marking a whoel bunch of Higher papers (am in Scotland). Markers meeting yesterday, 150 scripts on the dining room table, 2 weeks to deadline! I always like it when I get into it but it drives me nuts as well.
Is anyone else a marker?

[Gillian76]

Oh god, my DH has done this since I've known him but thankfully has his hands full with other commitments this year!

Good luck :)

[harrisey]

In fact I think I will have a glass of wine and go to bed and start tomorrow!
Thanks Gillian!

[scienceteacher]

What subject are you marking, harrisey?

I've never marked external exams, but I can do about 50 papers in a day of GCSE mocks (physics or chemistry).

[swedishmum]

I marked Music GCSE for a few years which involved listening to tapes of performances as well. I know what you mean - once you get into it, it can be fun (or at least really interesting). Did used to fume at schools where teachers had not read the instructions therefore lost marks for the kids though.

[harrisey]

My subject is Geography.
I get really annoyed with teachers as well - kids answering with the wrong case study, or not reading the questions, or only giving me 4 fig grid references at this level, or whatever - even stuff that is totally wrong being written by a whole batch of 10 kids from one school - you do wonder what some people are being taught!
Will start tonight, honest! I can do 20-30 in a day (less in an evening of course) before my brain fries. But these are mainly essay type questions which you have to pick through.
Some of the handwriting is SO awful - these are 16-18 yo pupils!

[harrisey]

I have done 10.

oh dear. Oh dearie me. i hope things improve or I am going to get VERY depressed!

[Pixiefish]

Up until I had dd I marked English GCSE for the WJEC.

400+ papers in 3 weeks. i was up at 5 and marking till 10 at night and teaching a full school day in between. It used to fair kill me but I loved the cheque in the summer hols

[Pixiefish]

You'll speed up harrisey. i was always slow for the first 30 or so ten you start flying through them

[harrisey]

It wasn't my speed I was referring to - it was the quality of the work I am marking!!!

[Pixiefish]

You still speed up, flying through the bad worek as well as the good.

In the English paper you have to mark all the grammar, punc and spelling lol. Imagine that on foundation tier G grade- the paper was red. I still got pretty fast at it

[harrisey]

That must have been fun pixiefish!
I'm speeding up a bit now, and the quality has improved too. I just picked a really dreadful batch for my first 10.
I actually really enjoy it too, I've been doing it for 6 years now and as I am currently a SAHM it keeps my hand in with curriculum changes and the like, in case I ever decide to go back into the classroom (enjoying NOT doing it for now!).
AND I got a little jolly to Glasgow for the marker's meeting and some quality time just me and my visa card. And the money I earn is MINE ALL MINE!

[Pixiefish]

LOL Harrisey. I keep thinking I'll mark but trying to do it and have dd would drive me mad

[harrisey]

halfway there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trying not to lose the will to live!!!!!!

[Tommy]

I'm marking too! (although I haven't done any today so will have a mammoth session tomorrow while DH is watching football)
I'm doing AS level Religious Studies - not wild

[harrisey]

hi Tommy
also hoping to have a mammoth session tomorrow if dh can persude kids to watch the football with him!
The exam i am marking has not been done too well this year and I am finding it pretty dispiriting, but must push on!

[harrisey]

57 papers to go!!!
Must post them on Monday, so looks liek I am going to make it. Every year I toy with sending some back, adn every year I manage to do them all. I had 181 in total, which is my most yet.

[MummyPig]

wow pixiefish, I am considering marking an 'End of Course Assessment' for the OU course I teach, and thinking that 100 papers in 3 weeks would be too many to manage. Not sure how you fit in 400, you must fairly whizz through them by the end of the pile. Mind you, part of my calculation as to whether it's worth it includes having to pay our childminder approx £10/h to look after both boys - and I think I'd need to get her to do quite a few extra hours if I did take this on.

I have to agree with harrisey's first comment, though, once I get into marking I do usually enjoy it. It's a bit like swimming - for some reason there's a huge psychological barrier to starting but it's quite easy to go on and on for ages once you're in.

[harrisey]

FINISHED!!
They are in the post I am just waiting for the money to arrive lol!!!
Glad I did it but I am knackered!

[sarahhal]

Once did GCSE French speaking tests! It was so so painful! Spent days with a walkman attached everywhere I went - yup, even the loo to get them over and done with. The joy when the teacher finally said " End of test" especially when it had been the kind that went like:

Teacher: Comment t'appelles-tu?
Pupil: Dunno
Teacher: Ou habites- tu?
Pupil: Dunno Miss
Teacher: Quel age as-tu?
Pupil: Er, that's Newcastle Miss innit?

Having said that, I've tried to do it again but not got the work - it's said that a lot of it is sent to India now.