tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.comments2019-05-15T23:08:27.106-03:00NJ TOY TravelsMaryann Woods-Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330408374774341330noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-81325025684937631962012-07-31T14:55:23.648-03:002012-07-31T14:55:23.648-03:00I am a public employee. I work as a personal aide ...I am a public employee. I work as a personal aide in a school and have another part-time job. One thing that bothers me are people like my neighbors who are unemployed and do not even appear to be looking for work. They have about 9 kids and are on welfare. I know it is hard to find work as I was unemployed in the worst part of this Recession for 4+ months. It's a full-time job looking for work. But I never got anry at people for having jobs especially public workers who often work in thankless jobs. I think teachers get a bad wrap because many people see them (falsely) as glorifed baby-sitters. If they got paid as well as babysitters then the public would really be angry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-22433709318631455842011-09-22T12:51:01.691-03:002011-09-22T12:51:01.691-03:00It's fantastic to read about your experiences....It's fantastic to read about your experiences. I've missed the blog but I know you've been so busy! We're so proud to have you representing all the great teachers and school staff in NJ!Kathy Coulibalyhttp://www.njea.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-9552982431969482572011-03-15T13:53:27.515-03:002011-03-15T13:53:27.515-03:00Maggie Hylas
Yo soy de acuerdo. Yo creo que los pr...Maggie Hylas<br />Yo soy de acuerdo. Yo creo que los profesoras necesitan el compensation para su trabajo. Ellos hacen el trabajo y hacen cosas que no todos las personas queren hacer. Nosotros necesitamos los profesoros hace eran tratatos bien.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10318868926682407418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-42177763992439708992011-03-10T15:31:29.628-04:002011-03-10T15:31:29.628-04:00http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/nyregion/10chris...http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/nyregion/10christie.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-56603156129047329142011-02-19T12:52:54.695-04:002011-02-19T12:52:54.695-04:00This is so fun to read. My students too were very ...This is so fun to read. My students too were very excited and wanted pictures and to see my award as one of the award selectees. Congratulations to you MaryAnn. This is very inspiring. The best is when the kids are excited with you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-67765485923086088332011-01-26T16:38:22.340-04:002011-01-26T16:38:22.340-04:00Teachers are nation builders!!!!Teachers are nation builders!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-12548735152912156022011-01-17T08:42:21.626-04:002011-01-17T08:42:21.626-04:00I like you have a story like Wagzie's.
Skip, a...I like you have a story like Wagzie's.<br />Skip, a pointer mix, who was at the CT Humane Society with no adoption options, found his way to Spirit and I thank GOD for Alan that Skip has a place to live his life!<br />MariaMaria@Crafty Cre8tionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580852422371981937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-76567111824663175342011-01-11T15:17:12.198-04:002011-01-11T15:17:12.198-04:00I am so glad that you took the time and effort nee...I am so glad that you took the time and effort needed to do the right thing for your dog and your family. So many people don't know where to turn and end up bringing their dog to the nearest animal shelter. You and your dog are lucky. I hope that in the near future many more dogs will find a right place for them. We need many more places just like "Spirit Animal Sanctuary". Thank you for writing this post.Animal News & Infohttp://animalnewsinfo.posterous.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-47130295075194106842011-01-03T19:31:44.517-04:002011-01-03T19:31:44.517-04:00I agree up to a point Lord Copper. Public workers ...I agree up to a point Lord Copper. Public workers are indeed being vilified and are undeserving of much of the opprobrium being heaped upon them. The uber-rich have by and large escaped the devastating effects of the downturn, and in many cases, their golden parachutes have been funded by the ever generous and often duped US taxpayer.<br /><br />Having said all that, public workers have as much a PR problem as well as a fiscal problem on their hands. The anger in many cases is motivated by a perception that public workers are unwilling to bear their fair share of the pain. A sense of entitlement is in the air these days. Your well written editorial does not really address this.<br /><br />It is very difficult to convince the people who are paying the freight that we need to carry on with business as usual with respect to the compensation of public employees. Lots of folks are scrambling to figure out how they will pay their 2010 tax bill in the face of declining revenues. Believe me, they all have their hands out; the fed, the state, the towns/cities and they are all crying "more, more, more!" Something has to give. I recommend you consult your colleagues in the mathematics department to see if they agree whether or not we are on a sustainable trajectory with the cost of government spiraling out of control. Something has to give. It is very difficult to ask the taxpayers to keep digging deeper into their pockets when they too are working longer hours for less money. In many cases, these bill footers have no prospect of a secure pension as their 401Ks deteriorate into 101Ks or have to be cashed out prematurely through no fault of their own just to meet day-to-day expenses. These are the people inherently unsympathetic to the plight of public employees, and in the end are the ones who will have to be won over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-6573064480430439792011-01-02T19:48:04.852-04:002011-01-02T19:48:04.852-04:00Some guys think they're tough because they cal...Some guys think they're tough because they call women schoolteachers names. Pathetic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-67617036695813094792010-08-31T18:48:21.840-03:002010-08-31T18:48:21.840-03:00And you get that one student (named Lukas) who rea...And you get that one student (named Lukas) who really really hates doing oral presentations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-40596653374578013422010-08-20T09:31:40.936-03:002010-08-20T09:31:40.936-03:00Hi MaryAnn,
Great to see that you are out there wi...Hi MaryAnn,<br />Great to see that you are out there with other educators trying to get the ear of our legislators. Hopefully, they will begin to listen and to include those who do the actual educating in future discussions!<br />Talk about synchronicity! You mentioned Peter Pan and his shadow. This coming Sunday I will be the speaker at CUC since Rev. Tittle is away. The topic of my sermon? "Soap and Shadow or What To Do When Your Shadow Falls Off." And Peter Pan and Wendy both have a place in the sermon. INdeed, Peter's shadow was very important to him. He knew that without it, he wasn't a whole person. And fortunately for him, when he found it, Wendy was there to sew it back on. There are lots of lessons in the shadow. We just have to learn to listen to and embrace them.Paul Dodenhoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-54565673633987861522010-07-01T12:45:05.535-03:002010-07-01T12:45:05.535-03:00¡Felicitaciones, de todo corazón, maestra! From De...¡Felicitaciones, de todo corazón, maestra! From Delia Tasso, a Turin-based Spanish translator who as an acquaintance of a Paul Conlon's came to Teaneck on a cold morning in the early nineties. I remember you and Joe bought me lunch in a Chinese restaurant. As it happens, the story of the Murphy spies rang a bell, I started surfing for you, and here you are, ¡nada más y nada menos que con el presidente Obama! Un abrazo.Delia Tassohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13976811764844412862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-30068392157334560992010-05-22T20:23:50.322-03:002010-05-22T20:23:50.322-03:00I wish I had been able to be with all of you today...I wish I had been able to be with all of you today—I was certainly there in spirit. It is not about who gets the biggest piece of a shrinking pie, it’s about ensuring that those with the most wealth share the sacrifices proportionally to those with the least. It is about ensuring that the safety net remains, that our state strives to make public educational opportunities as equal as possible, rather than encouraging them to vary advantageously with rising income and the legal-citizenship status of one’s parents.<br />Looking forward to Tuesday in Hackensack!<br />Sally G.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-41113655766622034742010-04-18T11:37:30.185-03:002010-04-18T11:37:30.185-03:00HI Maryann,
This was one of the most exciting m...HI Maryann,<br /> This was one of the most exciting moments of my life. I'm so glad you came to my school district to show you off to all! They now know what a wonderful leader you are...just like all of us. My third graders were thrilled to meet you and chat. My colleagues thought you were awesome too! Thank you for coming and sharing your time and talent with us. I'll never forget this incredible day.<br />Love,<br />Patty :)Patty Bellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-18588467469293558972010-04-15T18:11:09.358-03:002010-04-15T18:11:09.358-03:00What a great tribute to teachers, and what a grati...What a great tribute to teachers, and what a gratifying day this must be for the students involved! Bravo!Joanna Petritsisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-23213955387051877492010-04-15T18:03:17.191-03:002010-04-15T18:03:17.191-03:00What a great tribute to teachers, and what a grati...What a great tribute to teachers, and what a gratifying day this must be for the students involved! Bravo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-85056818422018207012010-04-12T10:31:50.679-03:002010-04-12T10:31:50.679-03:00Dear Madame B! I well remember your help keeping t...Dear Madame B! I well remember your help keeping the coffee in the cup, my dreams with a plan and the technology and language acquisition discussions as we wanted to name our classes, "language" - "Continuing language" and "More language!" We were right!Maryann Woods-Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13330408374774341330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-142009790833783002010-04-06T23:44:04.754-03:002010-04-06T23:44:04.754-03:00I learned to move the coffee cup before it collide...I learned to move the coffee cup before it collided with one of your enthusiastic gestures.<br /><br />I'm glad I got to meet Henry; "Vegetables" moved me to tears.<br /><br />I shared early forays into technology and language acquisition.<br /><br />I rejoice at the accomplishments of Melynda and Joe.<br /><br />I am a "follower" and a fan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-70604972445163700272010-03-21T22:33:33.487-03:002010-03-21T22:33:33.487-03:00Una bella metáfora - gracias, Maestra!Una bella metáfora - gracias, Maestra!DougCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-29655210800427723082010-03-18T11:50:48.561-03:002010-03-18T11:50:48.561-03:00This was my high school and I had a wonderful expe...This was my high school and I had a wonderful experience there. My Spanish teacher, Sonya Murphy, encouraged me to pursue foreign languages. Today, I speak two fluently and I do all right in a third. I'm also encouraging my son, a first-grader, to learn other languages.KathyCoulNJhttp://www.kidculture.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-89822921942770173242010-03-11T09:19:32.344-04:002010-03-11T09:19:32.344-04:00Hi Maryann.
If you'd like to read the best (I...Hi Maryann.<br /><br />If you'd like to read the best (IMHO) book ever on demystifying testing, check out "Measuring Up" by Daniel Koretz:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Measuring-Up-Educational-Testing-Really/dp/0674028058<br /><br />I wish that Secretary Duncan and other high-ranking USDOE official would read it-- it's not an anti-testing rant, in the least, but it explains why standardized tests often tell us less than we think, and should not be seen as ideal tools for measuring teacher effectiveness.<br /><br />It's great to meet you, too. I've got you bookmarked and will follow your blog. I see that you posted a comment on my old blog--thanks, but I can't respond there, because my blog, "Teacher in a Strange Land," moved to Education Week's Teacher division in January:<br /><br />http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/<br /><br />I hope you will give it a look--and share it with other TOYs in the class of 2010. There are several TOYs blogging--I'll pull together a list for you.Nancy Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00047575960944913289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-49638685425236634182010-03-10T15:30:47.916-04:002010-03-10T15:30:47.916-04:00Thank you so much! I'm glad the report of my t...Thank you so much! I'm glad the report of my travels and thoughts is reaching into the lives of others...Maryann Woods-Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13330408374774341330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-81864918021613972632010-03-10T15:29:31.441-04:002010-03-10T15:29:31.441-04:00Dear Nancy,
You make such important points. Thank...Dear Nancy,<br /><br />You make such important points. Thanks for weighing in and I hope to hear from you more!<br /><br />You say, "Assessments that dig deep into complex measurement of student progress are often expensive and difficult to score." and also "be wary of jumping on the "growth" bandwagon."<br /><br />These are perceptions I share. What I have seen, in terms of standardized assessments, do not measure either progress or "growth" in such a way that I would want this sort of student achievement tied to teacher compensation nor would it give me as full of a picture as I would need to measure my student's progress.<br /><br />It sounds good to talk about "growth" and it felt like a relief when I hears Sect. Duncan say it, but all around us there is a lightning speed connection to use imperfect tools. You say that the cost of the good tools make them hard to use widely, which makes sense. <br /><br />This leads me to think that we need to bring in more teacher leaders to the careful deconstruction you state needs to be done right now.<br />Brava! <br /><br />Great to "meet" you, Nancy and I look forward to your insightful and knowledgeable thoughts!<br /><br />MaryannMaryann Woods-Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13330408374774341330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074678228589734759.post-73353771308607795312010-03-08T12:36:37.525-04:002010-03-08T12:36:37.525-04:00"Troubling, though, is the fact that these as..."Troubling, though, is the fact that these assessments are not available yet to measure this sort of 'growth.'"<br /><br />Actually, the statistical models to measure growth are widely available, and have been for years. States that are set up to do value-added growth models have had to eliminate (often legislatively) firewalls, designed to keep states from tying test scores to teachers. <br /><br />There are important reasons not to assume that all statewide assessments really measure "growth." Assessments that dig deep into complex measurement of student progress are often expensive and difficult to score--so bubble-in tests (that may or may not be tied to specific benchmarks) are used. In other words, we are using assessments designed to measure broad school/class growth to target individual student growth--the wrong tools for the job.<br /><br />That first grader who moves up to third grade? Here's another example, that applies to Bergen County. Suppose your 8th grader is reading at 11th grade level, beginning of the year. At the end of one year, "growth" has only taken her to 11.5. She's still doing fine, but suddenly her growth--a half year--is labeling her teacher "substandard." <br /><br />The USDOE has developed some really slick language: "a vision for the measurement of student growth" may sound good on the surface, but it needs careful deconstruction by those who would be teacher leaders and spokespersons. <br /><br />This is not a rant against measurement. We need and will continue to use standardized testing--it gives us important information. But be wary of jumping on the "growth" bandwagon.<br /><br />Congratulations on being named NJ-TOY, and starting a blog. You're in for a great year!<br /><br />Nancy Flanagan, MI-TOY 1993Nancy Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00047575960944913289noreply@blogger.com