Monthly Archives: September 2015

Sleep Matters!

There is amazing validity to paying attention to quantity AND quality of sleep! SLEEP 2015: consolidated research on the importance of sleep for children and their growing brains

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, children and sleep, parenting in 2015 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Seven Hills meets NAIS Inspiration Lab!

See our first ever posting on the NAIS Inspiration Lab! Thanks, Rhys Miller, for getting us launched. Enjoy!  http://inspirationlab.org/story/7456

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Alfie Kohn on questions

  The power of inquiry and all the questions young children ask!! Alfie Kohn on questions!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The intersection continues… a former student, her ultra running and her fame…

A former student, Mirna Valerio, continues to tear it up gaining increasing attention for her running, coaching, and modeling by doing (read running) as an independent school educator, a cross country coach, a mother and author of a running blog. … Continue reading

Posted in 21st Century Skills, adult development, body image, physical fitness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Power of Stories: Seven Hills Guest Storyteller, Muriel Johnson…

On Friday, September 18, The Seven Hills Lower School hosted our annual Reading Celebration, a moment where we celebrate the summer reading accomplishments of our youngest students. Students log their summer reading and a final tally is shared on this day: … Continue reading

Posted in childhood development, documentary theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Must Read Picture Books for the Fall of 2015

Since we know there is no such thing as “too early” when it comes to reading to young children, telling stories and promoting literacy, even in very young children, by allowing them to listen to language, here is a great … Continue reading

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education, literacy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Raising a Daughter? Handle with Care- Especially when she’s fourteen….Chicago Tribune, by Elizabeth Egan

No truer words were ever spoken. So much of this applies to my experience with my own mother and then as a mother to my 24 year old daughter, Hannah. And I also learned so very much from each of … Continue reading

Posted in adult development, childhood development, parenting in 2015 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Annabel Monaghan: My teenage sons are the smartest people I know. And sometimes, the dumbest too.

This is one of the most true statements about teenagers, and especially boys. I am forever leaving lists on the kitchen counter, mostly with lists of things that could be perceived as almost always “stating the obvious,” to me, while … Continue reading

Posted in adult development, parenting in 2015 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Parenting looks pretty different in many cultures, but mostly it’s parenting here that is the odd practice out…

This post on TED IDEAS underscores many ideas about different cultures’ parenting priorities. Is ours really focused on happiness? Or is it that we are constantly trying to predict what the future will hold, rather than just prepare our children … Continue reading

Posted in childhood development, education, parenting in 2015 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What should college freshman read?

I am enjoying revisiting which literature COUNTS as literature, depending upon whom you ask. This debate shows many valid perspectives. And given our western civilization-focused heritage here in the US, we cannot ignore that foundation. We must also, I think, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment