Monthly Archives: May 2016

Parenting Blues during the Middle School Years!

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Parenting Blues during Middle School IN all my work with middle school families over twenty seven years in independent school, this is still a truism: when they are at their most variable and vulnerable, so are we… Thanks, Mary Murphy, … Continue reading →

Posted in adolescent development, body image, childhood development, education, parenting middle school aged children, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, wall street journal | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Helping children thrive by coaching their parents… interesting results

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Coaching Parents over time has great impact on students’ development This study reinforces the notion that parents can have a profound impact when they actively engage their children…    

Posted in 21st Century Skills, adult development, childhood development, education, global education, new york times, NY Times, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seven Hills Students and the Robot Wars!

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

What happens when 5th graders present their robot designs to their first grade buddies? Watch and read and enjoy! Seven Hills School on Inspiration Lab: The Robot Wars!    

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, leadership, leadership in children, robotics, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, STEAM in elementary schools, technology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Diversifying Children’s Books

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Some great reads in this list for children from ages 2-10 years old. There is nothing like the feel of a great children’s book read aloud, sometimes over and over… Enjoy! Diversify Reading Lists for children! MindShift  

Posted in 21st Century Skills, diversity, leadership in children, literacy, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mindfulness as a tool to pay attention, listen and express gratitude

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I shared this in our faculty meeting last week. Interesting, for sure… TEDx Talk: Dr. Kristen Race on Mindfulness  

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, education, gratitude, mindfulness, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

One more time, the proven benefits of mindfulness for children.

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Hard to dispute the obvious benefits… The Mindful Child…

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education, mindfulness, new york times, NY Times, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mom: The Worrier Species

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

In honor of Mother’s Day, and because I am a mother and had a worrier mother. Mom: The Worrier  

Posted in 21st Century Skills, adult development, gender studies, new york times, NY Times, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged | Leave a comment

How to talk to children about Trump!

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

There are children all over this country trying to make sense of what they are hearing from adults about politics and the upcoming general election in November. This tackles the subject head on! (Thanks, Suzy Klein!) How to talk to … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, childhood development, Dacher Keltner UC Berkeley, education, fear, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Always make time for a read aloud at home…

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I recently had the chance to share some of Mo Willem’s Elephant & Piggy Books with one of our kindergarten classes. Most of them knew the books and squealed wildly with delight in anticipation of what would come next. Some … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, literacy, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment