Author Archives: Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

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About Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

an educator in Independent Schools for over 38 years

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

Parent Behavior in the College Athletic Recruiting Process

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I have seen this play out up close and personally with many college athletes in the extended family. The fact that parent behavior is becoming an issue is very concerning. The positive coaching alliance has great resources here. Positive Coaching … Continue reading →

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, athletics, College Admissions, college athletic recruitment, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Helping your teen help a friend…

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Yes, this rings true, both from my own parenting and from listening to students grapple with how to help a friend over my 27 years in education . Some great advice here! Helping your teen help a friend… NY Times … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, aggression among girls, childhood development, grit, leadership, leadership in children, motherlode, new york times, NY Times, parenting, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The role of Social Emotional Learning in College Placement

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

It is interesting to see schools struggle with affective issues: how we relate to each other in schools. Institutions in various sectors: public,  charter and for profit schools try and emulate what has, in fact, been happening in independent school … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Challenge Success, childhood development, Dacher Keltner UC Berkeley, Denise Pope, education, Harvard's Caring Schools Initiative, leadership, Making Caring Common at Harvard, mindfulness, social emotional learning, The Atlantic Monthly | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment