Category Archives: 21st Century Skills

GRIT? Different Strokes…

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

Thanks, Mr. Rogoff, for this link… Very interesting Steph Curry & Grit!  

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Harvard Business Review: Why Diverse Groups Feel uncomfortable and perform better…

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Why Diverse Teams Perform Better… This is a food for thought as we navigate our ever increasingly diverse world and create leadership for the 21st Century.        

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, diversity, education, Harvard Graduate School of education, Harvard's Caring Schools Initiative, HBS, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Teaching children NOT to hate when there is so much hate in this election cycle…

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

Lots to digest here as we navigate this election. Our middle schoolers were assigned the debate as homework, and I felt I needed to watch and be familiar with the content. I found it hard to watch. I look forward … Continue reading →

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Empathy and Kindness, now more than ever…

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

  How to foster empathy and kindness in children This article in the Washington Post is timely as we help children navigate not only their own relationships, but watch the tenor of the presidential election this fall, and sometimes even … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adolescent development, adult development, childhood development, Making Caring Common at Harvard, mindfulness, parenting, resilience, Rick Weissbourd, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Postscript Japan 2016

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

For the better part of July and August I have let the Japan experience marinate in my mind. There were so many special moments with students, between students, among the adults, even through some pretty substantial language barriers. As we … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged | Leave a comment

Japan Day #14 Tokyo tour and then long flight home…

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

The morning had us bidding farewell to host families and Kita City educators. It was a bittersweet farewell. Then we were off to see a few more sites: The Meiji Shrine (a Shinto Shrine) The Edo Tokyo Museum and one … Continue reading →

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Japan Day #13 school day and farewell assembly

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Students went to school today with their hosts and then we all met at the Kita city offices today for our Farewell Assembly with the host families. During the day the chaperones had the chance to visit the Tokyo Sky … Continue reading →

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Day 12 Part #2 Chaperone escapades…

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

So on Sunday, some of the chaperones saw some of Tokyo’s sites: Disneyland and a visit to one of Tokyo’s many animal cafés. In this case, an owl café. Japanese manicures… and the owl café…   to be continued…

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Day #12 Free Day!

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

Students spent the day with their host families. The chaperones explored the sights and sounds of Tokyo. Navigating the railway system, people watching and understanding just how vertical Tokyo is was all part of today;s education. I found myself feeling … Continue reading →

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Japan Day #11: morning in Iwai and then…

Posted on June 25, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Back to Kita City and host families for the next two days… Sleeping in a traditional Japanese hotel on tatami mats and futons, we were awakened to the sounds of pounding rains, thunder and lightening. A very stormy morning outside. … Continue reading →

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