Category Archives: academic excellence in elementary schools

As we gear up for a new school year, I find this post is helpful to me, as an educator AND as a parent…

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

There is no denying, in the world of a 24 hour news cycle and social media opinions everywhere, that the ability to doubt one’s own parenting skills is never ending. I love this piece in the Motherlode blog because it … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, childhood development | Tagged education, KJ DELL'ANTONIA, motherlode, NYTimes, parenting | Leave a comment

The power of mindfulness keeps coming back around…

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This idea that the best education connects to all parts of us is real. The healthy integration of mind, body and spirit are essential to growing good human beings. http://www.wsj.com/articles/schools-rethink-health-class-incorporate-mindfulness-training-1431306596

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education, mindfulness | Tagged educational leadership, mindfulness | Leave a comment

Why some teams are smarter than others? Listening, empathy and more women…

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

As we struggle in schools to quantify the very real needs and uses for social emotional learning and self regulation skills as part of an academic skill set, this Op Ed piece hits the right chords! Read on… Why Some … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, childhood development, gender studies | Tagged 21st Century Skills, administration, education, teamwork | Leave a comment

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Last week, I had the opportunity to address a few topics with the Parents’ Association. We were slated to discuss the book Free to Learn by Peter Gray. I shared a few slides with quotes from the book and then … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education | Tagged books, educational leadership, K-12 education | Leave a comment

What I learned at the Harvard Graduate School of Education: Lesson 1: Innovation and Design: The LEGO Challenge

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Last week I had the opportunity to represent Tuxedo Park School at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Certificate Program: The Future of Independent Schools. We were forty school leaders from around the world, from all kinds of schools, working … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, education, parenting in 2014 | Tagged 3D Printing, education 2014, educational leadership, Harvard Graduate School of education, Karen Brennan | Leave a comment

Everything I thought I knew about school was validated at Harvard… and there were a few surprises!

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Listening to Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot present The Third Chapter and hear how it applies to our work in schools? Priceless. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2014/04/i-have-always-been-temperamentally-wired-to-carry-on/

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, parenting in 2014 | Tagged diversity, educational leadership, Harvard, HGSE, sara lawrence-lightfoot | Leave a comment

My three days at Harvard Graduate School of Education… Day 2

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Listening to Justin Reich, https://cyber.law.harvard.edu/people/jreich as we discuss the future of technology in Independent Schools. I have been meaning to blog about the recent NY Times article on whether children benefit from interactive books on tablets to the same extent … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education | Tagged 21st Century Education, disruptive technologies, education 2014, educational leadership, Harvard, Justin Reich, K-12 education | Leave a comment

Life’s Common Core…

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Some great wisdom here for parents of teenagers to help us maintain perspective on the complexities of raising teenagers and raising good people. Enjoy! http://time.com/author/kristin-van-ogtrop-2/

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, parenting in 2014 | Tagged 21st Century Education, education 2014, parenting | Leave a comment

What a 4 year old really needs to know (as well as what to focus on for parents!)

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

what a four year old needs to know by alicia-bayer This is a great piece on four year olds, and should be a calming influence on parents as well. Thanks, Mr. K., for the suggestion!

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education, parenting in 2014 | Leave a comment

New York Times: Teaching is not a business.

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This opinion piece in the August 16 New York Times strikes the right cord about the value of good teaching! Tuxedo Park School prides itself on the excellent caliber of our teachers and the close relationships between students and teachers … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education | Leave a comment