Category Archives: education

This is an inspirational speech…

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This speech, at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s commencement ceremony last week leaves me enticed and thrilled about what is possible in education. This speech also reminds of Between the World and Me, Ta’Nehisi Coates , amazing text, made all the … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, diversity, Donovan Livingston, education, Harvard Graduate School of education, leadership, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, Ta'Nehisi Coates | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

Teenagers fighting with their parents

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

This link has some terrific reminders about picking your battles, picking your times and not going after everything. For parents, it can be hard on us, but helping them form their identity by NOT interpreting everything is important. Read away! … Continue reading →

Posted in education, NY Times, parenting, resilience, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Serendipity and its role in Innovation

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

I am in the middle of visiting a few other schools to see what they are doing with innovation and how they are BUILDING IT into their curriculum. Making room for opportunity and then embracing it when it arrives, we … Continue reading →

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

The Science of Emotion: Dacher Keltner

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

The first of our Seven Hills School Parent Lecture Series events was a tremendous success! As parents, neighbors and friends of the school exited Hunt Hall, the refrains were resoundingly positive: “I could listen to him all day.” “I’d love him … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, Dacher Keltner UC Berkeley, education, the science of emotion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment