Category Archives: education

NPR and a conversation about Overparenting.

Posted on December 26, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

There is plenty of room for adjustment on all sides here. Schools and parents DO need to work together. I feel sure that we could definitely improve how we think about autonomy for students from all angles. NPR: Overparenting?

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, childhood development, education | Tagged 21st Century Education, character education, educational leadership, Parenting Teens, seven hills school walnut creek | Leave a comment

The Atlantic: parental pressure…

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I am forever pushing back against the demonization of parents. Many of us are doing the best we can, or at least the best we think we should be doing. There are some sobering facts here, and again, I am … Continue reading →

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, body image, childhood development, education, fear, grit, leadership in children, The Atlantic Monthly | Tagged Atalantic Monthly, character education, childhood development, education, parenting, seven hills school walnut creek | Leave a comment

The paradox of conferences and what we try to accomplish sometimes…

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

This piece by former colleagues Kyle Redford puts the issues of parenting, conferencing, and students who struggle in perspective. I appreciate her viewpoint and the reminders about shame… The Privacy Dilemna

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, childhood development, education | Tagged 21st Century Education, parenting, Seven Hills School, Yale Center for Dyslexia | Leave a comment

Must Read Picture Books for the Fall of 2015

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

Since we know there is no such thing as “too early” when it comes to reading to young children, telling stories and promoting literacy, even in very young children, by allowing them to listen to language, here is a great … Continue reading →

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education, literacy | Tagged 21st century, BRIGHTLY, early childhood education, parenting | Leave a comment

Parenting looks pretty different in many cultures, but mostly it’s parenting here that is the odd practice out…

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This post on TED IDEAS underscores many ideas about different cultures’ parenting priorities. Is ours really focused on happiness? Or is it that we are constantly trying to predict what the future will hold, rather than just prepare our children … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood development, education, parenting in 2015 | Tagged Amy Choi, cultural differences in parenting, parenting, TED IDEAS, TED talks | Leave a comment

Families and the talk about alcohol and teens

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This scares me as I think back to some of the stories we have heard about students in high school and college. All things in moderation. This we must address head on. Is there a family history of substance or … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood development, education, motherlode, NY Times, parenting in 2015 | Tagged parenting | Leave a comment

The JOY in learning; there is joy at Seven Hills!

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

My favorite line from this post on KQED: Finland leads the world in its scores on international tests, and the country has become an educational model for many in the U.S. Rantala and Määttä’s paper is a welcome reminder that academic excellence can … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education | Tagged Finland, KQED, research, Seven Hills School | Leave a comment

Early Childhood Literacy? How about from birth?

Posted on August 22, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

My own memories of books as a young child revolve around visits to the local public library and the concept of choosing a book. When I was a little older, I remember my grandfather reaching high up on his shelf … Continue reading →

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education | Tagged children's books, early childhood lietracy, education, NY Times | 1 Comment

Great opening day advice; thanks Jon Eckert!

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This is a great reminder of why we do what we do. This Op Ed from August 2013 is timely. At Seven Hills School, Jon Eckert would be very happy indeed with his children’s experience! backward design? check make them … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, childhood development, education, parenting 2013 | Tagged childhood development, education, Education Week, Seven Hills School | Leave a comment

Working Mother Guilt?

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

There has been a lot of attention to this (relatively) new Harvard study on the impact of working mothers on their children, and specifically on their daughters. There is also a respite, at least for now, from the worry about whether … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, childhood development, education | Tagged Harvard, parenting, working mothers | Leave a comment