Category Archives: education

Book: Excellent Sheep by William Deresiewicz

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

The main thesis of his book is about the value of a liberal arts education and whether the students coming our of Ivy League schools are “excellent sheep” or not. The reactions he is receiving around Ivy League campuses are … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, education | Tagged education 2014, educational leadership, global education | 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

Banned books in 2014?

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This is a fine piece of writing; I admire the author’s honesty about being (un)comfortable in one’s skin and talking (dis)honestly about where we come from and what influences our life choices. http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/what-kind-of-town-bans-books?

Posted in education, parenting in 2014 | Tagged education 2014, educational leadership, K-12 education | 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

Letting Middle Schoolers Take Risks

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This is a terrific piece on children entering early adolescence and how to help them take risks safely to develop their skills for school and for life. Thanks, Mrs. Frimet, for the link! http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2014/08/20/want-to-keep-your-new-middle-schooler-out-of-trouble-then-let-them-take-risks/

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

Don’t dismiss the humanities… Op Ed by Nicholas Kristoff

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

For those of us who have chosen a career in education, this piece harkens back to what we are most likely to think of as our bread and butter; yes the world and our workplace is a more hospitable host … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, childhood development, education | Tagged 21st Century Skills, college process, customization, differentiated learning, education 2014, educational leadership, humanities, independent schools, John Dewey, NAIS TPSeducation | Leave a comment

Youth Athletics: specializing too young?

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I grew up in a household where all four of my brothers played sports from the youngest possible ages: Pop Warner Football, Little League, Parish Basketball. But each season, a new sport emerged. The idea of specializing in just one … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, childhood development, education | Tagged athletics, specializing too young, youth sports | Leave a comment

Parenting Teenagers

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

“Being a teenager is hard; being the parent of a teenager is even harder…” No truer words were ever spoken about parenting. This is a realistic look at the ways parents can struggle with teens. http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/the-emotional-whiplash-of-parenting-a-teenager/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&smid=pl-share&_r=1&_cldee=a21jbmFtYXJhQHR1eGVkb3BhcmtzY2hvb2wub3Jn&