Category Archives: grit

Japan Day #1 on the ground here: our first 24 hours of travel is complete…

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

We are checked into our hotel in Hiroshima after one long flight and one short one with a layer that included noodles and some treats at the Narita airport. It is 9:30pm on Wednesday in Hiroshima, 5:30 am Wednesday morning … Continue reading →

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, education, global education, gratitude, grit, Japan, leadership, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The question about errands…

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I related to this blog post on so many levels. At Seven Hills, I have been talking to our parents about making their own learning visible, about letting children see their executive function in action. Growing up the oldest of … Continue reading →

Posted in adult development, childhood development, gratitude, grit, leadership, leadership in children, parenting, social emotional learning | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Helping your teen help a friend…

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Yes, this rings true, both from my own parenting and from listening to students grapple with how to help a friend over my 27 years in education . Some great advice here! Helping your teen help a friend… NY Times … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, aggression among girls, childhood development, grit, leadership, leadership in children, motherlode, new york times, NY Times, parenting, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged , , , , | 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 , , , , , | Leave a comment

Grief & Resilience

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Starting the journey of grief after the recent illness and death of my mother, I saw a clip of Madonna Badger talking about loss. She lost her three daughters and her parents in a Christmas morning fire three years ago. … Continue reading →

Posted in education, grief, grit, parenting 2013, resilience | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment