Category Archives: leadership in children

NPR, Kwami Alexander and The Undefeated

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Kwami Alexander has been sharing poetry on NPR for a few years now, and each time I hear him, I get inspired. His latest children’s book, The Undefeated, just won the Caldecott Medal. More about the book, which I have … Continue reading →

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EDUTOPIA: What happens when we rush children through childhood…

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Some great reminders about the role of wonder in childhood and resisting the “adultification” of childhood. This is something our early childhood educators in Rainbow and RedBarn know so well! EDUTOPIA: Let’s Not Rush Children through Childhood  

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Being Grateful CAN prolong your life…

Posted on November 24, 2018 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

  At Seven Hills, one of our core values is Be Grateful. We teach students to be aware of how lucky they are to be able to attend Seven Hills and to recognize that not everyone is as fortunate. We … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education, empathy, global skills, gratitude, leadership in children, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged | Comments Off on Being Grateful CAN prolong your life…

We are living in strange times

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

These are strange times. No matter your political beliefs or your ability to absorb the twenty-four hour news cycle, these are strange times. I find myself at loose ends much more since the start of the New Year, searching for … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adolescent development, aggression among girls, body image, Challenge Success, childhood development, education, empathy, Harvard Graduate School of education, Harvard's Caring Schools Initiative, leadership, leadership in children | Comments Off on We are living in strange times

Postscript Japan 2016

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

For the better part of July and August I have let the Japan experience marinate in my mind. There were so many special moments with students, between students, among the adults, even through some pretty substantial language barriers. As we … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged | Leave a comment

Japan Day #14 Tokyo tour and then long flight home…

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

The morning had us bidding farewell to host families and Kita City educators. It was a bittersweet farewell. Then we were off to see a few more sites: The Meiji Shrine (a Shinto Shrine) The Edo Tokyo Museum and one … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged | Leave a comment

Japan Day #8: sightseeing day in Tokyo

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Today was a day of morning sightseeing and afternoon lunch and shopping, then back to host families at the usual time… We saw some interesting sites: The Tokyo Tower, The outside of the Imperial Palace and a famous Buddhist Temple. … Continue reading →

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Japan Day #7: Each group to a different school…

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Given the raucous conversations at the end of the day, each group had some terrific opportunities to interact with students ranging from kindergarten through 9th grade. I have a few pics of other group activities, as well as mine… Pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, literacy, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged | Leave a comment

Japan Day #2 Hiroshima and the bullet train to Kyoto!

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

Breakfast in the hotel, than a walk across the street to the Peace Park. So we had an amazing, somber, eye-opening and memorable morning in Hiroshima, starting with a hotel breakfast and a walk to the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum. … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, diversity, education, global education, gratitude, helping children cope with tragedy, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | 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