Category Archives: leadership

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 →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, Japan, leadership, leadership in children, Seven Hills Japan Trip 2016, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

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

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

Seven Hills Students and the Robot Wars!

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

What happens when 5th graders present their robot designs to their first grade buddies? Watch and read and enjoy! Seven Hills School on Inspiration Lab: The Robot Wars!    

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, leadership, leadership in children, robotics, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, STEAM in elementary schools, technology | 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