Category Archives: the science of emotion

Common Sense Media: New Year, New Rules Around Tech for Students/Children

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This is a big topic of conversation at our school, and so many others. The right age to give a child their first cellphone is really up to you. Age isn’t as important as your kid’s maturity level, their ability to … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, children and sleep, Common Sense Media, education, global skills, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, technology, the science of emotion | Comments Off on Common Sense Media: New Year, New Rules Around Tech for Students/Children

On David Brooks’ Op-Ed Dateline October 20, 2023, Tanzania, Africa

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I am here in Africa for only the second time in my life, the second time in 12 months, as it turns out, preparing for a personal challenge to climb Africa’s tallest mountain. It is sunrise. I am listening to … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, David Brooks, NY Times, early childhood education, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, empathy, global skills, mental health, mindfulness, new york times, NY Times, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, the science of emotion | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on On David Brooks’ Op-Ed Dateline October 20, 2023, Tanzania, Africa

HuffPost: Why I dropped out of the Ivy League

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I read this with great interest as I think about so many students working themselves sick for the “college admissions prize” and then wondering, “no what?” A very compelling read. HuffPost: One student’s perspective on the college arms race, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Admissions, College Admissions, education, Huffington Post, Making Caring Common at Harvard, mental health, Rick Weissbourd, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged , | Comments Off on HuffPost: Why I dropped out of the Ivy League

Parenting in a time of chaos in the news…

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Parenting is fraught with issues as 24 hour news cycles plague us with the most recent stories of violence, hate speech and hateful rhetoric. The following NY Times parenting piece reminded me of when I held my 11 month old … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, Common Sense Media, education, fear, helping children cope with tragedy, new york times, NY Times, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, resilience, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, the science of emotion | Tagged , | Comments Off on Parenting in a time of chaos in the news…

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

Mom: The Worrier Species

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

In honor of Mother’s Day, and because I am a mother and had a worrier mother. Mom: The Worrier  

Posted in 21st Century Skills, adult development, gender studies, new york times, NY Times, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | 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

Washington Post Parenting Blog on Connecting with your teen!

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I definitely can trace the history of my own life through a soundtrack of my own choosing. I have always felt connected to music and have firm opinions about “my music” and the periods of my life that this music … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood development, gratitude, mindfulness, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, technology, the science of emotion | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Teenagers fighting with their parents

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

This link has some terrific reminders about picking your battles, picking your times and not going after everything. For parents, it can be hard on us, but helping them form their identity by NOT interpreting everything is important. Read away! … Continue reading →

Posted in education, NY Times, parenting, resilience, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Science of Emotion: Dacher Keltner

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

The first of our Seven Hills School Parent Lecture Series events was a tremendous success! As parents, neighbors and friends of the school exited Hunt Hall, the refrains were resoundingly positive: “I could listen to him all day.” “I’d love him … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, Dacher Keltner UC Berkeley, education, the science of emotion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment