Tag Archives: education

Diversifying Children’s Books

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Some great reads in this list for children from ages 2-10 years old. There is nothing like the feel of a great children’s book read aloud, sometimes over and over… Enjoy! Diversify Reading Lists for children! MindShift  

Posted in 21st Century Skills, diversity, leadership in children, literacy, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mindfulness as a tool to pay attention, listen and express gratitude

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

I shared this in our faculty meeting last week. Interesting, for sure… TEDx Talk: Dr. Kristen Race on Mindfulness  

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, education, gratitude, mindfulness, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How to talk to children about Trump!

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

There are children all over this country trying to make sense of what they are hearing from adults about politics and the upcoming general election in November. This tackles the subject head on! (Thanks, Suzy Klein!) How to talk to … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, childhood development, Dacher Keltner UC Berkeley, education, fear, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Always make time for a read aloud at home…

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

I recently had the chance to share some of Mo Willem’s Elephant & Piggy Books with one of our kindergarten classes. Most of them knew the books and squealed wildly with delight in anticipation of what would come next. Some … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, literacy, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, Uncategorized | 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 role of Social Emotional Learning in College Placement

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

It is interesting to see schools struggle with affective issues: how we relate to each other in schools. Institutions in various sectors: public,  charter and for profit schools try and emulate what has, in fact, been happening in independent school … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Challenge Success, childhood development, Dacher Keltner UC Berkeley, Denise Pope, education, Harvard's Caring Schools Initiative, leadership, Making Caring Common at Harvard, mindfulness, social emotional learning, The Atlantic Monthly | 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

Parent Guide: Common Sense Media

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

When there is too much information out there, parents can rely on Common Sense Media to help sort out how to look at everything from media consumption to  screen time to important issues in brain development. I have found this … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, Common Sense Media, Uncategorized | 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

Washington Post on Play!

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

There is mounting evidence that allowing children to play and sort out their mini squabbles is great training for problem solving in the short and long terms. The more adults intervene, the more the message implied becomes “You can’t seem … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, parenting, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment