Pedagogy & Personal Growth
Alternative ways of multicultural teaching
Know thyself
Γνῶθι σεαυτόν
Temple of Apollo, Delphi, Greece
Teaching is a rewarding profession to help children navigate through life. You are a dedicated person, working with children from all over the world, and you love to take care of others, filled with a box full of educational skills.
Especially when you work alone in a classroom, you yourself are your instrument. How do you deal with moments of insecurity, setting boundaries and personal pitfalls at work? What subconscious dynamics influence your behaviour? When you discover these inner treasures you know what you need for your next growth step.
In lectures and seminars I share alternative ways of counseling and teaching. An approach that includes your personal growth and well-being. The better you know yourself, the more tailor-made you can work together with your pupils and clients. It's my privilege to work together with you in your personal and professional growth.
Lectures and seminars are tailor-made and offered at universities, universities of applied sciences and VET-schools. The emphasis is on interactional learning.
Hélène van Oudheusden is a Dutch educational counselor, lecturer and author. She supports school leaders and teachers in multicultural schools and provides counseling for children in their personal development since 20 years. In her second home Greece, Μυτιλήνη, she provides counseling as well.
Books
Empower Yourself at Work
Teaching Refugee Children
Universal Values in the Multicultural Classroom
1. Multicultural Values at School
The world is rapidly changing and migration is happening every day. Working with children and parents from different cultural backgrounds provides new challenges for teachers and counselors.
The focus in the seminar is : How may universal values support you to welcome cultural richness and diversity?
Hélène van Oudheusden works with migrant families for 20 years and was one of the first responders during the migrant influx on Lesvos, Greece. She is the author of Teaching Refugee Children.
Seminar: 2,5 hours/12 participants
2. The Healing Story
Preventing burn-out
When caring for others it is essential to take care of yourself first. You cannot pour from an empty cup and to help you fill your cup we will explore Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey.
This psychological journey symbolizes your search for your true identity. A universal longing of every human being. This healing story helps you to become your unique self at work by dealing with changes, identifying helpers for your challenges and discovering new insights that you wish to share with your pupils and colleagues.
You will discover the Hero's Journey in your personal life by transforming old patterns, letting go of what does not fit you anymore and be open to new possibilities.
Seminar: 2,5 hours/12 participants
3. Mindfulness at Work
Welcoming the unexpected
With mindfulness, you help children to recognize and regulate their feelings. They learn to be calm and resilient in the here and now.
This life lesson strengthens the pedagogical climate and prepares the children for good citizenship. Going inside with your attention supports their and your resilience during a busy day.
Seminar: 2,5 hours/12 participants
As 8 year-old Yannis pointed out:
"This exercise makes my brain happy!"
Reviews
I didn't realize that migrant children had been through so much. Thank you for the practical tools to guide them effectively.
Pedagogical Sciences, Leiden University
Hélène van Oudheusden is more than a counsellor. She gently focusses on the person behind the teacher and does so with compassion and the peace she offers in this.
Nico Verbeij, expert coach LEERkracht Foundation, Utrecht
In our νηπιαγωγείο we did breathing exercises of calm and self-concentration and we listened to the beats of our heart. The children loved it!
Tania Faitatsidu, teacher Νηπιαγωγείο Μόλυβος, Μυτιλήνη
Thank you for the interesting seminar on mindfulness and positive teaching. We enjoyed the combination of practical exercises and personal insights.
Bachelor Primary Education – University of Applied Sciences Dordrecht (Netherlands)
Together with Hélène van Oudheusden we wanted to support our children, teachers and parents in their social-emotional development and well-being on Lesvos. We have successfully organized five seminars about mindfulness and positive teaching/parenting in Molyvos. Participants came from several villages including from the capital of our beautiful island.
I have enjoyed Hélène’s enthusiasm, pedagogical expertise and international experience. Our teachers, parents and children loved the seminars and felt inspired to apply the practical tools and exercises in their daily life.
Aphrodite Vati, deputy mayor for tourism, MW Lesvos, Greece / owner School of English Aphrodite Vati
We enjoyed an online study day about self-care by Hélène van Oudheusden with the team. Not obvious, but it was very much appreciated. A few reactions from the team: "The study day was so positive!" "So grateful!" "What a bliss to feel the team bonding again."
An De Coster, managing director De Vinderij, Lokeren, Belgium
Everyone who works with refugee children should get started with the e-learning Empower Yourself at School. It is very special! Often there is a lot of talking about what you should and should not do with refugee children. But for this training, everything that is written matters, they are not empty words. You are indeed a human being first and then a teacher.
Mahalath Dijkstra, educational assistant De Bazaar, Rijswijk (Netherlands)
Hélène ís Lesvos, you can feel her energy in every sentence.
Rian Eijgenraam, refugee teacher and participant study visit "Educating Refugee Children" to Lesvos, Greece
Hélène van Oudheusden has a gentle and holistic approach and is ease to relate to. At the same time, she is critical of the content and development. She asks the right questions, comes to beautiful insights together and empowers the other person.
For our organization she has made a valuable contribution to the work happiness of our professionals.
Lieke Rigter, regional director VierTaal, Amsterdam
Hélène van Oudheusden works/worked with
Greece
English School of Aphrodite Vati, Lesvos
Dimotiko Sxoleio Molyvos, Lesvos
UNHCR
Save the Children
Netherlands
Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Tilburg
Aventus (VET), Apeldoorn
University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht
Daltonschool Louis Bouwmeester, Amsterdam
Waldorf School Mareland, Leiden
Belgium
De Vinderij (Special Needs Education), Lokeren
Hélène van Oudheusden is a senior personal counselor and trainer based in the Hague, the Netherlands. She is the author of Empower Yourself at Work and Teaching Refugee Children.
Hélène van Oudheusden, Personal Coach is registered as an educational institution with the CRKBO and therefore complies with the quality code for training institutions for short vocational education.
Hélène works in the Netherlands, Germany, Greece & South Africa.
