"Success experiences lead to confidence in one's own abilities. It is my goal to give teachers and trainers more insight into their own qualities, so that they stand in front of a group with confidence". One of the tools I use, is video coaching. In addition to coaching and training, I assist educational institutions in designing and setting up projects for teacher professionalisation. My training and coaching are practical and based on latest academic insights. Next to that, I know how to give participants the confidence and enthusiasm to try out new things.

PORTFOLIO

EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS IN AFRICA

Educational projects in Africa
Who: Edukans Foundation
Goal: Training of teachers & trainers, curriculum development and project management.
Where: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

EDUCATIONAL DESIGN FOR NGOs (Aflatoun)

Educational design for NGOs
Who: Aflatoun Netherlands
Goal: Train trainers from various countries in higher order teacher skills & develop educational modules.
Where: Curricula used in Ghana and the Netherlands.

EDUCATIONAL DESIGN FOR NGOs (Nuffic & MSM)

Educational design for NGOs
Who: Nuffic & MSM
Goal: Curriculum development and train the trainers in vocational and higher (agriculture) education in Jordan.

TRAINING OF TEACHER TRAINEES

Training of teacher trainees
Goal: Provide pedagogical lectures and mentoring.
Who: Novice teachers.
Where: At the teacher training institute of the University of Utrecht.

TRAINING OF TEACHER COACHES

Training of teacher coaches
Goal: Train the trainers in learning how to apply video coaching with teachers or at team level.
Where: Training provided at various various educational Institutions.

TRAININGS IN COACHING

Trainings in coaching
Who: For mentors in various sectors.
Goal: Getting knowledge and skills in coaching and to learn how to apply Transactional Analysis in coaching.

INDIVIDUAL VIDEO COACHING

Individual video coaching
Goal: Insight into one's own actions in teacher-learner relationship, instruction and classroom management.
Who: For teachers and teams in education.

COACHING OF NOVICES IN TEACHING

Coaching of novices in teaching
Goal: Quick growth in teaching skills and to gain confidence.
Who: For novice teachers.
Where: In all educational levels.

ASSESSMENTS OF SIDE-ENTRY ENTRANTS IN TEACHING

Assessments of side-entry entrants in teaching
Who: For various higher education institutions (e.g. IPABO).
Goal: To carry out assessments with side entrants in primary and secondary education.

OFFERINGS

TRAINING

As a teacher trainer at the University of Amsterdam and as a coach, the focus in my training courses is always on the connection between current theory and its applicability in practice. In addition, I think it is important that you learn to underpin what you work for; the where to your teaching'. I offer various training courses that can be organized in-company:

Video coaching for teacher coaches.
Coaching skills for anyone with an ambition to coach.
Transactional Analysis for teacher coaches.
Tailor-made pedagogical-didactical training courses.

COACHING

I start from the qualities that are present in someone, and look at what is needed to strengthen that quality. The aim is to align thinking, wanting, feeling and acting. The starting point is the learning need. Depending on this need, we choose the appropriate form of coaching:

video coaching: A constructive way of looking at one's own actions on video.
Coaching of teaching skills using scientifically based observation tools such as the ICALT form.
Long term coaching: sustainably improving actions by examining one's own beliefs, norms and values.

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

I assist educational institutions in developing curricula and designing and setting up projects aimed at the professionalisation of teachers and teacher trainers. I support projects aimed at novice teachers (Didactief); as I firmly believe that investing in quality mentoring contributes to success experiences and thereby the desire to keep teaching.

Project management for educational projects in the Netherlands and abroad.
Supervising the development of induction programmes for novice teachers.
Developing curricula & teaching materials for NGO’s.
Designing train the trainers programmes.

If you are interested in one of the courses or just want more information please contact me below.

SIGN-UP | CONTACT

NATASJA

Keywords: Committed, relaxed, adventurous, analytical, empathic, inquisitive, working towards believe in own doing.

In 1998, during a trekking in Nepal, an unexpected teaching moment arose when two Nepalese kids asked my help to solve a mathematical problem. At this moment, my drive for education and for the personal development of everyone started. After finishing my studies , I started working as a project manager in Kenya for an education/web design project for young people from the slums in Nairobi. Then I knew for sure: I am going to teach! By now, I have been working in education in the Netherlands and abroad for almost 20 years. I have had the chance to do educational projects in various countries and taught Social Studies at Dutch secondary schools.

Soon, I wanted to train others and started to work at the Teacher Training Institute of the University of Amsterdam as teacher trainer and coach and later on as project leader. In 2017, I started my own company next to my work at the UoA; a long cherished dream!

My expertise lies in the field of continuous professional development of teachers and trainers in education and beyond. An important principal in my work is looking at what qualities someone already brings along and how they can be put to effective use. It is my firm believe, that becoming aware of your own qualities and successes, contributes to your personal and professional development.

I am an adventurer; I have worked and travelled a lot in Africa and Asia. These experiences reflect in me being flexible, cultural sensitive and open and interested in who I work with.

I am looking forward working with you!

CV | LinkedIn

REFERENCES

"Natasja has a long-standing relationship with Aflatoun International. She designed and delivered two-days of training to our week-long Global Master Trainers event. The sessions – looking at active-learning, questioning strategies, formative assessment and its links to feedback – were impeccably designed, interactive and dynamic. They were undoubtedly the highlight of the week. Some thirty experienced Aflatoun teacher-trainers benefitted from participating in this workshop and Natasja’s work was greeted with a standing ovation at the end. As well as being a conscientious and diligent planner, Natasja’s global experience has taught her how to quickly read and communicate with a multi-cultural crowd. She manages the perfect balance of seriousness and playfulness and her remarks manage to find the perfect register for a group of diverse participants. Natasja’s work is always focused on practical applications but she brings with her the rigor of an academic background. Participants who attend her theory quickly gain a grounding in theory, a knowledge of how to apply that practically, and the confidence and enthusiasm to do so"

PAUL MOCLAIR,
AFLATOUN TRAINING LEAD

"It's always great working with Natasja as a teacher trainer in Kenya! Through Active Teaching and Learning program, Natasja has transformed over 250 primary school teachers and 15 teacher trainers in Kenya from being teacher centered to learner centered! And wait, this means over 20,000 pupils in Kenya can now enjoy the freedom of learning! One teacher (Judith) from Keveye primary remarked "I will never be the same teacher again...this training renewed me...". Thanks Natasja for this great work! Looking forward to many more trainings. I have learned a lot as a teacher trainer too."

EDWIN BULUMA,
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION EXPERT AT EDUKANS KENYA

"I have worked together with Natasja in different training and coaching projects for more than 10 years. Natasja is an skilled teacher educator and coach with broad experience training teachers in African countries and the Netherlands. Her social and intercultural skills make working with her a pleasure. On top of that she is an excellent project manager."

MARK HOEKSMA,
EDUCATION SPECIALIST AT EDUKANS

"Natasja is a good listener and can ask the right questions. She is reliable, empathic, attentive and has a vision on global education and professional development. And not unimportant: she has humor!"

DR. MARRIT VAN DE GUCHTE
EDUCATOR & RESEARCHER UOA

"Natasja is open, committed and involved and sociable! Natasja is very skilled and you learn a lot from her. She can transfer the content in an interesting way (materials also neatly cared for, everything ready on time) and leaves everyone in his or her worth. She is flexible (see at the start of the coronacrisis) and doesn't panic, so she knows how to find a way to finish the course successfully. I would like to take another course with her!"

PAULINE STURM,
TEACHER TRAINER HVA

"I was coached by Natasja. As a novice teacher, I wanted to get a better understanding of my classroom behavior and my interaction with students. Video coaching has helped me enormously: what signals do you send out, how is your non-verbal communication and how do the students react to it. Natasja is an involved video coach with an integral approach. She looks beyond the video; which factors are further relevant, are there any personal obstacles? She takes all these things into her coaching in order to help you achieve your personal learning goals. In a relatively short period of time, I have gained a lot of insight into my own actions and have been able to give a positive impulse to my interaction with students. For me, this was a very valuable trajectory"

RICHARD VAN ZOOILINGEN,
NOVICE TEACHER SECONDARY EDUCATION

"Natasja can ask the right questions, is a fast and creative thinker and, because of her many years of experience abroad, she is flexible in various work situations."

JORIEN VOLLAARD,
PROJECT MANAGER FRISSE START

"I really appreciate Natasja as a trainer. Natasja balances professionally between, on the one hand, being an experienced expert and, on the other hand, a warm person with strong empathic abilities. She provides ample time to transfer knowledge and skills and is also very good at responding to the needs of each students. An exemplary role when it comes to coaching! During this enjoyable and instructive training in coaching, I have not only learned to observe and guide others through coaching, but I have also learned a lot about myself. In short, a very nice, instructive and practical training!"

ENRIKO IPSA,
TEACHER SECONDARY EDUCATION

"INatasja has coached me for a short time as video coach during my side-entry process as a primary school teacher. I experienced her coaching as very motivating. She has the talent to look at personal development from the perspective of one’s qualities. Natasja is curious, honest, open and sharp. Thank you for trusting Natasja!"

MANON PEPPER CORN,
SIDE-ENTRY PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER

"IIn addition to her expertise in training & coaching of teachers, Natasja has qualities in research / monitoring & evaluation of educational projects in developing countries."

HENDRIEN MAAT,
SENIOR EDUCATION EXPERT EDUKANS

"In the spring of 2019, I was coached by Natasja in preparation for the side-entry into primary education. The coaching of Natasja was very valuable to me. Natasja has a very pleasant way of coaching. She can observe very well and translate this into practical tips and advice. As a side-entrant in teaching, this is especially important because you have to learn a lot of new skills in a short period of time. Also thanks to Natasja, I was able to make a good start in teaching."

BEREND JONKER,
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER

"Last year, I attended the video coaching course delivered by Natasja. During the training she managed to create a safe and relaxed atmosphere. Natasja was not afraid to go off the beaten path and respond to the needs of the group."

YORAM SNATERSEN,
PE TEACHER

"The video coach training provided by Natasja is very practical; there is always a link to daily practice and there are ample opportunities to bring in your own learning questions. Natasja brings the theory of video coaching very clear and enthusiastic and takes along all students during the process. Learning to look at classroom interactions in a small way, creates awareness for the teacher who is being filmed and for the video coach."

LIESBETH VLAAR,
TEACHER COACH AND TEACHER SECONDARY

"I attended the training video coaching with Natasja Maas. The content of the training is very interesting and Natasja knows exactly what she is talking about. It is clear that she has worked a lot with video coaching so she can really speak from experience. The examples she gives are relevant and interesting. Natasja knows how to tune the course to the wishes of the students, so that each student can learn for himself or herself what he or she came for. During the course I gained insights about my own functioning and my own thinking patterns, which was very instructive and interesting! I would recommend this course and Natasja Maas as trainer to everyone!"

GWENDOLYN DOCTOR,
TEACHER COACH AND TEACHER SECONDARY