BIOGRAFÍA

Laulin Osher comenzó su trabajo formal como educadora hace más de 15 años cuando participó en el primer lanzamiento de CosmiKids en el Chopra Center en San Diego, California. Continuó trabajando con niños como asistente de maestro en el centro educativo Harry and Grace Steele Children’s Center en Costa Mesa, y varios otros centros de educación infantil en el sur y norte de California. En el 2010 se graduó con honores de San Francisco State University, donde completó una licenciatura en Desarrollo Humano con un énfasis en Edad Inicial y La Familia. Impulsada por el descubrimiento de nuevas experiencias, Laulin continuó su camino educativo en Uruguay, donde vivió seis años. Ahí impartió talleres de sensibilización para niños de preescolar y primaria en las escuelas rurales, dio clases de Yoga a mujeres en las cárceles, y ayudó a fundar el centro educativo La Colmena, en las Sierras de Rocha. Ahora Laulin Osher reside en México y vive con su familia en la Ecoaldea de Huehuecoyotl, lugar dónde creció en las majestuosas montañas de Tepoztlán, Morelos, y dónde presentemente es la Coordinadora del preescolar en Colegio El Sabino.

INSPIRATION

The story I wish to tell is about my own growth and self-discovery as a human educator. After many years of questioning my self and reflecting upon ways in which I could positively influence the world around me, I finally was able to concretize those thoughts. Realizing how important Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is to an individual’s overall success in life, I wanted to come up with a method of teaching young children tools that could aid them in their own personal development and set the corner stones for the rest of their lives.
In the summer of 2003 I began developing and implementing a unique curriculum I now call Sensory Stimulation and Deprivation (SSD); an evolving pedagogical method for enhancing children’s social and emotional development that fosters and enhances Creative Intelligence (CI). I first introduced this material at a Teacher’s Training Workshop with Cosmikids (http://cosmikids.org) at The Chopra Center, in Carlsbad. Years later, in January 2007 I began my formal career and worked for a year-and-a-half with infants and preschoolers at the Early Childhood Lab School at Orange Coast College and at The Harry and Grace Steele Children's Center in Costa Mesa. There I began learning about Emergent Curriculum and was first introduced to elements of the Reggio Emilia Approach. When I moved to San Francisco to complete my undergraduate degree, I worked at the Associated Students Inc. Early Childhood Education Center on campus. These experiences reinforced my passion and work with children and I became inspired to delve further into Early Childhood Education and develop my own methods of teaching through PLAY.
During Spring of 2010, I had the honor of interning at Cow Hollow School, one of the most phenomenal early childhood educations centers, where I worked side-by-side with children, families, educators, and pioneers in the field. Cow Hollow’s mission emphasizes a child-centered, rich inquiry- and play-based curriculum based on the principles of the Reggio Approach. They integrate a global, ecological, multicultural perspective in their daily emergent curriculum and relationships with children, and I have learned and grown much personally from that experience. I treasure deeply the time I have spent there, and am inspired by the work Director Darcy Campbell has done there. Now I have completed a Bachelors’ Degree at San Francisco State University in Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis on the Young Child and Family and am looking forward to making a positive and significant impact in the educational system. For my future I envision opening alternative schools around the world that will focus on celebrating and nurturing all children’s individual needs and diversity in order for them to develop into their full potential as human beings. By guiding children to follow their dreams with an open heart and explore all the beauty this world has to offer, this world becomes a better version of itself.

FILOSOFÍA Y COSMOVISIÓN

Illustrated by Abe Gurvin.

La tierra es un planeta hermoso. Un paraíso lleno de belleza que podemos disfrutar, si tan sólo abrimos los ojos del corazón. Por esto es imprescindible que juntos encontremos soluciones a los presentes problemas globales, para así volver a encontrar un equilibrio con la tierra y nuestra propia naturaleza humana. 

Como humanidad, nos hemos desviado del camino de la armonía. Nuestras presentes condiciones ambientales, económicas, políticas, sociales y espirituales, necesitan cambios urgentes si es que queremos contrarrestar las amenazas que hoy enfrentamos y volver al equilibrio. En una era donde nos hemos enfocado más en el desarrollo del progreso y del consumo, en lugar del desarrollo humano y espiritual, nuestra civilización se encuentra en una crisis mundial. Muchos seres humanos viven en entornos sobre-estimulados y contaminados, donde problemas como obesidad infantil, déficit de atención, autismo, trastornos de conducta y ansiedad, violencia y otros muchos males y enfermedades más, incrementan a una velocidad alarmante. 

Uniendo nuestras mentes y corazones; juntos, podemos comenzar la re-modelación y re-construcción de nuestra sociedad, a través del trabajo con nuestr@s niñ@s y en su educación. Encauzándolos a desarrollar un mayor respeto por la tierra y ellos mismos, alimentando su sentido de interconectividad con la naturaleza y todos los seres vivos, sensibilizando la empatía, y nutriendo el entendimiento de nuestro propósito de vida como seres creadores; podemos enseñarles y juntos aprender a celebrar la gran diversidad que compartimos como familia de esta comunidad global.

Taller de Sensibilización en Escuela Rural #44. Punta Negra, Uruguay. 2012.

Como padres, madres, educadores, adultos y visionarios de esta época, nuestra prioridad debe ser la inversión en el futuro de nuestr@s hij@s; proporcionándoles aptitudes y actitudes para la vida cotidiana, así como la preparación necesaria para enfrentarse a las tareas y condiciones globales que les hemos heredado. Por esta razón, y porque confío en la transformación y concientización de la raza humana, he dedicado mi vida para ayudar y dar voz a l@s niñ@s de la tierra y apoyarlos en el desarrollo de su potencial. Ellos son los integrantes más jóvenes de nuestra sociedad y el futuro de nuestra humanidad. Hay mucho trabajo por delante y tengo la esperanza que juntos podemos crear un gran cambio en nuestro camino de vuelta a casa, comenzando con amor: un niñ@ y familia a la vez.

PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENT

Illustrated by Abe Gurvin.

Times are changing rapidly and in order to meet today’s social, environmental, economic, political, and spiritual urgencies, extraordinary changes must be made. In an age where we focus more on product development rather than on child development, we now find our civilization at great risk. Furthermore, in an over-stimulating and polluted environment, issues such as child obesity, Attention Deficit Disorders, Autism, Nature Deficit Disorder, sensory integration, violence, and other maladies are increasing at an alarming rate. It is urgent we find solutions to these problems. We can begin the remodeling and reconstruction of society by working with our children in new ways--encouraging and developing in them a sense of respect, interconnectedness, unity, empathy, and understanding about the importance of community. As educators and global visionaries, our first priority must be to invest in our children's future and provide them with the life-skills and sensitivity they will need to confront world tasks. For this reason, and because I have faith in the future of this planet, I have dedicated my life to helping children develop into their full potential as the youngest members of our society. Although there is much work to be done, I believe that there is hope and we can do it by starting small: one child and family at a time.

INSPIRATION

The story I wish to tell is about my own growth and self-discovery as a human educator. After many years of questioning my self and reflecting upon ways in which I could positively influence the world around me, I finally was able to concretize those thoughts. Realizing how important Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is to an individual’s overall success in life, I wanted to come up with a method for teaching young children tools that could aid them in their own personal development and set the corner stones for the rest of their lives.

Escuela Rural #44. Punta Negra, Uruguay. 2012.

At age 16, during the Summer of 2003, I first began developing and implementing a unique technique I now call Sensory Stimulation and Deprivation (SSD). As an evolving pedagogical method, the SSD techniques in conjunction with developmentally appropiate practices, enhance children’s social and emotional development and foster Creative Intelligence (CI). I first introduced this material at a Teacher’s Training Workshop at The Chopra Center in Carlsbad when I became involved in a Deepak Chopra-sponsored educational project in San Diego called CosmiKids (www.cosmikids.org). There, I worked with Founder and CEO Judy Julin at the Chopra Center as a Trainer, Facilitator, and Curriculum Developer in the initial team. Since then, CosmiKids has opened multiple franchises around California and is rapidly expanding. As part of the Initial Curriculum Developing Team, I trained lead teachers and children in these activities; focusing on perceptual development and integral body movement through poi-ball skills, dancing, and storytelling. Thus promoting hand-eye coordination, left-right brain association and creativity in children through play. Additionally, I have also adapted these lesson plans for Spanish-speaking ESL learners, and continue to expand upon them on a regular basis.

Several years later, in January 2007 I began my formal career and worked for a year-and-a-half with infants and preschoolers at the Early Childhood Lab School at Orange Coast College and at The Harry and Grace Steele Children's Center in Costa Mesa. There I began learning about Emergent Curriculum and was first introduced to elements of the Reggio Emilia Approach. When I moved to San Francisco to complete my undergraduate degree, I worked at the Associated Students Inc. Early Childhood Education Center at San Francisco State University. These experiences reinforced my passion and work with children and I became inspired to delve further into Early Childhood Education and develop my own methods of teaching through PLAY.

During Spring of 2010, I had the honor of interning at Cow Hollow School (www.cowhollowschool.org), one of the most phenomenal early childhood educations centers, where I worked side-by-side with children, families, educators, and pioneers in the field. Cow Hollow’s mission emphasizes a child-centered, rich inquiry- and play-based curriculum based on the principles of the Reggio Approach. They integrate global, ecological, multicultural perspectives in their daily emergent curriculum and relationships with children, and I have learned and grown much personally and professionally from that experience. I deeply treasure the time I have spent there, and am inspired by the work Director Darcy Campbell and the Cow Hollow team members have created within the school and community.

Now that I have completed a Bachelors’ Degree at San Francisco State University in Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis on the Young Child and Family, I am looking forward to making a positive and significant impact in the educational system, as an advocate and voice for ALL children. In the future I envision opening alternative schools around the world that will focus on celebrating and nurturing children’s individual needs and diversity so that they can learn to follow their dreams with an open heart and explore all the beauty this world has to offer.

EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY

Growing up in Huehuecoyotl (http://www.huehuecoyotl.net), I was exposed to a colorful gamete of cultures, languages, values, and belief systems. Co-founded by a group of international performing artists, musicians, and activists from countries around the world including Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Argentina, the U.S.A., and Mexico, I attended bilingual, alternative, and active schools that practiced emergent curriculum and inspired children to reach their full potential as individuals. It is from this strong foundation that I have found the strength and courage to follow my dreams, exploring this world with an open heart and mind.

As most teenagers, I began searching for my own identity and under Hollywood media influences, I became inquisitive about the glorified portrayal of American high school. I had the opportunity to explore that curiosity my Junior year when I attended Laguna Beach High School in 2003. After observing the lifestyle and value system this Southern Californian “material world” possessed, I realized how fortunate I was to have received such a phenomenal education and upbringing during my most formative years. After graduating from SOCSA (www.socsarts.org) in 2005, a performing arts school within Dana Hills High School, I attended Orange Coast College. There, I immersed myself in Early Childhood Education classes and worked at several preschools while obtaining my Associate of Arts degree in 2007. During that time I realized what my dream was. Although I had a strong interest in fashion, photography, theatre, dance, music, and fine arts, I realized that becoming an educator could combine all my talents. I could share them with others, and also continue my own personal growth as an artist. What better way to combine my interests than to simultaneously enrich my life while supporting other children’s lives?

Later in 2008 I transferred to San Francisco State University to complete my Bachelors of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development with a concentration in Young Child and Family from which I graduated in May 2010. I always had an interest in and love for kids, so it was natural for Child Development to become my calling. From that point on, I pursued Early Childhood Education classes and gained experience working with young children in the United States, Mexico and Uruguay. NOW my commitment is to assimilate all the skills and education I have acquired throughout my life; ranging from my upbringing and worldviews to my professional certifications in Leadership Training, Waldorf Education, Reggio Emilia Approach, and pedagogy, in order to help, support and guide children and families through this paradigm shift and regeneration of our Earth.