Neuro Journal Training For Teaching Staff, Support & Tutors

This course is designed to help educators, tutors, and support staff make the most of the Neuro Journal—a specialized tool created to support and engage neurodiverse students in their personal and educational journeys. Participants will learn how to effectively incorporate the Neuro Journal into their teaching practices, fostering a supportive and responsive environment for students with autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse needs. The course will cover how to utilize the journal’s features to encourage self-reflection, improve organization, and build communication skills, as well as how to observe and interpret journal entries to better understand and support each student’s unique challenges and strengths. By mastering the Neuro Journal, staff will be able to create a more inclusive learning experience that is responsive to the needs of neurodiverse students.

​

Course Objectives:

​

• Learn Effective Use of the Neuro Journal: Teach staff how to implement the Neuro Journal in a structured and beneficial way, ensuring it becomes an integral part of students’ routine.

​

• Enhance Engagement and Self-Reflection: Equip staff with strategies to encourage neurodiverse students to engage with the journal, using it as a tool for self-expression and self-awareness.

​

• Identify Key Observations: Provide guidance on what to look for in students’ journal entries and how to interpret these insights to better support their individual learning needs and goals.

​

Course Topics:

1. Introduction to the Neuro Journal

   • Overview of Purpose and Features: A comprehensive introduction to the Neuro Journal, including its objectives, layout, and the types of activities and prompts it contains.

   • Understanding the Benefits for Neurodiverse Students: Exploring how journaling can support emotional regulation, organization, and communication skills in students with autism, ADHD, and related neurodiverse needs.

   • Establishing Journal Use as a Routine: Tips for integrating the journal into students’ daily or weekly routines to build comfort, consistency, and engagement.

2. Encouraging Student Engagement and Buy-In

   • Introducing the Journal in a Positive Way: Techniques for presenting the Neuro Journal as a tool for empowerment and self-expression rather than as a task or requirement.

   • Adapting to Individual Preferences and Sensory Needs: Customizing journal activities and routines to align with each student’s unique preferences, including sensory considerations, writing preferences, and interests.

   • Building Student Confidence and Ownership: Using positive reinforcement and open-ended prompts to help students take pride in their journaling, encouraging self-reflection and independence.

3. Making the Most of Journal Activities and Prompts

   • Daily and Weekly Check-In Prompts: How to guide students through reflective prompts and activities, helping them express thoughts, set goals, and track their emotions and accomplishments.

   • Organization and Planning Pages: Teaching students to use sections of the journal designed for task management and goal-setting, aiding their time-management and organizational skills.

   • Exploring Creative Expression: Encouraging students to use drawing, writing, or other forms of self-expression to personalize their journal, making it a tool for creativity as well as self-awareness.

4. Observing and Interpreting Journal Entries

   • What to Look For: Key patterns and indicators to watch for in students’ responses, including shifts in mood, recurring challenges, or areas of excitement and engagement.

   • Interpreting Student Reflections: Techniques for understanding and responding to the insights students provide in their journal entries, helping staff better understand each student’s unique needs and strengths.

   • Recognizing Opportunities for Support: Using journal entries to identify when students may need additional support, encouragement, or intervention, promoting early identification of potential challenges.

5. Facilitating Constructive Conversations Based on Journal Entries

   • Engaging Students in Reflection: Encouraging students to reflect on their own journal entries, helping them build self-awareness and better understand their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

   • Using Journal Insights in One-on-One Support: Applying information from journal entries in personal tutoring or mentoring sessions to provide tailored guidance and support.

   • Promoting Goal-Setting and Self-Advocacy: Helping students set realistic goals and build self-advocacy skills by discussing their progress, setbacks, and achievements reflected in their journal entries.

6. Integrating the Journal with Broader Educational Goals

   • Aligning Journal Use with Learning Objectives: Connecting journal activities to specific learning goals or social-emotional outcomes, creating a bridge between self-reflection and academic progress.

   • Collaborating with Other Staff Members: Sharing insights from the Neuro Journal with other educators, tutors, or support staff to promote consistency and team support in responding to students’ needs.

   • Evaluating Progress Over Time: Tracking each student’s journey with the Neuro Journal and reflecting on how it enhances their engagement, self-management, and resilience over the course of the term or school year.

​

Course Format: This interactive workshop includes lectures, group discussions, role-play scenarios, and hands-on practice with the Neuro Journal, allowing participants to experience journal activities from a student’s perspective. Participants will engage in guided exercises to familiarize themselves with different sections of the journal, discuss best practices for student engagement, and practice interpreting mock entries. This course can be tailored to suit the needs of different staff roles and can be delivered in small or large group formats.

​

Ideal Outcomes: By the end of the course, participants will feel confident in implementing and supporting Neuro Journal use in the classroom or during one-on-one tutoring sessions. They will gain skills to effectively introduce, monitor, and interpret journal entries, using these insights to foster a deeper connection with students and a more supportive learning environment. Staff members will be equipped to use the Neuro Journal as a powerful tool for encouraging self-awareness, independence, and emotional regulation among neurodiverse students, ultimately enhancing student engagement and well-being.