Page 52 - SafeCert Approved First Aid for Mental Health at Work (Level 3) | Trainers Manual

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51

Teaching

Writing a reflective diary / self evaluation / Action planning
Teaching
How to Start. You can't write the wrong thing. Whatever you write will
be right - for you.

The initial stage of writing can be a valuable communication with the
self. But in order to allow this relationship with yourself to be
meaningful, you have to tell yourself that the words which cover the
page may not be useful in themselves (you may never need to read
them / allow others to, or you may redraft and edit them out of
recognition); but the act of committing them to paper is invaluable.
Writing is a staged process: every written word does not have to be
perfect.

This first stage of writing is invaluable for reflective writing. It is also, however, fundamentally the
same whether you are writing a story, a report or an essay. Some lucky people create everything Administration
clear in their head before beginning to write, and then write their complete piece without having to
alter a word; their first draft is also more or less their last. But most of us feel we have nothing, or
just a jumble, in our heads initially. Further to this, when confronted with a blank sheet of paper, I
think all sorts of things need to be done before I can begin to write (like looking up just one more
reference, or watering the plants). Although it is possible I am not ready yet to begin on this
dangerous journey, these are usually mere delaying tactics.

Try this method before you start to think about what you are going to write. It involves dumping the
bits and bobs that are cluttering your head onto your paper. Some of these will be useful for the
diary, some might be only your shopping list - (or a general moan!). But if that list is safely on paper,
you'll be able to move on and concentrate more single minded on whatever you should be writing:

Have a go at the how to start method - writing for six minutes without stopping - try and allow your
writing to be purposeless. You may find a subject emerges you wish to pursue for longer. If so -
follow the vein - whatever it is, and the same way of writing, for about twenty minutes.
Lesson Plans
Now you no longer have a blank sheet or screen in front of you. You may have written quite a lot
by now, or only a little seeming rubbish. Don't worry: the six minutes writing sometimes turns up
gold, sometimes dross. It is always useful, however, for beginning to scratch the surface. As you
write in this next way, try and remind yourself this is the first draft only, so it doesn't matter what
you say - because you can redraft it - no-one else need read it. What matters is capturing those
ideas. The main purpose in the trainer diary is to reflect on the course content and how it relates
to you personally, considering your own development. This will include many aspects of the work
undertaken, the style of the teaching, the personalities involved, your own frustrations and
achievements etc. But more importantly it will help you action plan and set targets for future
lessons.

Handouts

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