How to teach with strengths in mind
Spotlight on Strengths is our newest short course designed to help you teach with a strengths-based lens—featuring our Young Neurodiversity Champions and expert educators.
It’s quick. It’s practical. It’s packed with tools and fresh ideas you can use straight away.
Why strengths?
Focusing on strengths isn’t just a feel-good extra. It’s a proven, powerful way to boost engagement, wellbeing, and connection—especially for neurodivergent learners.
This course shows you how to spot strengths beyond academics, and how to use them to light the spark in your students.
What’s in the course?
You’ll get clear on what we mean by “strengths”—and how to recognise them in everyday learning. You’ll explore practical ways to:
You’ll wrap up with your own action plan to put your learning into practice right away.
Identify and work with student strengths
Help students recognise and use their own strengths
Use strengths as a launchpad for learning and connection
How it works
There are four short lessons—around 30 minutes each. Work through them at your own pace, using the workbook to jot down what matters to you.
Each lesson follows a simple format:
An activation question to get you thinking
A quick read on the key idea
A short video from one of our presenters
Key ideas in a nutshell
Ideas to try in your classroom
Want more? Extra links if you’re curious
At the end, you can request a Certificate of Completion to add to your PLD record.
Get started!
You must be a member of the Building A Neuroinclusive School Community to access this course. The community is free to join and is funded by the Ministry of Education as a network of expertise for New Zealand teachers and others working in education.
If you are not yet a member, you can join by clicking the button below.
When you join, you will be sent a confirmation email which includes a link to our learning platform on LearnWorlds, and your log-in details.
If you joined prior to May 2024, you were sent these details by email during May. If you can’t find this or are having any other difficulties, please contact bns@neurodiversity.org.nz.