Angela Watson’s Truth for Teachers
Education:Courses
Have you ever noticed how breakthroughs often come when you're not actively trying to find a solution? That's diffuse thinking at work: a relaxed state in which creativity flourishes.
On today’s episode of Truth for Teachers, I’ll share how stepping back can lead us forward. It turns out that intense concentration isn't always the best approach to problem solving, and we can instead let our minds wander through the meandering paths of diffuse thinking.
Focused thinking is a bit like a flashlight—intense & concentrated. Diffuse thinking is like ambient room lighting—gentle & expansive. When you (or students) can’t concentrate, you can harness the power of diffuse thinking. This shift in mindset from focused to diffuse can spark innovation and creativity.
Listen in to discover how to use diffuse thinking when you've pushed your limits in focused thinking, and harness the power of diffuse thinking overnight during sleep. (Your dreams can be a powerful tool for problem-solving, too!)
You’ll also hear how you can teach your students to tap into the power of diffuse thinking. I’ll share how to incorporate "thinking walks" into your instruction, try skygazing with students as a productive mental break, prime students for their next lesson with a question that requires diffuse thinking.
——
If you teach at the secondary level, check out my 10 lesson unit on Focused Attention. It includes a lesson on harnessing the power of diffuse thinking which takes just 15-20 minutes to implement. The resource has slides you show to your class which explain everything for you and guides you through the activities, including a student journal page that helps kids reflect on the topic. In this unit, students will also learn that it’s okay to struggle with focusing their attention, and learn how to:
Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion.
EP143 Who else is dealing with anxiety & drowning in work?
EP142 A crash course on trauma-informed teaching
EP141 Twelve ways to deal with colleagues who constantly complain
EP140 Five habits that help me automate & simplify my life
EP139 How to keep teaching from ruining your marriage
EP138 Five ways to simplify prep for substitutes
EP137 Why great teachers get saddled with the biggest workload (and how to advocate for yourself)
EP136 Ask me anything: Quick answers to 12 teacher questions
EP135 Real talk on how to make differentiation less time-consuming
EP134 Five things I’m embarrassed to tell you
EP133 A quick trick to lessen anxiety during the first weeks of school
A few changes coming for this season…
I *am* podcasting this summer (just not here)...
EP132 How to make a (realistic) plan for summer that will leave you feeling rejuvenated
EP131 What would life look like if you valued your time as much as you value your money?
EP130 Hacks, tips, and tricks for digital organization & saving time with tech (Productivity Roundtable)
EP129 How to take charge of your teaching evaluation
EP128 Daily routines makeover: How to maximize your time at school so you can work less at home
EP127 Four steps to deconstructing your classroom in just ONE day
EP126 How YOUR response to student behavior can change the trajectory of a child’s life & disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Betrayal Trauma Recovery - BTR.ORG
Real English Conversations Podcast - Learn to Speak & Understand Real English with Confidence!
» Divine Intervention Podcasts
EconTalk
The Simple Nursing Podcast - The Simplest Way To Pass Nursing School