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.
EP214 Simplify your blended learning workload (with Dr. Catlin Tucker)
EP213 The breaking point that led to my sabbatical (and what’s next)
EP212 The train's leaving the station. Are you on board?
EP211 Find the small good things. Take the next right steps.
EP210 How to be quietly subversive and make the standards meaningful (with Dr. Robyn Jackson)
EP209 For the teachers who are not okay right now...
EP208 The best ideas from the Distance Learning Playbook: An uplifting convo with Doug of Fisher & Frey
EP207 Do you hold these 3 limiting beliefs about students?
EP206 Humanizing your classroom so kids are known, valued, respected, & safe (with Dave Stuart Jr.)
EP205 When doing your best just isn't good enough...
EP204 Differentiation: What new opportunities are possible now?
EP203 Feeling like a first year teacher again? Remember these 5 things.
EP202 How to plan activities that work for in-person, remote, AND hybrid instruction
EP201 Freedom dreaming & who we need to BE for kids this year (with Tanesha Forman)
EP200 How to plan for the first weeks of school when everything feels uncertain
Flexible resilience: My manifesto for the coming school year
A message of hope + call to action
EP199 Ending the school year virtually + crisis classroom closeout tips
EP198 Three sneaky ways perfectionism is holding you back (even if you think you’re not a perfectionist)
EP197 Creating systemic change and solving problems before they happen (with Dan Heath)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Real English Conversations Podcast - Learn to Speak & Understand Real English with Confidence!
» Divine Intervention Podcasts
Betrayal Trauma Recovery - BTR.ORG
EconTalk
Cram The Pance