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.
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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.
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EP187 Eight simple ways to move toward a zero-waste classroom (with Heidi Rose)
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EP185 Using inquiry to help kids develop critical consciousness (with Jess Lifshitz)
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EP182 The Weekend Effect: Why your time off is worth fighting for (with Katrina Onstad)
EP181 Four things your school psychologist wishes you knew about sped referrals (with Dr. Rebecca Branstetter)
EP180 Real talk on communicating with difficult colleagues at school
EP179 Out the door by 4: Streamlining Friday afternoon planning (Rebecca’s coaching call)
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