Marcus Conyers, Donna Wilson

Positively Smarter

Science and Strategies for Increasing Happiness, Achievement, and Well-Being

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Positively Smarter brings together seven principles for connecting the science of neuroplasticity to practical strategies for enhancing the synergy of happiness, achievement, and physical well-being. Moving beyond common myths, the text builds an evidence-based paradigm to empower readers to take practical steps to move forward.

Brings together current research on cognitive psychology, education (learning), and implications of neuroscience to suggest powerful ways to enhance the kind of cognitive function and productivity that leads to happiness and success
Applies implications of current research showing that happiness is a skill and that positive affect can lead to higher levels of creative problem solving, productivity, achievement, and well-being
Shares research and strategies for supporting physical activity and nutrition that may enhance neuroplasticity, cognitive performance, and positive affect
Puts learners first and then brings in the science, presenting creative or adaptive strategies that can be applied in the real world
Includes action assessments to guide readers in taking concrete steps to achieve the goals they set for themselves
Identifies deeply held assumptions that innate talent, genes, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity mean that a significant percentage of the population lacks the neurocognitive potential to achieve at higher levels
Draws on the authors' research from a broad range of fields in order to maximize the positive impact of a synergistic approach

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Wiley & Sons
• 1. Auflage
• Seitenzahl: 248
• Erscheinungstermin: 20. Juli 2015
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 226mm x 150mm x 13mm
• Gewicht: 318g
• ISBN-13: 9781118926109
• ISBN-10: 1118926102
• Artikelnr.: 42639216

Autorenporträt

Marcus Conyers and Donna Wilson are codevelopers of curriculum for the master's and educational specialist degrees with majors in brain-based teaching and a doctoral minor in brain-based leadership with Nova Southeastern University. They are authors of numerous books including, Five Big Ideas for Effective Teaching: Connecting Mind, Brain, and Education Research to Classroom Practice, (2013). Marcus Conyers is founder of the Center for Innovative Education and Prevention and an international speaker on increasing higher-order thinking skills, achievement, and well-being. Donna Wilson, PhD, is an educational psychologist and teacher educator who completed postdoctoral studies in structural cognitive modifiability. Former chair of education of the University of Detroit Mercy, she is an adjunct professor at NSU.

Inhaltsangabe

Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1 Appreciating Brain Plasticity: The Key
to Redefining Potential 4 The Path to Positively Smarter 4 Our Personal
Introductions to the Science That Supports Ways for Becoming Positively
Smarter 8 1 Building a Smarter Brain 11 Neuroplasticity in Action 12 Your
Brain at Work: A Continual Construction Zone 14 Beyond Conventional Wisdom:
Harnessing Your Neurocognitive Synergy 21 Intelligence Takes Many Forms 21
People of All Ages Have the Capacity to Improve Their Knowledge and
Abilities 23 What We Do Has a Greater Influence on How We Age Than Genetics
24 How We Think Can Influence Our Health 24 We Can Build Muscle and Become
Stronger Well into Our Eighties 25 It's Hard to Identify the Children Who
Are "Destined for Greatness" 25 Perceptions about Malleable vs. Fixed
Intelligence Matter--a Lot 26 Plasticity as a Path to Becoming Positively
Smarter 29 A New Positive Paradigm 35 The Innate Talent (IT) Paradigm 35
The Untapped Potential (UP) Paradigm 36 2 Why Happiness Matters 41 Reaping
the Many Benefits of Happiness 42 I'll Be Happy When . . . 45 What Is This
Thing Called Happiness? 47 Spirituality and Religion as Sources of
Happiness 51 Tapping into the Science of Happiness 51 Achieving Greater
Happiness Through Practical Metacognition 54 Applying the CIA Model 55 CIA
in Action: Happiness and Subjective Well-Being 57 3 Stop Daydreaming and
Start Thinking Your Way to Higher Levels of Happiness 60 Connecting
Thinking and Feeling 63 The Focused Fifteen 67 1. Savor the Wow of Now 67
2. Work at Maintaining an Upbeat Attitude with Positive Self-Talk 69 3.
Picture a Positive Future 73 4. Kindness the Killer App 74 5. Active
Appreciation: Create and Tune into Your Appreciation Station 76 6. Give It
a Break: Hang Your Problems Away for a While 77 7. Treat Your Relationships
Like a Treasure (Because They Are) 78 8. Pursue Flow 80 9. Pursue Smarter
Goals 80 10. Enhance Your Resilience: Build Your Own Palmetto Fort 82 11.
Untie the Knots That Bind: Free Yourself with Forgiveness 83 12. Move Your
Body, Boost Your Mood 84 13. Smile, and Your Brain Smiles with You 85 14.
Play to Your Peak Strengths 85 15. Practice the Art of Treasuring 86 How to
Be Less HappyMore of the Time 87 Maintain Your Positive Focus by Playing
Your ACE 88 4 Working Toward Achieving Your Goals 92 Realizing Our
Potential 93 "Natural" Talent vs. Deliberate Practice 95 Motivation to Take
Positive Risks 98 Finding "Flow" 101 Putting Your Will to Work 102 Getting
Gritty as a Path to Achievement 106 Build Your "Memory Muscle" to Make the
Most of Your Work 108 A Personal Perspective on the Payoff for Hard Work
111 5 Working Smarter with Practical Metacognition 117 The
Input-Processing-Output Model of Learning 121 Cognitive Assets You Can
Develop to Work Smarter 123 Clear Intent 124 Appropriate Courage 125
Systematic Search and Planning 126 Understanding and Managing Time 127
Cognitive Flexibility 128 Learning from Experience 129 Finishing Power 129
Pacing on the Path to Positively Smarter 131 Practical Metacognition in
Action: Lessons from the Grameen Bank 133 6 Better Together 136 Born to Be
Social: Impact on Health and Well-Being 139 Anatomy of the Social Brain 141
Getting "Socially Smarter" 143 Accentuate the Positive 144 Polish Your
Listening Skills 146 Consider Others' Points of View 147 Establish Rapport
148 Learn Together 149 Become a Great Encourager 150 Contribute to the
"Social Capital" of Your Community 152 Being Social in a High-Tech World
153 7 Building a Smarter Body-Brain System Through Exercise 159 Work Out
the Body to Keep the Brain Young 161 New Muscle Is Young Muscle 163 The
Body-Brain System Inside and Outside the Classroom 166 Reward Your Body
with Adequate Rest 168 Find What You Love 169 Making Exercise Part of Your
Routine 170 Putting the Research on Exercise into Personal Practice 171 Low
Heart Rate Route to Runners' High 173 Winning Our Blades: A Positive Payoff
173 8 Fuel Your Body-Brain System for Peak Performance 177 The Brain
Benefits of "Going Mediterranean" 179 What's on Your Plate? 181 Why and How
to Eat Smarter 182 Better by the Dozen: Twelve Power Foods to Fuel
Well-Being 188 Educational Implications of Becoming "HealthWise" 191 9
Bringing It All Together, Putting It into Practice 197 Forging a New
Foundation Grounded in Neuroplasticity 199 Examples of the UP Paradigm in
Practice 201 Seven Principles of the Positively Smarter Approach 202
Principle 1: Keep Neuroplasticity Front of Mind 203 Principle 2: Build the
Skills of Optimism and Happiness 203 Principle 3: Appreciate Your Potential
to Become Smarter 203 Principle 4: Apply Practical Metacognition and
Cognitive Assets 204 Principle 5: Use Your Social Brain to Enhance
Well-Being and Achievement 204 Principle 6: Get Moving to Grow Your Brain
(and Become Fitter, Stronger, Smarter, and Happier) 205 Principle 7: Fuel
Your Body-Brain System to Enhance Productivity and Learning 205 Capitalize
on Your Neurocognitive Synergy 206 The Practical Metacognition Process for
Pursuing Important Goals 206 Thanks for Joining Us on a Journey to Becoming
Positively Smarter 209 Appendix 212 Index 219 About the Authors 229

Rezensionen

"A fine book that authoritatively communicates the increasing scientific base to empower educators with solid evidence to improve their professional practice and enhance their own well-being. Former works appropriately had to add perhaps and maybes to much of the text."
Robert Sylwester, EdD, University of Oregon

"This book is a captivating read that contains definitive and clear steps to guide the reader on the path to becoming 'positively smarter.' More than a typical 'self-help' book, Positively Smarter provides real, attainable direction for every reader!"

Lisa Holder Lohmann, EdD, University of Central Oklahoma

"Positively Smarter supports parents as they seek strategies that will support their children in an environment that is changing at record speed."
Kelly Rose, EdD, The Out-of-Door Academy

"Positively Smarter is a wonderful resource and thoughtful compilation of ground-breaking research and discoveries into the complex phenomenon of personal success. The integration of scientific data, personal vignettes, and practical suggestions for making positive changes in one's life drives home the idea that with effort, perseverance, hope, and setting realistic goals, we can all succeed."
Carol Mikulka, MD Psychiatrist, Founder and President, Walden School