Positively Smarter

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.

• Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1Appreciating Brain Plasticity: The Key to Redefining Potential 4The Path to Positively Smarter 4Our Personal Introductions to the Science That Supports Ways for Becoming Positively Smarter 81 Building a Smarter Brain 11Neuroplasticity in Action 12Your Brain at Work: A Continual Construction Zone 14Beyond Conventional Wisdom: Harnessing Your Neurocognitive Synergy 21Intelligence Takes Many Forms 21People of All Ages Have the Capacity to Improve Their Knowledge and Abilities 23What We Do Has a Greater Influence on How We Age Than Genetics 24How We Think Can Influence Our Health 24We Can Build Muscle and Become Stronger Well into Our Eighties 25It’s Hard to Identify the Children Who Are “Destined for Greatness” 25Perceptions about Malleable vs. Fixed Intelligence Matter—a Lot 26Plasticity as a Path to Becoming Positively Smarter 29A New Positive Paradigm 35The Innate Talent (IT) Paradigm 35The Untapped Potential (UP) Paradigm 362 Why Happiness Matters 41Reaping the Many Benefits of Happiness 42I’ll Be Happy When . . . 45What Is This Thing Called Happiness? 47Spirituality and Religion as Sources of Happiness 51Tapping into the Science of Happiness 51Achieving Greater Happiness Through Practical Metacognition 54Applying the CIA Model 55CIA in Action: Happiness and Subjective Well-Being 573 Stop Daydreaming and Start Thinking Your Way to Higher Levels of Happiness 60Connecting Thinking and Feeling 63The Focused Fifteen 671. Savor the Wow of Now 672. Work at Maintaining an Upbeat Attitude with Positive Self-Talk 693. Picture a Positive Future 734. Kindness the Killer App 745. Active Appreciation: Create and Tune into Your Appreciation Station 766. Give It a Break: Hang Your Problems Away for a While 777. Treat Your Relationships Like a Treasure (Because They Are) 788. Pursue Flow 809. Pursue Smarter Goals 8010. Enhance Your Resilience: Build Your Own Palmetto Fort 8211. Untie the Knots That Bind: Free Yourself with Forgiveness 8312. Move Your Body, Boost Your Mood 8413. Smile, and Your Brain Smiles with You 8514. Play to Your Peak Strengths 8515. Practice the Art of Treasuring 86How to Be Less HappyMore of the Time 87Maintain Your Positive Focus by Playing Your ACE 884 Working Toward Achieving Your Goals 92Realizing Our Potential 93“Natural” Talent vs. Deliberate Practice 95Motivation to Take Positive Risks 98Finding “Flow” 101Putting Your Will to Work 102Getting Gritty as a Path to Achievement 106Build Your “Memory Muscle” to Make the Most of Your Work 108A Personal Perspective on the Payoff for Hard Work 1115 Working Smarter with Practical Metacognition 117The Input–Processing–Output Model of Learning 121Cognitive Assets You Can Develop to Work Smarter 123Clear Intent 124Appropriate Courage 125Systematic Search and Planning 126Understanding and Managing Time 127Cognitive Flexibility 128Learning from Experience 129Finishing Power 129Pacing on the Path to Positively Smarter 131Practical Metacognition in Action: Lessons from the Grameen Bank 1336 Better Together 136Born to Be Social: Impact on Health and Well-Being 139Anatomy of the Social Brain 141Getting “Socially Smarter” 143Accentuate the Positive 144Polish Your Listening Skills 146Consider Others’ Points of View 147Establish Rapport 148Learn Together 149Become a Great Encourager 150Contribute to the “Social Capital” of Your Community 152Being Social in a High-Tech World 1537 Building a Smarter Body–Brain System Through Exercise 159Work Out the Body to Keep the Brain Young 161New Muscle Is Young Muscle 163The Body–Brain System Inside and Outside the Classroom 166Reward Your Body with Adequate Rest 168Find What You Love 169Making Exercise Part of Your Routine 170Putting the Research on Exercise into Personal Practice 171Low Heart Rate Route to Runners’ High 173Winning Our Blades: A Positive Payoff 1738 Fuel Your Body–Brain System for Peak Performance 177The Brain Benefits of “Going Mediterranean” 179What’s on Your Plate? 181Why and How to Eat Smarter 182Better by the Dozen: Twelve Power Foods to Fuel Well-Being 188Educational Implications of Becoming “HealthWise” 1919 Bringing It All Together, Putting It into Practice 197Forging a New Foundation Grounded in Neuroplasticity 199Examples of the UP Paradigm in Practice 201Seven Principles of the Positively Smarter Approach 202Principle 1: Keep Neuroplasticity Front of Mind 203Principle 2: Build the Skills of Optimism and Happiness 203Principle 3: Appreciate Your Potential to Become Smarter 203Principle 4: Apply Practical Metacognition and Cognitive Assets 204Principle 5: Use Your Social Brain to Enhance Well-Being and Achievement 204Principle 6: Get Moving to Grow Your Brain (and Become Fitter, Stronger, Smarter, and Happier) 205Principle 7: Fuel Your Body–Brain System to Enhance Productivity and Learning 205Capitalize on Your Neurocognitive Synergy 206The Practical Metacognition Process for Pursuing Important Goals 206Thanks for Joining Us on a Journey to Becoming Positively Smarter 209Appendix 212Index 219About the Authors 229