Vygotsky's Zone Of Proximal Development

The first example that shows the socialization of Vygotsky’s theory is learning to ride a bike. Most children in our neighborhood ride their bicycles without training wheels. However, my son who is five was still using his bike that had the training wheels but wanted to take them off to be like the other kids. This is connected to the cognitive theory by my child knowing the motor skills to use to ride a bike but having to still use the training wheels to ride his bike. For him to accomplish his goal he needed the zone of proximal development approach and the use of the scaffolding technique. As his father, I have experience riding bikes and know that he and the basic understanding of how to ride a bike but need more information and tools to move more toward independency when riding his bicycle. I provided my son with more knowledge that would help him ride his “big boy” by telling him to always keep pedaling and to keep the handles straight so he avoids

The zone of proximal development, often abbreviated as ZPD, is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she cannot do. The concept was introduced, but not fully developed, by psychologist Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_of_proximal_development)

Assessment is a valuable tool to measure students learning and achievement. It is an essential element for teacher to reflect on what and how they teach. To assess students is to collect evidence of their learning. Teachers use the information to modify their lesson plans and adjust their instructional methods; students need feedback on their performance to concentrate on their vulnerable areas. Assessment is necessary for parents to reinforce their children strength and assist them where extra attention is required. The data collected will inform school

Ch. 2 – Who are the various users of assessment and its results? What specific instructional decisions can be made based on assessment results? Why must we build balanced assessment systems to support the instructional programs we offer students? This chapter nails down the purpose of assessing, which is gathering information to inform teachers of students of their instruction and learning, respectively. In this way, assessment is individualized to each student and classroom, and because all students/classes are different, it should inform the teachers of what is working or not working in the classroom, which should then influence some sort of change to instruction. This chapter also talks about the different levels of assessment – from the individuals

In early childhood education classrooms, teachers utilize assessments for a variety of reasons. Assessments are used to detect strengths in weaknesses in a specific area of study as well as the differences in the students’’ learning the classroom (Stiggins, 2007). Teachers utilize this information in order to direct instruction in the classroom to best benefit the students in it. There are various types of assessments for education, many geared toward early literacy skills. Two of the more common literacy skill tests for early childhood education are the Gray Oral Reading Test (GORT) and the Early Reading Diagnostic Assessment (ERDA), both of which assess reading for young students. Using the information from the GORT and the ERDA, a teacher can create a pre-assessment and a post assessment for phonics and phonemic awareness.

Assessment is often thought of as a punitive exercise. But the purpose of assessment is to ensure that students meet specific standards of progress and to rectify learning deficits before a child falls too far behind. Assessment can also identify a child's strengths as well as his or her weaknesses. As well as comparing the child's performance with his or her peers, the teacher can assess specific learning needs, learning styles, interests, aptitudes, and other critical components of the child's developing learning personality.

Chapter two summary talks about the purpose of reading assessment which there three; identifying the students reading behaviors, determining reading level, and assess students’ progress. When you’re a good reader you don’t realize the different ways you read different genre or material like a story versus informational text and how both are different methods of comprehension, questioning, and vocabulary. Another part of reading good readers don’t know about is that we exhibit a variety of behaviors like building their lexicon, making inferences and determining which information is important. The purpose of reading assessment is to assess the reader’s level. The common assessment is testing the student’s ability to read and comprehend text at different grade levels. Another way of knowing the student has a reading problem is when they are able to read their own grade level text but instead a lower level text, Besides that they are put into three levels of reading; instructional level, independent level, and frustration level. When determining the students reading level so many factors comes into play and as teachers we need to know.

Teachers routinely monitor and assess the reading levels and progress of individual students. This ongoing evaluation directs and informs instruction.

Assessments are vital to the educational process. They provide feedback about what the students know and what they may need to learn in order to obtain the content within a given curriculum. It provides teachers with a glimpse into the student’s readiness on a particular topic or subject. One of the six key principles of having an effective differentiated classroom is having a formative assessment that informs teachers on the effectiveness of their teaching. It also provides teachers with the readiness levels of their students and shows them exactly where the students’ readiness, interests, and learning profile needs really are (Tomlinson, 2014).

During the assessment regarding concepts about print the three students I assessed (A,T,WG) performed at a level that I somewhat predicted but was still surprised by. The children that I assessed would need remediation understanding the formation of a book and how it is supposed to be read. As well as the difference between their right and left sides. If the teacher would read more often with the students and physically show them where to start reading in a book or what is a short word and what is a long word the students will get the practice they needs.

The use of formal and informal reading assessments provide important data that allow educators to identify at risk students (Tompkins, 2010). The data collected from the assessments address any factors that may prohibit the development of students’ reading and writing skills. In addition to the assessments, the more an educator can learn about students’ backgrounds and their past reading, language development, and writing experiences the more instructional strategies can be designed to specifically meet the needs of diverse learners in the classroom.

Literacy assessment results can and should be transmitted to students and parents in ways that foster literacy growth and help make students successful learners. Parris, Fisher, and Headley (2009) state that assessment practices signal to everyone what counts in the classroom (p. 117). Parris, Fisher, and Headley (2009) describe “two different types of learning assessment: assessment of (summative) and assessment for (formative)” (p. 117). The purpose of Assessment of Learning (AoL), according to Parris, Fisher, and Headley (2009), is reporting out, summative assessment, and measuring learning for parents and the public (p. 118). Likewise, Parris, Fisher, and Headley (2009) declare the purpose of Assessment for Learning (AfL) is guiding instruction,

Assessments are a critical tool in monitoring the progress of English language learners at all grade levels. The main purpose of assessments is to ensure students are receiving quality teaching instruction in accordance to academic and content standards. Even though these tests are not the only resource used for testing students, they provide teachers with invaluable data to determine if the student is growing in certain academic areas. There are several types of assessment that can be used to measure a student’s progress. In this paper, various alternatives to

Assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning and development (Palomba & Banta, 1999). Educational assessments are carried out to measure the efficiency of the program, the quality of instruction and progress of a child’s learning. The purpose is to determine the growth and development.

Assessments are integral parts of instruction, they determine whether classroom goals have been achieved, and help teachers know what areas they should focus on and maybe reteach. They are great tools for developing lesson plans and answer questions such as; “do my students possess full understanding of the material?” There are many ways of assessing students’ learning, one of which I have personal experience with are on-the-spot assessments.