Social Constructivism by Melissa Chiri

1. Lev Vygotsky, Russian Scholar, Grandfather of Social Constructivist Theory

2. Children learn as a result of their social interactions with others.

2.1. Socially shared experiences INTERNALIZE cognitively.

2.2. The process of learning to read is included in this.

3. Development depends upon the sign (language, writing, and counting) systems in which children grow up.

3.1. language signs are the tools children need to think and respond to the world.

4. "Zone of Proximal Development"

4.1. ideal level of task difficulty: child can be successful with appropriate support, but too difficult to do independently

4.2. SCAFFOLDING: assistance from adults and more competent peers during learning. Could be clues, reminders, breaking things into steps, examples.

4.3. requires DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION within the classroom