Curriculum Models
On this page I will talk about the curriculum model that I find most helpful, and relate it to education. Personally, I find that Lev Vygotsky's model about childhood development and education best match with my own views. I especially find Vygotsky's ideas helpful in relation to the younger grades, when children are just beginning to use and understand language.
Lev Vygotsky - this website compares Vygotsky's ideas with Piaget's. I am not saying that Piaget does not have good ideas, but I think that Vygotsky's ideas are more applicable for young children.
Lev Vygotsky - this website compares Vygotsky's ideas with Piaget's. I am not saying that Piaget does not have good ideas, but I think that Vygotsky's ideas are more applicable for young children.
Summary of Vygotsky
Zone of Proximal Development The picture on the left is a diagram that represents what the zone of proximal (ZPD) means. I is when you, as a more skilled individual, encourage and aid the student in completing a task that they could not do on their own. This is not providing instruction, but instead assisting the child. An example of this may be providing feedback, or showing the child different strategies to use when solving a math problem. All of these will increase a child's skills and confidence, and will lead to them being able to perform the skill on their own in time. Development of Language Vygotsky's theory also expanded on children's acquisition and utilization of language. He said that for language to develop, social interactions are needed. He was also the first to document and attempt to explain 'private' speech, the phenomenon when children talk aloud to themselves. Vygotsky said that this was the precursor to internal thought. For early childhood education, it is important to encourage private speech, as it is how a child makes sense of the world, and begins to use increasingly complex language. |
Early Childhood Education
How does this relate to teaching children early in life? I think that this shows that we should be providing opportunities that are challenging to students, and encouraging peer to peer teaching whenever this is possible. This would encourage students to work within the zone of proximal development. I also think that we should be placing an emphasis on language in the early grades. I think that reading aloud to students, and providing them with a good example of language will help them develop these skills themselves. I also think that encouraging engaging conversations between children will improve language skills.
Vygotsky was also in favour of children learning socially, especially by interacting with more skilled individuals. In a classroom, this could be either the teacher, an assistant, or other, more skilled peers. Group work should be encouraged, and closely monitored.
Side Note:
This is just one approach that you could take to teaching. This is but one of hundreds of models that are out there, and I am not saying by an means that it is the best. I have just found that this approach matches that ideas that I have about teaching, and that it fits my own teaching style. Find what works for you! It will benefit you and your students.
Other Resources:
Social Development Theory
Theory of Childhood Development
ZOPD
How does this relate to teaching children early in life? I think that this shows that we should be providing opportunities that are challenging to students, and encouraging peer to peer teaching whenever this is possible. This would encourage students to work within the zone of proximal development. I also think that we should be placing an emphasis on language in the early grades. I think that reading aloud to students, and providing them with a good example of language will help them develop these skills themselves. I also think that encouraging engaging conversations between children will improve language skills.
Vygotsky was also in favour of children learning socially, especially by interacting with more skilled individuals. In a classroom, this could be either the teacher, an assistant, or other, more skilled peers. Group work should be encouraged, and closely monitored.
Side Note:
This is just one approach that you could take to teaching. This is but one of hundreds of models that are out there, and I am not saying by an means that it is the best. I have just found that this approach matches that ideas that I have about teaching, and that it fits my own teaching style. Find what works for you! It will benefit you and your students.
Other Resources:
Social Development Theory
Theory of Childhood Development
ZOPD