In this book Peter Smagorinsky reconsiders his many publications employing Vygotsky’s theory of culturally-mediated human development and applies them, through a unified and coherent series of chapters, to literacy research. This exploration takes previously-published work and incorporates it into a new and sustained argument regarding the application of Vygotsky’s ideas to current questions regarding the nature of literacy and how to investigate it as a cultural phenomenon that contributes to human growth in social context. To conduct this inquiry, Smagorinsky first provides an overview that contextualizes Vygotsky both in his own time and in efforts to extrapolate from his Soviet origins to the 21st Century world. This consideration includes attention to the current context for literacy studies. He then reviews current conceptions of literacy in the realms of reading, writing, and additional tool use, grounding each in a Vygotskian perspective. The book’s final chapters take a critical look at both research method and the writing of research reports, taking into account both research and research reports as social constructions based in disciplinary practices. On the whole, this volume makes an important contribution to Vygotskian studies and literacy research through the author’s careful alignment between theory and practice.

Contains essays that analyze learning and development based on Lev Vygotsky's cultural-historical theory of human development, describing how schooling is influenced by culture, and using Vygotsky's theory to find solutions to education problems.

Analyzes the educational implications and applications of Soviet psychologist L.S. Vygotsky's ideas.

An edited collection of original essays by teacher educators, Vygotsky in the Classroom shows teachers how to apply Vygotsky's ideas to literacy instruction and assessment. The text examines Vygotsky's theories and classroom applications, and relates them to specific problems in literacy instruction.

This 2003 book comprehensively covers all major topics of Vygotskian educational theory and its classroom applications. Particular attention is paid to the Vygotskian idea of child development as a consequence rather than premise of learning experiences. Such a reversal allows for new interpretations of the relationships between cognitive development and education at different junctions of the human life span. It also opens new perspectives on atypical development, learning disabilities, and assessment of children's learning potential. Classroom applications of Vygotskian theory are discussed in the book. Teacher training and the changing role of a teacher in a sociocultural classroom is discussed in addition to the issues of teaching and learning activities and peer interactions. Relevant research findings from the US, Western Europe, and Russia are brought together to clarify the possible new applications of Vygotskian ideas in different disciplinary areas.

Drawing upon in-depth analyses of Lev Vygotsky’s theories of early childhood and investigating the ways in which his ideas are reflected in contemporary educational settings, this book brings into sharp relief the numerous opportunities for preschool learning and development afforded by Vygotskian approaches. Discussion of recent developments in the understanding and implementation of Vygotsky’s ideas in Western and Russian contexts facilitates comparison, and provides readers with fresh impetus to integrate elements into their own practice. Chapters are clearly structured and address the multitude of aspects touched upon by Vygotsky, including cognitive development, communication and interaction, play, literacy and the quality of preschool settings. Providing a comprehensive exploration of current stances on Vygotsky's ideas in diverse cultural-historical contexts, Vygotsky's Theory in Early Childhood Education and Research will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, educators and politicians involved in early years education.

This book is an effort to introduce early childhood educators to Vygotsky's perspective, research on young children that has been stimulated by this perspective, and current educational practices emanating from it. The discussion is divided into seven chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of Vygotsky's life, the social conditions in which his ideas emerged, and factors influencing the spread of his work. Chapter 2 offers a detailed description of Vygotsky's perspective on development, including the notions of cognition as socially constructed and shared, and language as the critical link between the social and the psychological planes of human functioning. Chapter 3 focuses on Vygotsky's view of the development and significance of children's imaginative or make-believe play. Chapter 4 summarizes Vygotsky's perspective on children with serious learning and behavior problems. Chapter 5 compares Vygotsky's approach to other major theories of child development in this century, clarifying its profound implications for early childhood education. Chapter 6 addresses contemporary applications of Vygotsky's theory to teaching and learning in early childhood classrooms. Finally, chapter 7 considers Vygotsky's theory as a vision for early childhood education--one that resolves the debate over academic versus child-centered programs by advocating responsiveness to children's current capacities in ways that move development forward. Key themes of the Vygotskian approach to early childhood education are summarized. The book includes a glossary of the terms used, three resources on Vygotsky's life and contributions, seven resources on language and thought, and 13 resources on play. Contains approximately 420 references. (AA)