Activity: An effective activity that could be used in the classroom would be to bring in other students who are more advanced into their classroom. Each student could be paired with one of the advanced students and they could meet with their partner each week working on a certain subject area that is a struggle for the younger child. The older child can help teach or develop more complex concepts for the younger student.
Reflection: According to the reading, Vygotsky says that the zone of proximal development (ZPD) is the difference between the students’ actual development that was constructed individually and their level of potential development which can be reached through the help from another more capable individual. All of the skills that the child could possibly develop falls under this ZPD. Once the child reaches their potential development, it then becomes their actual development level and there is a new potential development, so the process starts over again. From the model, you see that that student can work with a teacher or a person who is more advanced than them to reach their potential. The arrows represent them bridging the gap between each other using psychological and cultural tools so that they can effectively be partners.
I really agree with your idea that children learn through other people. In fifth grade, I was part of a peer tutoring group where we each were paired with a first grader. We would spend time with them each week and help them with subjects that they were struggling with. The students eventually became really comfortable with us and began to strive to be like us. Having a more advanced student next to you helps motivate yourself to be better. It helps them to reach their full potential. Your activity is a really good idea.
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