Vygotsky for Educators

Introduction: 'there is nothing more practical than a good theory'; Part I. Mediation from Birth through Adolescence: 1. The Vygotskian notion of mediation as the major determinant of children's learning and development; 2. First year of life: infant-caregiver attachment as the foundation of further development; 3. Second and third years: from object-centered explorations to exploration of the world of social roles and relationships; 4. Three- to six-year-olds: why sociodramatic play is important and how to promote it; 5. Mediation of preschoolers' activities to promote school readiness; 6. Learning at school: children not only learn, they develop as well; 7. Understand adolescents and make a difference!; Part II. School: What to Teach, and How to Teach: 8. American cognitive psychologists and Russian Vygotskians about the content and process of learning at school; 9. What do students learn in 'traditional' schools?; 10. Does constructivist instruction present a good alternative to 'traditional' teaching?; 11. The Vygotskian theoretical learning approach as an alternative to 'traditional' explicit instruction and to constructivist instruction; Conclusion: don't blame it on genes!