Speakeasy Baby’s Approach
Application of Vygotsky’s Theories in Speakeasy Class
Speakeasy Baby implements sociocultural development theories of the renowned psychologist Lev Vygotsky. In my teachings, I apply two principles of Vygotsky’s work: The More Knowledgeable Other (MKO) and the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).
I am one of your baby’s MKO, here to guide and encourage your baby to reach his/her optimal development. While your baby is curious and actively involved in learning, I use compassionate guidance and sensitive instructions within the ZDP. Your baby can perform all the skills at the optimal level with the assistance of a competent adult and to effectively develop your baby’s cognitive and social skills.
More Knowledgeable Other (MKO) in your baby’s life:
• You, the parents
• Teacher
• Grandparents
• Caretaker/Helper
• Older peers
Optimal Learning with a Speakeasy Teacher in the Zone of Proximal Development:
As a Speakeasy teacher, I provide activities and instructions that fall within the Zone of Proximal Development:
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I provide activities and instructions that fall within the Zone of Proximal Development. I use scaffolding tactic to develop your baby’s cognitive, behavioral and social-emotional skills within his/her ZPD. I build on your baby’s learning by intervening with gradual and escalating challenges, while providing hints and prompts at different levels.
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Social interaction plays a major role in learning and development. Cooperative learning is achieved while babies play with their peers.
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Language is the mediation of thought process and I focus on developing your baby’s language skills starting at infantile age.
The ZPD, where I guide your baby into the optimal level of development, is only one aspect of Vygotsky’s theory. The second aspect is the importance of play, so I provide many opportunities for your baby to play during class. Through playing in a Speakeasy Baby environment, your baby’s conceptual abilities are sketched. Speakeasy Baby’s implementation of play enhances your baby’s cognitive development, encouraging them to master abstract thoughts.
Only through social interactions can a baby’s elementary mental functions (attention, sensation, perception and memory) develop into a sophisticated “higher mental function”. Through playing, singing, dancing and reading with a group of peers, I foster social development while the babies learn together. I strive to boost your baby’s cognitive development by providing a good student-teacher interaction and encouraging social development at an early stage.
