Students in a fourth-grade reading group are reading a passage ...

[TVarnum]

Students in a fourth-grade reading group are reading a passage about snakes. Their teacher asks, Who can think of a good title that summarizes what this passage is about? After hearing several good suggestions, the teacher says, The author says that snakes are helpful to farmers. What evidence does she give to support her statement? If we consider Vygotsky's concept of internalization, we might predict that such a discussion will:
 
  a. be more beneficial for students who are working outside their zones of proximal development than for students working inside their ZPDs.
  b. help students develop a greater interest in learning for its own sake.
  c. help students develop effective reading comprehension strategies (e.g., summarizing, looking for supporting statements).
  d. be confusing and counterproductive for students who are not yet capable of abstract thought.

Question 2

Which one of the following students is definitely working in his or her zone of proximal development?
 
  a. Arnold uses correct grammar and punctuation when he writes short stories.
  b. Berta is beginning to learn basic woodworking techniques. She has trouble hammering a nail straight into a piece of wood unless her teacher stands beside her, helping her and reminding her of what to do.
  c. Calvin is playing the clarinet in the band. He finds that he can more easily keep the tempo if he taps the beat with his foot.
  d. Doreen finds it virtually impossible to solve mathematical word problems, even when her teacher gives her helpful hints.

[Melissahxx]

Answer to Question 1

c

Answer to Question 2

b