I was explaining the ZPD this morning as we concluded Latin class before our standard "three chapters." We hadn't done it for a while and added a review and Pipalicious (9) and Chugger-dude (11) were done. So done.
"Oh, come on..." I encouraged lovingly. "Just a little more."
Chugger-dude's head plopped down on the table in front of him. Pipalicious weaved back and forth in place, barely following along.
We stopped.
When Chugger-dude wondered why we ended when we did (he does have a good heart and good intention) I started explaining the ZPD.
"You see, when you are learning, most of the time it is fun. But there is a time when you stop having fun, when you feel a little uncomfortable, a little pushed."
Liliputian (13) jumped in at this point and explained, "It's like a car...running out of gas!"
"Yah!" the Goob excitedly added, "and when you push it past when it is out of gas, it gets broken!"(And it is a lot of work to even move it!)
"Okay," I said, trying to run with it. And then the light bulb went on. This connection could work!
"When you are younger, and hormones haven't kicked in yet,...or something...you just aren't ready to enter that zone yet. To be pushed. It kills your love of learning."
"But, when you hit that place, be it puberty or whatever it is, you thrive in the ZPD."
The lightbulb went on for the Goob.
"It's like a hybrid and the natural gas kicks in! Taking you farther!"I liked the analogy. It is so true on so many levels.
I need to always stop when I see it: entrance into the ZPD zone when they are too young. It will save us all a lot of grief. Now, when they hit puberty...let's do it!! That is another story altogether.
(Tiffani, I was going to do this in a video, but Lek has my camera in the van at a test...sorry :S. Hope it is not too painful :)!)
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