• An accessible introduction to Vygotskyian sociocultural theory.
• The key concepts of the theory are shown through narratives across 7 chapters.
• The key concepts are:
  • Mediation
  • Zone of Proximal Development
  • Collaborative dialogue
  • Private speech
  • Everyday and scientific concepts
  • The interrelatedness of cognition and emotion, activity theory and assessment.

Merrill Swain is Professor Emeritus at OISE, University of Toronto, Canada.
Penny Kinnear lectures at the University of Toronto, Canada.
Linda Steinman is Associate Professor at York University, Toronto, Canada.

Acknowledgements
Vygotsky’s story in brief
Introduction

1. Mona: Across time and geography
   Mediation
2. Madame Tremblay: A French immersion story
   The zone of proximal development (ZPD)
3. Narrative I: Jody (talking to self)
   Narrative 2: Sophie and Rachel (talking to others and self)
   Languaging: Private speech and collaborative dialogue
4. Thaya: Writing across languages
   Everyday and scientific concepts: Establishing connections
5. Grace: The effect of affect
   Interrelatedness of cognition and emotion
6. Sandra’s story: A teacher’s dilemma
   Activity theory
7. Yang: Being assessed
   Assessment form an SCT perspective
8. Maria and the Beatles: Jean-Paul and Second Life
   The floor is yours
   
   Discussion
   Glossary
   Bibliography
   Index