Issue:

 

What is ZPD?

 

Resolution:

 

The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) defines the readability range from which students should be selecting books in order to achieve optimal growth in reading skills without experiencing frustration.  STAR Reading software uses Grade Equivalents to derive a student's ZPD score.  Specifically, it relates the Grade Equivalent estimate of a student's reading ability with the range of most appropriate readability levels to use for reading practice. 

 

The ZPD is especially useful for students who use Accelerated Reader, which provides readability levels on all books included in the system.  The ZPD, however, is approximate.  Success at any reading level also depends on the student's interest and prior knowledge of a book's content.  Teachers should use their professional judgment to adjust the level of books read to match an individual student's needs and interests.

 

The School Renaissance Institute developed the ZPD ranges according to Vygotskian theory, based on an analysis of Accelerated Reader book reading data from 80,000 students in the 1996-1997 school year.