Proximal Zones, Play and Pressure : The Goldilocks Zones for Learning

In this episode, Ted Sadtler and Peyten Williams dive into a topic educators think a lot about: the learning zone. Or, as teachers call it, the Zone of Proximal Development. As parents, when you're trying to teach your child to tie a shoe, load the dishes, shake hands with your colleague, or remember to pack their violin for school the next day, you're working with children who are in the proximal zone. But what even is this fancy term? How can it help me parent better? And by the way, is pressure a bad thing? What is the importance of play? And how do we know if our children are in the right zone for learning? Find out in this episode! Ted Sadtler serves as a Spanish teacher and Middle School Director of Teaching and Learning at The Westminster Schools, where he has been for 26 years. Ted leads division-wide professional development initiatives and engages faculty in a 1:1 coaching relationship. He holds a B.A. in Spanish from Radford University, an M.A. in Spanish Literature from The University of Georgia, and a variety of coaching certifications through IECL and Leadership Systems.