Consider the following statements: Assertion (A): As students acquire and learn new words, they can better express their thoughts and understand complex conceptual ideas more clearly in class. Reason (R): Lev Vygotsky proposed that language serves as a vital sociocultural tool that shapes and facilitates thought. Choose the correct answer from the options below:

Assertion (A): Vygotsky's concept of Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) highlights the gap between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance. Reason (R): Vygotsky believed that learning precedes development and that social interaction is fundamental to cognitive development.

According to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which of the following statements characterize the development of thinking in children? (J) Children actively construct knowledge based on their experiences and interactions with the environment. (K) Children are born with adult-like thinking configurations. (L) Cognitive development unfolds in a series of distinct, gradual stages. (M) The development of language and social interaction is the foundational driver of cognitive stages.