The contradiction in the term "developing education' stated by L.S. Vygotsky and V.V. Davydov is considered: learning activity is formed and cognition is developed. V.V. Davydov according to the notion of activity nature of theoretical thinking made it the subject of learning activity. As a result he has found the ways to form the readiness to think by the notions and the most important components of theoretical cognition: analysis, reflection, planning.