More Than Standards At LVA, students learn the concepts required by the Pennsylvania State Standards through the methodology of the International Baccalaureate. As in any other public school, the students participate in PSSA testing and the school is held to the requirements set by No Child Left Behind. Tools such as a math series and a reading series developed by Scott Foresman, literature that is integrated into the curriculum and mathematical manipulative are applied to the learning process so that each of the children in the school can reach their goals. Communication One area that the curriculum focused on is communication skills. The students learn to put their thinking into words, either in an oral or a written form. The students explain their thinking and have informative discussions about topics that they may not agree on. They research information and then find the best format in which to share their discoveries. Critical Thinking Another area of the curriculum is critical thinking. The students are taught to question what they hear and read about and to make decisions about its value and validity based on connections they make to prior knowledge and support that they can find in their research. Language Spanish is taught starting in Kindergarten. The students not only learn another language, but are also exposed to a different culture. Starting language acquisition at such an early age makes it much easier for students to become fluent. Although LVA does not offer an Immersion program in the traditional sense, the students are immersed in the language and the culture during their Spanish instructional time. Classes interact and conduct fun contests and activities to enhance and encourage the use of their secondary language.