New learning center offers progressive ed

I am a parent at the Las Virgenes Community Learning Center, the new LVUSD school that opened last fall. I am thrilled that children in our community have the opportunity to attend this model school of the best and latest in progressive education.

With its dual emphasis on global education and compassionate communication, the students are learning what it takes to be the leaders of the next generation. We need leaders who are skilled in effective communication, who are educated about the countries and cultures of our world, and who can consider choices from different points of view and then make informed decisions. Our children practice these skills everyday here.

When I volunteer each week in my son's classroom, I see students engaged in lively "literature circles" where they are reading and discussing literature with an enthusiasm and passion usually reserved for "grown-up" book clubs.

I see them engrossed in multiplication lessons using Montessori style manipulatives- and go back to these activities on their own for fun- and going way beyond what you would think second graders could do in researching countries, cultures, and science topics. The kids are practicing their spelling everyday in unique and innovative ways that appeal to each of their learning styles.

The most amazing thing I see are the kids participating in regular lessons on effective communication and problem solving. Whenever I'm in class during one of these lessons, I learn helpful strategies that I can use in my own life. If only I could have had this when I was in school.

It's wonderful that this opportunity exists for the children in our community, and I am enthusiastically looking forward to seeing the results of it. Angela Outmesguine Agoura Hills