Logan Elementary School - Logan, NM

Logan Elementary School is overwhelmingly goal-oriented. Not only do teachers hold high expectations for student growth, Logan students are themselves active participants in goal setting. Instruction in phonics, basal reading, and advanced literacy are supplemented with goal-oriented individual learning via reading software to reinforce the rigorous lessons provided by the faculty. In mathematics, Logan Elementary has implemented a new mathematics approach to better align to Common Core Standards. With an eye toward achieving greater number sense, this new instructional design is helping our students reach increasingly higher goals. In addition, our students utilize learning software to reinforce mathematical understanding and enhance operational fluency. Each of these ambitious goals - in reading and math - are communicated regularly to parents. Furthermore, families are invited to support the school's efforts as key allies in the educational process. Families are not simply "notified" of academic targets, but are recruited to assist students in reaching them, with guidance on assisting students with reading and mathematics improvements. Parents are also invited to monthly family learning nights, during which faculty members provide instruction on how families can reinforce and even extend learning at home. Student-generated graphs demonstrate for parents how students improve over time and indicate desired gains moving forward. In addition, Logan Elementary provides every student with opportunities to grow as a whole child, offering weekly fine arts instruction, regular computer science instruction, and daily physical education. Logan's students thrive both inside and outside the school, excelling in 4-H, church activities, and community athletic organizations.