Portales, NM – June 28, 2023 –Eastern New Mexico University hosted a summer reading clinic in conjunction with the Portales Municipal School District during June 2023. The College of Education and Technology sponsored the summer reading clinic.

The program hosted at James Elementary School in Portales was a success in its inaugural year. ENMU students and professors worked with Portales public school teachers to assess student literacy skills and provide students with intensive one-on-one instruction. In between instruction, students engaged in physical activities and creative arts programming led by ENMU students.

The clinic gave the participating ENMU students experience in real-world situations; students worked with public-school teachers and learned about planning learning experiences for students at different reading levels. In addition, they gained experience in creating engaging literacy-related activities for small groups while leading and running all small-group activities.

"The Summer Reading Clinic is a tremendous asset to the Eastern New Mexico community. Dr. Elizabeth Jackson and Dr. Tsitsi Nyabando united efforts with faculty and students from ENMU and the Portales schools in a way that will benefit local children and families for generations," said B. Lee Hurren, Dean of the College of Education and Technology at ENMU. "Hard work and fun have resulted in noticeable gains for student participants. With appropriate funding in the future, the Summer Reading Clinic will become part of Eastern New Mexico Universities' legacy."

Special guest readers were featured throughout the summer, including several College of Education faculty members and ENMU Chancellor James Johnston. Guest speakers from ENMU's Department of Agriculture, Food Science, and Kinesiology were also presented during the clinic.

The clinic, which ran from June 5-29, also helped with student food issues; the La Casa Summer Food Service program provided both breakfast and lunch for students participating in this program. The New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department, Family Nutrition Bureau, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture also administered the program.

For more information on this program, please contact the College of Education and Technology at 575.562.2443