Education Majors Teach Elementary Students to Achieve Their Goals

Children from Ortiz Elementary School and Mann Middle School will learn to chase their dreams this summer through Dream Catchers Summer Literacy Camp. The Irvin School of Education will provide a two week science and social studies-based literacy enrichment program designed to help motivate, challenge and inspire local students.

Dr. Renee Collins, Department Head of Educational Studies, was inspired to organize the camp after writing her dissertation about motivation and achievement in academic settings.

“I wanted to provide an enrichment opportunity for diverse students that might not have the opportunity to go to other camps,” Collins said.

Over 100 students will explore essential elements of critical thinking and active learning through connections with technology, nutrition, fine arts, music, and physical activities.

The goal of the camp is for students to experience academic success, establish goals to pursue personal dreams for the future, and develop mentoring relationships with HSU Early Childhood-6^th grade majors and Abilene ISD faculty.

“It is a win-win for everyone involved-the children, the HSU EC-6 majors, the AISD teachers, and the HSU alumni,” Collins said.

The Center for Research, Evaluation, and Advancement of Teacher Education (CREATE) recognized Dream Catchers as an Exemplary K-12 partnership in January 2014.

The program has recently been added to a list of 120 nonprofits featured in Abilene Gives Day, a 24 hour donation event. A gift of at least $13.50 pays for a child to attend one day of camp. To donate to Dream Catchers, please visit https://abilenegives.org/designee/hsu-dream-catchers-summer-reading-camp on May 2. 

Donations are accepted any time at http://fund.hsutx.edu/site/TR?fr_id=1381&pg=entry  

Interested in volunteering with Dream Catchers? Email Dr. Collins at rcollins@hsutx.edu for more information.