My name is Michelle Nakamura. Although I was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, I've lived in San Diego County since 1968. I went to kindergarten at Cubberly Elementary in Serra Mesa and then went to the O.B. Free School (what can I say, my parents were hippies) until sixth grade. For sixth grade and beyond, it was back into the public school system. Ocean Beach Elementary, Collier Jr. High (now Correia Jr. High) and Point Loma High School. After high school I went to UCSD and graduated in 1987 with a B.A. in Political Science. I've spent the majority of the past twelve years as a stay-at-home mom. Five years ago I began working part time as a Parent Educator for PUSD.
I would say that I have a functional level of computer experience. I can use Word and Excel, I can download photos and sync my iPod, but I feel like I am just scratching the surface and that there is a much bigger world out there that I've yet to discover. I was just laughing with my husband over the fact that we didn't even get our first computer until 1997. That computer was a PC and all of our computers since have been PCs. I know that I depend on technology daily. I love the immediacy of the internet - your child has a question, you've got an answer in seconds.
The part of the COE Mission Statement that speaks to me every time I read it is the idea of a commitment to student-centered education. I think the current environment on our campuses is taking us away from student-centered education - there is little room for differences in learning styles or personality. I believe that standardized testing and No Child Left Behind (in some form) are here to stay, but there has to be a way to allow some children to learn outside the box. I am enrolled at CSUSM in hopes of pursuing a Masters in Communicative Disorders and hadn't read the COE Mission Statement before so it did not influence my decision to enroll.
Me and my poodle, Oodle
2 comments:
Michelle, I lived in Erie P. when i was in the second grade, many moons ago. I remember the fire flies and swimming in lake Erie. I like what you said about letting students learn outside the box. Don
I admire your dedication to being a stay at home mom even though you already had your degree. Way to go! I also made the same decision for a short time and although there were some sacrificed to make, it was well worth it!
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