educational philosophy.
Tiffany (bottom center) pictured with the young women of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., after teaching a workshop on self development.
It only takes a small spark to start a forest fire. While the damage may seem devastating, from the ash, there is hope in the form of little buds of new life. I believe education is the fire that produces new ideas for our people. As an educator, my responsibility is to spark students' minds who will light the way to these ideas. In my educational philosophy, we use the values of inquiry, intentional connections, and community to guide learning.
critical inquiry.
In my educational communities, students have the opportunity to discover and develop their best selves through critical inquiry. Inquiry allows for self-reflection that helps to create connections to the world outside of the classroom. In alignment with Shevalier & McKenzie's theory of Culturally Responsive Teaching as an Ethics- and Care-Based Approach to Urban Education, I believe education should help people develop to be their best selves. As an educator, my goal and responsibility are to guide students into the world of critical inquiry to understand the complexities of their life and happiness. (Shevalier & Mckenzie, 2012)
intentional connections.
In my classroom community, the goal is to deepen learning by assisting students in creating links between content and their personal lives. Through recognizing community cultural wealth, students, especially those from underserved communities, can realize their power to change the world. This form of wealth specifically refers to linguistic, social, cultural, aspirational, resistant, navigational, and familial capital (Yasso, 2005) achieved through a student's ability to navigate difficult life circumstances. My goal is to help students understand where they already add value to the world through cultural capital and potential growth opportunities through self-inquiry.
community.
In most fields of work, relationships are the key to opportunities, and education is no exception. Connections to the community will support intentional connections and critical inquiry. I believe the work of education should extend beyond the classroom to the community. My goal is to help students by building relationships with their families and community members who can provide services to support the child's holistic development.
Most importantly, we do all these things with love and faith that every student has the desire to learn. If one spark could light a forest, imagine the impact one mind could create in our society. In my classroom, I hope to replace old and damaged ideology with fresh and new ideas that will positively impact the world.