Latifah A. Tate
Teacher Candidate Portfolio
Philosophy of Education
"As an educator, I aim to equip my students with the necessary tools for a triumphant future."
"The purpose of education is to foster and develop in a person the ability to explore new concepts and build on old understandings."
"An effective teacher is culturally responsive, being aware of the significance and role of culture in the lives of students, and creates a diverse array of pathways for learning."
Growing up, my mother instilled the importance of community service into my siblings and me. She taught us that our success today is only possible because of the work put in by those who came before us. Therefore, it is up to us to give back so that future generations may benefit as we did. While deciding my career path, I kept this principle of community service in mind. I have grown a deep passion and love for our future, the youth, and their path to success. I truly believe that success begins with a proper education. As an educator, I aim to equip my students with the necessary tools for a triumphant future.
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” This quote by Malcolm X is the catalyst behind my passion for education. I intend to apply this notion in my future classroom. I aspire to instill an intrinsic interest for success in my students through education. Their success will not only be measured by test scores, but by their personal progress and growth.
Education is a life-long process. It is more than preparing for a test. The purpose of education is to foster and develop in a person the ability to explore new concepts and build on old understandings. It is to assist one in thinking independently and making sense of the world around them. It is to aid the competency to compete on a global scale.
An effective teacher is culturally responsive, being aware of the significance and role of culture in the lives of students, and creates a diverse array of pathways for learning. An effective teacher maintains a certain disposition, always being sensitive to the needs of students. An effective teacher is an advocate for the advancement of her students, and the betterment of the community. An effective teacher makes such an impact that they leave an impression even after they are no longer present. I would like to leave a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of my students as a reminder to always continue striving to reach their goals.
My teaching style is a multiple intelligences soul with a constructivist spirit, and a cognitive approach mind.
In detail, I believe that all students are gifted in their own way. It is up to the teacher to help students search and find their type of intelligence and use it to introduce new concepts. In addition, I believe students need to be actively engaged in their learning. Classrooms should be student-centered with the teacher as a facilitator to students as they construct new meanings. Lastly it is important to know how the mind works in the field of education in order to support a student’s mental and cognitive growth.