Rachel Rodziewicz

Philosophy of Education
Dr. Zack

As a Special Education teacher I will be working with students

with varying abilities and disabilities. Whether I am teaching students
with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, or emotional and
behavioral disabilities, it is my belief that each student that I teach has
the capacity to learn and possesses abilities as well as disabilities. In
this broad field known as “Special Education,” educators are
responsible for providing individualized instruction that is delivered in
the least restrictive environment. It is my belief that I as a Special
Educator am responsible for facilitating collaboration between my
colleagues, my students, their families, and myself. As I work to bridge
these gaps, professionals can work together in teams to ensure
studentsreceive the best possible individualized education that can
possibly be provided.
My goal for my students is simply that they will become inspired
and motivated to learn everything they are capable of learning, using
their strengths to the best of their ability. The content knowledge,
skills, and dispositions that my students will attain will vary depending
on the student I am working with or the class I am teaching. Whether I
am working with a student who has a severe intellectual disability by
trying to help him learn the letters in his name, or if I am working with
a student with a learning disability by trying to implement the
appropriate accommodations within the general education classroom, I
recognize the importance of individualized education. What is
attainable for one student may not be attainable or relevant for
another. It is my goal that my students develop the disposition of an
independent learner so that they may learn to function in society, no
matter their profession or role. I will strive to teach my students to be
able to function in life by learning life skills as well as to be able to
learn how to complete new tasks on their own so that they may be
independent working citizens, if possible.
It is my personal philosophy that students with varying needs
may not only require varying academic goals, but also varying
academic methods. At this time in my education I am a firm believer
that the model of Direct Instruction is a great tool in the Special
Education classroom. This model follows steps that involve explicit
instruction, modeling, guided practice, feedback, and independent
instruction. I also believe in concrete, experiential learning that is
meaningful to students. I will incorporate Direction Instruction and
hands-on learning as much as I can to ensure my students have a firm
understanding of new concepts and material.
As a Special Education teacher I have a passion for working with
students with varying abilities to create the best learning environment
for them that I possibly can. I will collaborate with other teachers and
school service providers as well as parents and students to ensure that
each student has a strong support system so that he or she may be
inspired and motivated to achieve goals beyond what they thought
they would ever be able to accomplish.
 Rachel Rodziewicz
Philosophy of Education
Dr. Zack