Photo: personal archive E. Shuvarina
About "House of Joy"
The name is very important:as you name a ship, so it will float. Why did such changes happen? The thing is that we are changing and our priorities are changing. At the Smart Child center, we were able to create methods and technologies that worked very successfully. But now I am absolutely convinced that not only methods, technologies, and programs matter – the determining factor is how all this is given. The very message, the very energy with which we, teachers, approach children. My firm belief is that learning about the world should happen with joy and in joy. Only people who are engaged in what they love, who are able to rejoice themselves, people who are inspired by what they do and want to share all this with children, create an extraordinary atmosphere in which you want to be as long as possible. That is why I gave my project such a name – “House of Joy”. Let’s go on a short “journey” so that you can feel the peace, beauty, confidence, and harmony that reign in the “House of Joy”.
About childhood
I am very grateful to my parents forpermission to be myself, for trust and faith in me, for unconditional love. I carried the feeling of love and security through the years. They never imposed anything on me, accepting and sharing my choice - the choice of profession, hobbies. I remember that I started singing and dancing very early, and all these types of creativity have remained with me to this day. Today, this is what is most beloved and significant for me - what I express myself through. This is what helps me maintain vitality, creative flow, the desire to create, not to stop and move on.
About the profession
It all started in childhood.Even as a schoolgirl, I began to understand that my favorite subjects were taught by extraordinary people. Teachers with a capital T. I felt a special sympathy and interest in them as people. And, what is characteristic, they were all great lovers of life! It is not surprising that I made such a choice, perhaps fate itself chose this profession for me.
Photo: personal archive E. Shuvarina
About choosing the path
As a student, I had my first internshipto school. And... I was disappointed. In reality, everything turned out to be different, not at all like my ideas, derived from communicating with the best and favorite teachers. Where is the pedagogy for children? What individual approach are we talking about, what methods and techniques that would allow a child to open up, to show individuality? These banal two cells on the right, three cells down - is this the main thing? Constant assessments, templates, strict instructions - all this instills fear and disbelief in one's own strength. Although I understand that, even working in the system, you can bring light, kindness, as real teachers do - caring, thinking, willing to generously share their hearts with children. But the system does its own thing. And even if you want to give something truly, from the heart, this is hindered by the entire structure of the educational process at school. Eternal reporting, pedagogical councils ... It seems that all this is done in order to distract teachers from the most important thing - direct communication with children. I wanted to create a completely different world – a world that exists and works for the child and for the sake of the child. Real, not on paper.
