In Kherson, despite constant air raid alerts, teacher Tetiana Horbushko continues to teach Ukrainian language, world literature, and art as a single, interconnected system that helps children explore the world. For her, these are not separate subjects but parts of a whole that enable students to understand both themselves and the reality around them.
Although she had never planned to teach art, today she finds joy in guiding her students’ creative journeys:
“We draw, cut and paste, listen to music, discover different genres.
It’s fascinating!” — Svitlana shares.
Her students take part in competitions, developing not only skills but also an inner motivation to learn. Svitlana’s journey in addressing learning loss began unexpectedly — with a training by the Ukrainian Education Response Consortium in Odesa, where she had been invited by her school principal. From the very first days, it became clear: she was in the right place.
“I was amazed to realize that many of the approaches we had been using intuitively actually have names and methodologies. What I loved most was visualization — it helps organize knowledge and makes the material clearer,” she explains.
Svitlana enthusiastically talks about her new experience in catch-up tutoring sessions. She compares them to regular school assessments but emphasizes the difference: here, a teacher has the chance to shift roles and become a mentor.
“It’s exciting to work in small groups. Students feel less shy, engage more actively, and are open to new knowledge. Our goal is not just to teach, but to create a safe and welcoming space for learning,” she says.
One of her favorite tools are icebreakers — short activities that ease tension and set a positive tone for the class.
“I’ve noticed that even the most reserved children begin to open up once they see something fun and engaging awaits them,” she adds.
Above all, she values the psychological support these sessions provide.
“If there is trust between a teacher and a student — the results will come. Even under the hardest conditions.”
Iryna, a parent of one of Svitlana’s students, shares:
“My son Artem was eager to attend catch-up sessions in Ukrainian with Ms. Tetiana. These lessons helped him improve and organize the knowledge he gained in class. He wants to master Ukrainian better — and we are learning alongside him.”
