Pedagogical path Astafyeva Zinaida Maximovna (1931-2022)

In this article, the author presents the biography of her own grandmother - Zinaida Maximovna Astafyeva (1931-2022) - teacher, librarian, boarding school teacher. Based primarily on sources of personal origin, the work reflects the main stages of the life and professional path of Z. M. Astafyeva. Her personal history is revealed using microhistorical, biographical, historical and anthropological approaches. The author, relying on the recorded memories of Zinaida Maximovna herself, as well as sources of oral history (memories of graduates and teachers of the Trinity secondary school, Buzuluk district, Orenburg region), shows the difficulties of professional self-determination of the future teacher, the difficult process of becoming a young teacher in the profession, the constant - development, implementation of a creative approach in the taught subjects and areas of activity - military-patriotic, labor and environmental education of schoolchildren. Love for the profession and students, enthusiasm, creativity - this is what motivated the simple rural teacher. Z. M. Astafyeva proved this by her own example. This work shows that Z. M. Astafyeva was one of the active initiators of the development of military-patriotic education, therefore, thanks to her, a museum of military glory was created on the basis of the Trinity Secondary School. Many of her former students recalled that she taught them useful and practical skills in a subject like home economics that were very useful to them in life. Zinaida Maximovna showed herself actively and creatively, put her soul into it, and with her own hands created what was necessary for training and education, so her students loved and respected her. Another important area is the environmental education of students, for example, in the biology classroom, Zinaida Maximovna and students jointly designed stands that fostered love and respect for nature. One of the significant places in Zinaida Maximovna’s pedagogical activity was her work at the boarding school, and she herself noted that it was this that she remembered more often and more than her actual work at school. Almost until the last days of her life, Zinaida Maximovna remained an active person, never ceasing to learn something new, study, and master new technologies for herself. «Live and learn!» - this phrase perfectly characterized her position in life.