“I view my role in a learner’s life as necessary, not just someone that is there because they are supposed to be doing their job. I strive to at least find one reason every day to be happy and all this led me to be an educator, being the one good reason a child can smile today.”
During the pandemic, the notion of a classroom and the role of a teacher transformed like never before and Joy Addams rose to the challenge. Having decided to open up her home in 2020 for learners who weren’t coping with their school work, she has since made strides to help learners post-pandemic.
“I decided to open up an After Care where we assist with homework and extra classes because the phone calls from parents came flooding in from the time I started offering an extra hand, and above all it also has become a safe and happy place for learners.”
As a true believer of serving others, whether friends or family, she views every learner at Joyful Aftercare as her own and goes the extra mile to support her role as their teacher.
“I make sure that I know and understand their backgrounds first to understand their behavioural patterns, I then find a mutual ground of interest for the both of us and then, voila, we have an unbreakable bond.
“I adapt the curriculum to the modern way of their thinking abilities. Using the latest apps as teaching tools because they’re so interested in social media and technology. So, by the time they realise they’re actually doing school work, they’re already done with a proper lesson and they understand it.”
She focuses more on the ages of 7 to 13, as she views these as the most important stages because that is where routine and consistency can be developed.
“Starting them off at their age allows for them to reach high school with a set routine to strive and do better personally and in their academics. We also strive to teach them that no matter what you take on, as long as you are consistent, results will show.”
Her advice as a teacher to others: “First understand yourself and what type of teacher you want to be and what you want to achieve with your learners because knowing what you want and how you want it to be done, makes it easier to understand your learners.”
“Teaching allows me to change the world, one child at a time, and my biggest dream for the future is to own a school, starting from a daycare right up to grade 7.”
Text: BONOLO MOLOI Photos: GYPSEENIA LION
