Shara Bernard
Name: Shara Bernard
The city where you live. Ontario, CA.
What do you love most about being a tutor? Building a personal connection with students is always a highlight of tutoring since that is often the starting point of enabling the student to have fun learning. The transformation that can happen both academically and in their ability to express themselves is such a rewarding experience to witness.
How long have you been a tutor for Firefly Tutors/A+? In general? I've been with Firefly Tutors for a little over two years, but have been tutoring since I was in college and grad school.
What is your favorite tip to help students learn? From tutoring young ones to older students, breaking larger tasks into smaller, manageable units is an invaluable key to prevent a student from feeling overwhelmed in learning a new skill or completing a project.
Please share one of your favorite student success stories. In one memorable tutoring experience, I helped a student with learning challenges prepare their writing skills for post-high school life, while also instilling life skills at the same time. It was incredibly rewarding to see the expression of joy at comparing the initial work we did together to the rough drafts written weeks before to their final draft. Seeing a student realize and reflect on their own growth is one of the most rewarding experiences a tutor can enjoy.
What do you love to do in your free time? What are your hobbies and interests? In my spare time, I like to stay active hiking, going to the gym, and otherwise enjoying the outdoors.
What is your favorite subject? What do you tutor? I tutor primarily in language arts and math.
What are three fun facts about you? I am exceptionally gifted at interpreting furniture assembly instructions and can whip together a coffee table in less than 20 minutes. The first thing I told people I wanted to be when I grew up was a pathologist. (Yes, I knew what being a pathologist meant, but no, I have no idea why I would have wanted to go into THAT field of medicine.) This last spring, while honing my gardening skills, I failed to realize just how large one watermelon vine can grow, so my backyard is currently wall-to-wall watermelons.