Our tutors are magical and marvelous! Each and everyone is special in their own way and they bring their unique talents to chess education! Check out our interview with our May Tutor of the Month, Tara
Where are you from and where do you live now?
Hello everyone! I hail from Middlesex, NJ, and currently reside in Astoria, Queens.
What's your favorite game besides chess?
I'm a big fan of card games like Five Crowns, Fluxx, and as a Wizard of Oz nerd, Home from Oz. As for board games, Clue and Codenames are two favorites. On the digital front, You Don't Know Jack. And finally, I love my classic '90s-'00s computer games like Treasure Mountain, Rollercoaster Tycoon,The Sims, and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
Can you recall a particularly special or impressive moment from an online lesson?
I love witnessing my students sharpen how they visualize the board. I also love when we somehow feel no distance between us at all! During a recent snow day, one of my group lessons switched to virtual and we decided we would make our online lesson a King Shaky sleepover party! Naturally, there were mini pillow forts present in each of our Zoom screens and we stayed in our pajamas for the early morning lesson. It was a blast!
What's your favorite story from the Chess at Three curriculum?
Now, this is a tough one, but I'm partial to the knights' story as well as the Secret Missions series, which teaches opening strategy. I also love teaching the magical, YA-worthy stories that accompany our advanced STARS lessons because I've got a soft spot for Chef Squishyfeet, King Chomper's trusty cook.
You're an amazing, in-demand tutor. What's your secret?
In my lessons, it's always my intention to make my students feel like they've escaped to Chesslandia, making each class more like a special recess than a lesson. I also know each student learns differently so I adjust to what works best for them, often weaving their favorite interests outside of chess into our Chesslandia worldbuilding. I always want to make sure they feel seen. Lastly, I love to make them laugh. There is no better sound in the world!
Ready to start lessons with one of our top tutors? Click the link below for more information!