April Tutor of the Month

Our tutors are the tops! Each and everyone is special in their own way and they bring their unique talents to chess education! Check out our interview with our April Tutor of the Month, Maria!

1. Where are you from and where do you live now?

I am originally from Romania and I currently live in NYC. Fun fact: I also lived in Germany for a little bit!

2. What's your favorite game besides chess?

Backgammon! I used to play backgammon with my grandpa when I was a kid, so I grew up with a special kind of love for this game.

3. Can you recall a particularly special or impressive moment from a lesson?

A few weeks ago, I was having a class with one of my six-year-old students. We were having so much fun that we didn't realize how quickly time flew by. He asked if we could play another game, but I said I had to go. He then said he wished I'd come every day to play with him and that he hoped the week would pass very quickly so we could play again. It warmed my heart!

4. What's your favorite story from the Chess at Three curriculum?

It has to be the second Secret Mission lesson which covers castling. I remember laughing out loud so many times when I first read it. I get really goofy when I tell that story.

5. You're an amazing, in-demand tutor. What's your secret?

I think my secret is listening to each kid's needs. Some kids like the storytelling part of the lesson better, others the puzzles, others the playtime, etc. Some have shorter attention spans than others, so it's important that halfway through the lesson we get up and do something fun to keep them engaged. Some kids like to tell me stories about their week, others like to jump straight into chess. It's important to listen to every student and what they want/need that day, then structure the class so they learn and have fun.

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