A New York City native relocated to live in a solar-powered cabin in the woods in Tennessee, Sari believes in constantly challenging oneself and growing. She first fell in love after spotting a beautiful board in the Catskills when she was 4 and badgered her Dad to teach her chess. The only problem was, he didn't know how either. After a year, he caved and the two of them spent evenings learning how the pieces moved. Sari became an avid chess competitor, placing top in the country in junior high. She then began teaching at age 13 in New York City public and private schools and over 2 decades later, hasn't stopped teaching yet. While teaching chess ultimately overpowered her passion for playing, chess has been a part of her daily life almost every day . Sari was listed on Mommypoppins as "one of the best teachers for beginners." She has extensive experience and love for working with special needs individuals. She predominantly teaches online now.
Schools she has taught at include Trinity, Packer, Manhattan Friends, Gateway, Gillen Brewer, 2E School The Lang School, PS 226, PS 6, PS 3, Brooklyn Friends, Brooklyn Montessori School, Dwight, St. Hilda's and St. Hugh's, Grace Church School, PS 41, Village Community School, Little Red School, City and Country, Sephardic Academy, St. Luke's School, St. Athanasius School, St. Bernard's. She worked for the Harlem Children's Zone and the New York Public Libraries for many years and has had hundreds of private students. She started many volunteer programs including for seniors at Penn South and (with Educational Light) World Friend's Chess Club for children who were local and refugees. She volunteered at the children's branch of Hospital for Special Surgery as well as The Teak Foundation. Over the years she has seen students go from complete beginners to becoming tournament players or simply come to enjoy chess as a social activity. She uses her background as a storyteller to bring instructional games to life, in addition to teaching opening strategy, endgame technique, and checkmate puzzles.
Sari has seen chess help with vital life skills and the development of important habits, including decision-making, mathematical aptitude, and heightened powers of observation, while also helping to build empathy from studying the opponent's point of view. She changes her approach to fit each student's needs whether teaching a group class or individuals. References are available upon request. She has formed her own curriculum and written her own chess book. A veteran in-person & online teacher, Sari is offering special discount rates for students new to online teaching as well as a free 15 minute chess class. Please contact for further information. Private lessons, group lessons, and school lessons are available.
https://www.chess.com/member/sarichesscoach
Schools she has taught at include Trinity, Packer, Manhattan Friends, Gateway, Gillen Brewer, 2E School The Lang School, PS 226, PS 6, PS 3, Brooklyn Friends, Brooklyn Montessori School, Dwight, St. Hilda's and St. Hugh's, Grace Church School, PS 41, Village Community School, Little Red School, City and Country, Sephardic Academy, St. Luke's School, St. Athanasius School, St. Bernard's. She worked for the Harlem Children's Zone and the New York Public Libraries for many years and has had hundreds of private students. She started many volunteer programs including for seniors at Penn South and (with Educational Light) World Friend's Chess Club for children who were local and refugees. She volunteered at the children's branch of Hospital for Special Surgery as well as The Teak Foundation. Over the years she has seen students go from complete beginners to becoming tournament players or simply come to enjoy chess as a social activity. She uses her background as a storyteller to bring instructional games to life, in addition to teaching opening strategy, endgame technique, and checkmate puzzles.
Sari has seen chess help with vital life skills and the development of important habits, including decision-making, mathematical aptitude, and heightened powers of observation, while also helping to build empathy from studying the opponent's point of view. She changes her approach to fit each student's needs whether teaching a group class or individuals. References are available upon request. She has formed her own curriculum and written her own chess book. A veteran in-person & online teacher, Sari is offering special discount rates for students new to online teaching as well as a free 15 minute chess class. Please contact for further information. Private lessons, group lessons, and school lessons are available.
https://www.chess.com/member/sarichesscoach
PRIVATE & GROUP LESSONS
Students log into my zoom meeting (other platforms are possible too) and I invite them into my virtual class on chess.com, chesskids, or lichess to analyze games, learn tactics, practice puzzles, and create and lesson plans. Since chess is such an interactive sport, I also grant students keyboard control so they can move the pieces on the board on my screen regardless of whether they have a membership to chess sites. Chesskids is the only site designed to be child secure and friendly. All are great sites for students to practice their chess skills and offer excellent teaching opportunities with tools that allow for interactive student/teacher participation as well as game analysis and puzzle solving technique. My students teach me what they need to learn. We tend focus on openings, tactics including puzzle solving, and checkmates. I also address any issues you might be having in your game whether it's improving spatial awareness, learning tactics, practicing how to play with a clock, or getting better at seeing and responding to your opponent's move, chess is full of opportunities to learn and that learning carries over into everyday life, regardless of skill level or age. Looking forward to seeing you in the virtual world.
https://www.chess.com/member/sarichesscoach
Students log into my zoom meeting (other platforms are possible too) and I invite them into my virtual class on chess.com, chesskids, or lichess to analyze games, learn tactics, practice puzzles, and create and lesson plans. Since chess is such an interactive sport, I also grant students keyboard control so they can move the pieces on the board on my screen regardless of whether they have a membership to chess sites. Chesskids is the only site designed to be child secure and friendly. All are great sites for students to practice their chess skills and offer excellent teaching opportunities with tools that allow for interactive student/teacher participation as well as game analysis and puzzle solving technique. My students teach me what they need to learn. We tend focus on openings, tactics including puzzle solving, and checkmates. I also address any issues you might be having in your game whether it's improving spatial awareness, learning tactics, practicing how to play with a clock, or getting better at seeing and responding to your opponent's move, chess is full of opportunities to learn and that learning carries over into everyday life, regardless of skill level or age. Looking forward to seeing you in the virtual world.
https://www.chess.com/member/sarichesscoach
