Stress-Free Chess Weekly Club With Executive & Life Skills Advanced

In this learner-directed class, we will meet each week to play and learn about chess together. This class listing is specifically designed to keep group sizes small and allow for direct coaching during games.  Each class will begin with a mini-lesson on a fundamental chess skill, opening, or strategy based on play patterns observed during games played by the learners in that class. Then learners will play pairs assigned by the coach based on level of experience. During each game, the coach will be looking on to ask questions and provide advice to help players slow down, strategize, and improve their chess. However, the overall focus remains on having fun and enjoying the game! So the instruction is given in a fun, friendly manner to keep class "Stress-Free". 
Chess is a research supported way to increase math skills, executive functioning, working memory, focus, and impulse control which  benefits students with ADHD and Autistic students. Practicing these skills in a natural setting allows all students to gain additional support while having fun and engaging with peers. Additionally, the group atmosphere allows students to practice social skills like turn-taking and collaboration and life skills like conflict mediation and handling disagreements. 

Instruction is individualized to the group of learners and responds to mistakes and themes seen in play however it will likely revolve around the following list of topics based on skill level:
Learners will work on consistency in the opening by developing strategies and avoiding mistakes.
Learners will work on discovering and employing tactics in their games including forks, pins, skewers, and deflections). 
Learners will utilize basic mating patterns.  

Prerequisite skills (Taught in yellow Team)
- Learners will work on avoiding mistakes in the opening such as
       -making too many pawn moves
       - moving the same piece twice
       - bringing out the queen too early
- Learners will develop their midgame skills including evaluating exchanges and captures
- Learners will evaluate piece activity in the middle and end game. 
- Learners will develop and follow plans in all three stages. 
- Learners should understand board notation