Chess Masterclass: Applied Executive Function

Prepare to be amazed as you watch your differently-wired kiddo make real friends, explore this unique content, grow under the guidance of this expert mentor, and be seen in all their glory!

Why Take This Course?

Do you have a kiddo who loves chess or a young learner who’s aspiring to improve their game? Did you know that there’s so much more to chess than meets the eye? It’s more than just a game! 

Chess is one of the best ways to learn Executive Function Skills! Chess encourages planning ahead, impulse control, and flexible thinking as students strategize, weigh their options, and adapt to their opponent’s moves. 

Join our dynamic chess program and watch your child thrive in a fun and learner-driven environment, make friends around their love of the game, and develop their Executive Function Skills as they progress!

  • Ever wondered how playing chess can naturally boost essential executive functioning skills in your child? It's more than just a game! Chess encourages planning ahead, impulse control, and flexible thinking as students strategize, weigh their options, and adapt to their opponent's moves.

    Unlock your child's potential with our dynamic chess program that fosters these crucial skills through engaging gameplay. This class is perfect for students who already know the basics of chess, including the names of the pieces, their movements, and the layout of the board.

    Join us each week for a fun and learner-driven chess experience, where students casually play and enhance their chess skills. Each session kicks off with a mini-lesson tailored to address observed play patterns and mistakes, integrating both chess strategies and executive functioning skills.

  • Guided by a twice exceptional adult, our inclusive environment is designed to support neurodiverse students, ensuring everyone feels welcome and engaged. Through this class, your child will:

    • Develop a strategic mindset by planning and foreseeing consequences

    • Enhance impulse control through thoughtful decision-making

    • Cultivate flexible thinking by adapting to ever-changing game scenarios

    • Enjoy a supportive and inclusive learning atmosphere tailored for neurodiverse student

    Prepare to be amazed as your child not only masters chess but also hones essential skills for success in life. 

    Your student will become passionate about chess, eagerly anticipate each session, and develop a strategic approach to challenges both on and off the board!

  • Willingness to learn

 

Ages: 8-11 & 11-15

Class size: Maximum- 8 Students

Level: Beginner and Returner

Price Per Session: $39

Our Promise To You

Satisfaction Guarantee:

Your child must attend the class in question to qualify.

If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with your courses, here are your options:

  • Refund requests must be received up to 24 hours after the first course begins to do one of the following options:

    • transfer to another course of the same price

    • get a 100% refund credit toward a future class

    • get a 75% money-back to the original payment method

  • The deposit made at the time of enrollment is non-refundable. 

    Cancellation options are:

    Payment plan: Cancellation requests received up to 24 hours after the first course begins will stop any future payments.

    Any cancellation requests beyond that require a 30-day notice to stop the membership/billing.

    Paid in full:

    Cancellation requests require a 30-day notice.

    The remaining balance at the end of the 30-day cancellation period can be used to transfer to another class or be converted to credit toward a future class.

How To Enroll

Explore Times

Click below to discover when this transformative course is blasting off:

What Our Parents Say…

  • My son loves Mr. Malikai's chess classes. He's taken several, and he really enjoyed this camp. The teacher is organized and punctual, but, best of all, he's positive and encouraging. While he passes on a lot of knowledge in his classes, he really emphasizes fun. Highly recommend his classes!

  • Malikai is a very gifted teacher. He knows how to get the best out of the student and truly understands the needs of neurodivergent kids. We consider ourselves very lucky to have him part of our son's learning journey

  • This teacher worked tirelessly to help my learner overcome her math anxiety and provided opportunities for her to shine. Her math skills grew so much, as well as her confidence. The class moved at a pace that was neither too fast nor too slow, as it was specifically geared to the individual students in the class and their skill set and comfort level.

Meet Your Mentor

Malikai Bass

Malikai Bass is a twice exceptional (profoundly gifted/ autistic adhder with dyspraxia/dysgrpahia) life-long learner who has been teaching twice-exceptional students virtually for the past four years. He has worked with over a thousand students in classrooms that center, celebrate, and affirm neurodiversity.

He loves helping students succeed and find the ways their brain works to thrive in all subjects and highlight the ways we can use gaming to practice and expand our executive functioning, life, and real social skills.

Explore Other Courses Offered by Young Scholars Academy

Questions Asked By Fellow Parents

  • 4 KEY things:

    1- A focus on the positive! We don’t focus on what students aren’t doing, we support what they are and we know the rest will come. We develop strengths, interests, and relationships. We build students up so they can build a better world! And do it with the new friends they make in our program!

    2- Like-minded neurodivergent peers. Our asynchronous students need one another and YSA is a safe haven for these kiddos to connect around their asynchronies, quirks, and interests. We’re a place where they can be their authentic selves and make friends while doing so!

    3- Passionate, masterful neurodivergent mentors who have walked the walk and can authentically validate and support your child with personal experience and care AND expertise as we all have advanced masters + degrees

    4-Content your students care about taught in a way they love! We offer the courses they need to be taking, not the ones they’re required to take.

    Come by and see for yourself!

  • Please don’t confuse reactive “distance learning” and virtual enrichment programming. After all, a student who is completely fried from a boring zoom class is often quick to pick up a tablet or phone, right?

    Our courses are not at all the same animal =)

  • THIS IS A SATISFACTION GUARANTEE, so your child must attend the class in question to qualify.

    If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with your courses, here are your options:

    1- 8-Week Courses Refund requests must be received up to 24 hours after the first course begins to do one of the following options: 

    Payment plan or Paid in full- 3 options: transfer to another course of the same price, get a 100% refund credit toward a future class, or get a 75% money-back to the original payment method. 

    2-  16+ Week CoursesThe deposit made at the time of enrollment is non-refundable. Cancellation options are:

    Payment plan- Cancellation requests received up to 24 hours after the first course begins will stop any future payments. Any cancellation requests beyond that require a 30-day notice to stop the membership/billing.

    Paid in full- Cancellation requests require a 30-day notice. The remaining balance at the end of the 30-day cancellation period can be used to transfer to another class or be converted to credit toward a future class.

    Please read the description of each course before enrolling.

  • We do! We have 3 kinds:

    1- Word of mouth: 25% off- we know that the best way to reach new families is word of mouth. When you help another family enroll in a YSA class and they name you at checkout, you will get 25% off the cost of the course you’re currently enrolled in once they stay past the refund period. Note— this applies to all regular courses, BUT only applies to the first month of membership courses.

    2- Multi-sibling: 10% off- We believe in supporting whole families and we are willing to put our money where our mouth is! When you sign-up 2 or more kiddos you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.

    3-Multi-course: 10% off- To fully serve your family, we hope to provide your child with all the courses they dream of taking! To make this more affordable, when you enroll in 3 or more classes, you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.

  • Of course!

    As we like to say, if you’re on our site, you’re in the right place.

    Our programming is for students who are not being supported or challenged enough in school.

    If you have an asynchronous kiddo who you know has strengths and struggles, our courses are for your child.

  • 2e students experience such asynchronous development that it proves difficult to have hard age limits.

    We often evaluate students on a case by case basis =)

    Please email us and we’ll discuss: sam@youngscholarsacademy.org

  • All of our programs are 100% virtual. This allows us to bring together the twice-exceptional/neurodivergent students of the world, connect them, and nurture them!

    Your child may very well enter a 6-person class with 5 other students from 5 different states/countries!

    Cool, right?