Chess and the challenged student

I have seen plenty of sharp smart kids do well in chess, but what is particularly intriquing to me is the way in which some students who cannot seem to concentrate and focus otherwise, can calm down and focus on a chess game. Also I have seen students who are in special ed classes, students with ADD, and students with serious mental disabilities perform at the chessboard at a level that is beyond expectations. The way in which this lifts up the kids self-esteem and gives them confidence and detrmination in other areas is priceless.

Battle for the Win

I find chess to be a unique one-on-one way to connect with students. Students react to chess in many positive ways. Some enjoy the intellectual battle, others take pleasure in the quiet solitude of studying tactics or a game, and then there are those who are able to relax in the predictability of the rules that governed the play.

Although retired, I still teach an after-school chess program at an all girls school. My challenge with my girls is to build the resolve and confidence to use their strengths to battle for the win.

Karen

Chess is Priceless

Research shows that chess helps with reading and math scores. These are important and I do not belittle the good that chess can and does play in what we consider standard education but chess offers more. There are many life lessons that are learned from playing chess, one is personal responsibility. Unlike team sports where one teammate can blame another for a loss, a chess player is on his or her own and most learn to except the out come of his or her game. Given the number of adults we see today that seem unable to take responsibility for their actions I think chess is a priceless tool to help children learn personal responsibility. Keep it in mind during your next class. Your have the ability to shape more than a mind, you can help shape a soul.

Think Chess!

When our children were little, we allowed them to play all sports, but we also required them to be in the Chess club, of course we made them think it was their idea. While being in the Chess club at their elementary school they all three learned how to think. They are all now very good at Math, we have one son that is a Math major and another that is an architect major. Our daughter is in Pre-Ap Algebra and loves it. I think sometimes we need to require the kids to do a little extra learning like Chess so they can think in all the other areas.
Gayla Herrington

New Chess Club at Nevada Elementary School

I am a parent co-sponsoring (with a teacher) a chess club at my children's elementary school. We have about 45 memebers from Kindergarten through 5th grade, about half beginners and about half players. We have four or five who are already strong players and many who are intensely interested and are quickly picking up the game. We know that the academic benefits are many and great, and we also look forward to seeing these kids develop a lot of personal skills (such as planning ahead, action and consequence, chess etiquette, etc.). I think the most interesting aspect is purely social, though. I enjoy seeing a Kindergartener show a fourth-grader how to castle, watching as a more tentative kid speaks up and surprises some of the chatterboxes, etc. I am hoping to find some specific chess, chess/academic, and chess/life lesson material here to share with the group and with the classroom teachers at the school. Thank you for providing this resource.

chess

Hello.
Am just starting an after school program class on games of thought and skill, with emphasis (I hope) on chess. The students will decide what games they want to learn and get good at. It's only once a week so I'm not certain we'll have time to explore enought of the other possible interests enough for them to realize that no other game can compete with the depth and satisfaction that chess offers. We are in Mountainair, New Mexico - small town - 1500 population, an hour away from Albuquerque. About 2/3 Hispanic. "Nothing to do here" is the kids' big gripe. I plan to help them change that. Will keep you posted. Would like to read about anyone out there doing anything similar. Buena Suerte.