Chess in Education

Chess Academy

2010-09-09T17:05:00.002-06:00

I tutored fourth graders at Chess Academy for the Cicero Community Center and I was happy to see the progress in their reading and math as the program continued. Their vocabulary, grammar and problem solving skills consistently improved and they were able to enjoy themselves through the process. It was interesting not only to help them understand the game of chess but also to see them help each other with the game and with reading and math as well. Throughout the span of the program, we had activities to increase their knowledge and abilities in reading and math with the most popular being in a group environment. Instead of being reticent and intimidated by more difficult problems, they began to enjoy them more and it helped them develop a sense of their abilities in successfully being able to solve them. Approaching it from a perspective of something could have fun with instead of a task or job they were required to complete allowed them to enjoy their time as they were learning more. Using chess as a vehicle for improving their scholastic abilities proved to be an excellent way to aid in their education.

chess is best

2010-05-07T07:09:00.002-06:00

I've worked in the Chicago Public Schools for over 18 years. During that time I've worked several different after-school programs. The CHESS ACADEMY is by far the favorite of all the students who have participated. It combines Reading, Math, and chess strategies combined with fun, prizes, and competition. Kids learn the academics as well as sportsmanship while learning a game they can participate in for their entire lives. Coach John gives us all the materials and resources we need and is always there to assist in any way possible. Any schools looking for an effective after-school program should definitely consider THE CHESS ACADEMY.

2010-04-21T11:59:00.002-06:00

My names is Andrew Mackow and I have nothing but nice things to say about the Chess Academy. This is my fourteenth year at CPS and my third year teaching the Chess Academy after school program here a Casals Elementary School. I have seen a ton of growth out of my students and a newly found passion for the game of chess. I know they like the program because my student attendance has been outstanding. I feel the game of chess teaches students to think logically before they act. That a great skill to have. I would like to thank Mr. John Buky for allowing me to be part of a successful program!

Our Chess Academy

2010-03-10T04:55:00.003-06:00

I enjoyed Chess Academy, as a special educator, It gave me the flexibility of modifying some of the math, many of the math problems were on the state testing, which gave the students additional practice. The students and I enjoyed the books, we read them together, orally and silently and then had our own book discussions and practice some of the chess moves the books talked about on our own chess boards. My students that were more advance than others played other students in other rooms as well as the coordinator on site. Our coordinator was a motivator, as well as an instructor, reminding students what moves were legal and illegal. Our class made Chess Academy uniquely ours.

Chess Academy

2010-03-07T20:53:00.002-06:00

I tutor second-graders in the Chess Academy program, and I have been consistently impressed with their ability to use high level strategic planning and problem solving in their chess matches. These skills are vital to students' successful growth in math, reading comprehension, and test-taking. Because the children view chess as a game and don't think of it as "work" or "school", Chess Academy allows them to further develop these skills with enthusiasm and a sense of play. Playing against each other also gives them the experience of healthy competition. My students enjoy trying to best one another in their games, but have explained to me multiple times that: "this is just for fun."

Chess Academy is the Best!

2010-01-25T17:45:00.002-06:00

The Chess Academy Program is great because it inspires students who don't like to read or do math to read chess related books and do math just to get to play chess. The students then discover they enjoy the math & reading because it makes them better chess players.
Playing chess allows the students to get out their aggressions through play instead of being physical. It allows them to think creatively and best of all it helps students with behavior problems or learning disabilities to focus, think & overcome their disabilities while they play.
As a teacher one could not ask for a better program to focus and excite students than Chess Academy!

Chess as a Teaching and Learning Tool

2009-10-09T10:19:00.002-06:00

I am an elementary school teacher, specializing in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I have found Chess to be an amazing classroom tool, especially for students learning English as an additional language, as even the student with the weakest language skills can be a Chess Champion!

Chess is also a great way to talk to students about strategies and planning ahead. It involves problem solving and higher level thinking, and students who develop these skills playing chess find that they can easily apply them to other subjects.

Chess also motivates students to focus. I have had many students with very short attention spans, or hyperactivity or attention difficulties, but they could still play chess, and by reminding them of the strategies they used for paying attention to their chess games, I could help them develop their attention span and get more out of their time at school.

Most of all, chess is fun so students really enjoy it! My students would reward themselves for finishing their work by playing chess games and always considered it a special treat!

A New Beginning

2009-09-11T19:29:00.002-06:00

I am a middle school teacher that wants students to achieve to their potentials AND likes chess. 1+1=2. My 'enlightenment' came when I went to a Pre-AP workshop at UTA in Arlington, Tx hosted by Dr. Joseph Eberhard who is a strong proponent of chess in schools. My colleagues and I in the Social Studies dept. were sold. I contacted my principal about it and she was thrilled that we were going to start a chess club. Since I've never done any of this before and I don't profess to be any expert in chess I was a bit nervous on getting it going. But I read many sites about starting chess clubs and the educational benefits that came along with it such as: logical reasoning, critical thinking, complex decision making, self esteem and on and on. I came to this decision: JUST DO IT! We had our first meeting this week and turnout was about 20 students who can't wait to get started. Their faces said it all. I was excited and they were excited. Anyone who has tips or advice I will be all ears. But until then..A new beginning has begun.

One Child’s Chess Experience

2009-06-15T22:56:00.001-06:00

by Laura Sherman

The room is silent. You can literally hear the people breathing around you while you study the sixty-four checkered squares in front of you. Glancing over at the chess clock you see you have plenty of time left in your game. A move cries out to be made, but you bide your time and check for others. You know that a move made in haste could cost your dearly. Finally, confident that your initial idea is sound, you reach out a hand and grasp your knight, hopping it to its intended destination. There is an audible gasp from a few behind you.

You hit your clock signaling your opponent’s turn. Only then do you steal a glance at him. He meets your eyes with a look that speaks defeat. You see that he knows it is just a matter of time. He shakes his head and stares at the hopeless position. You lean back in your chair and watch him study the board for possible flaws to your plan. There are none. It is hard to stifle the grin that threatens to spread across your face.

You glance around at your spectators. Some recognize your opponent’s fate, while others wear puzzled expressions. Two whisper to each other and finally nod their heads in understanding. One winks at you in admiration and turns to observe a game with a less determined outcome.

The fact that you are only ten years old, playing in an adult tournament, might have intimidated some, but not you. No, you know that your dedicated study and eagerness to learn the game has paid off. You continue to improve each time you play. Your teachers at school notice a difference, writing glowing praise home to your parents on a regular basis now. You know that you can do whatever you put your mind to do and it shows in various aspects of your life.

Your opponent shakes his head, stops the clock and reaches out his hand to you, signaling his resignation. You shake his hand, smile and offer to analyze the game with him, a ritual amongst players. He returns your smile and nods. You know he doesn't care about your age, because he knows your analysis will help him improve. How many activities are there where an adult would be eager to hear the thoughts of a child? As you set up in the next room to go over the game you notice other adults have followed. They too want to hear what you have to say. There is no better feeling.

Laura Sherman founded Your Chess Coach (www.YourChessCoach.com) with her husband, Dan Sherman. Together they teach children to play chess through various schools in Pinellas County, Florida, as well as privately in students’ homes and online.

Chess in the classrooms

2009-03-05T11:09:00.003-06:00

Our school is looking to make chess an integral part of our daily routine in our school. We are a Montessori school in VA and we are able to perfectly use abstract principles in our lessons and we feel that chess is a great way to further develop our children's minds. We are looking forward to see how much they can grow in math, competition, and strategic planning skills.

We know that chess in our classrooms (starting at age 3) will set our children up for success and advanced learning and skills. We know that they will then place further ahead then children that are not involved in chess.

We look forward to all that this forum may offer and the budding minds of our children.

Regards,
~~Danielle

Informal Outdoor Chess

2009-02-20T23:19:00.002-06:00

Last year at Sepulveda Middle School in Los Angeles I brought a chess set to school. It seemed like a nice idea to play outside during the morning break and lunch. Eventually more than one student wanted to play. So another chess board arrived. Then more students expressed an interest and we added two more chess boards. A counselor saw a "troubled" student play chess on many days and she was so enthused that she donated money for four more chess sets. At this point the students played on two tables - a wonderful public outdoor chess display!

Interest continued to grow. Soon the principal commented on the chess phenomenon and gave money for more boards. By the end of the year we had 13 boards set up and occupied almost every day, twice a day.

I cannot comment on the academic gains students might have experienced. However there is a clear and simple joy I can report - that of young people in a challenging urban school environment putting their minds to use over a simple 8x8 board, playing a popular game that they may enjoy for a lifetime.

2009-02-03T09:29:00.002-06:00

Kids really enjoyed the competition of a room tournament. First I seeded players by strength of play, then posted the match-ups and results , culminating in one room champion.

Personal Experience

2009-01-19T13:42:00.002-06:00

I have just recently begun to tutor chess as I am now to old to compete in my local tournaments and I want to give something back. Chess has always been a big part of my education, ever since first grade when the chess club was something fun to do after school, never did i expect that 5 years later my team would be going to Supernationals in Kansas City, MO. But I digress, personally I feel that chess has allowed me to flourish in school by not only building reasoning skills but also patience and a little bit of discipline (need to memorize all those openings haha), so regardless of any contrary arguments, I know that chess does wonders for helping students learn better and function better as students as a whole. Moral of the story?: "Chess for everyone!"

Exploring Logic: a Middle School Chess Class

2009-01-03T13:02:00.007-06:00

The benefits of direct chess instruction in the K-12 classroom have been documented for years, and anyone curious enough to want to sift through the details can Google the terms "chess education research" and get rewarded with over 270,000 hits faster than you can say "Robert Ferguson."

However, when my non-chess playing middle school principal suggested that I could teach a formal chess class to my sixth graders, it was time to put a proposal together in simple terms to justify the benefits of the proposed class. It certainly wouldn't hurt if I could tie in as many State of Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations along the way.

Here is what I submitted:

Across the curriculum, chess utilizes and strengthens higher level thinking skills including decoding, pattern recognition, comprehending, and analyzing. It also develops the ability to concentrate for extended periods of time, demonstrates that actions have immediate consequences, and teaches children to take responsibility for their decisions.

During game play, students develop socializing skills, sportsmanship, and etiquette.

The benefits of learning and playing chess are available to every student regardless of gender, socio-economic background, or learning style. It engages both hemispheres of the brain as it combines left-directed thinking skills involving analysis and logical decision making with right-directed skills such as spatial reasoning and holistic problem solving. Good players must combine logical thinking with imagination and creativity.

In specific content areas, research supports that chess enhances reading performance, probably due to its reliance on decoding, pattern recognition, and increased ability to concentrate.

In science, chess develops scientific thinking. Just playing the game requires students to generate several candidate moves, evaluate and predict their possible outcomes, and interpret the results. A player decides on a hypothesis, makes her move, and tests it.

In math, chess develops a multitude of skills such as spatial reasoning, coordinate geometry, comparing and ordering values and calculation.

Wordy?

You bet. But it got the job done.

The ten-week class meets for one hour every morning and repeats itself with new students every quarter. This is the first year of the class, so I'm still feeling my way along, but so far the reaction from students and parents has been very favorable.

It's our move

2008-12-16T10:29:00.003-06:00

I am a middle school special education teacher. I started teaching chess to my students 3 years ago in a class that focused on academic study skills. This class was for students with learning disabilities who were enrolled in the general curriculum. A teacher's aide was an avid chess player and had begun teaching me. I invited him to come help teach my students, thinking it would help enhance their concentration, problem-solving, planning, etc. The students loved it! Since then, those students started a chess club at our school. With an enrollment of 850 students in the 6th through 8th grades, we have approx. 120 students involved in chess at one level or another. I have seen tremendous results with my students in special education as well as our gen. ed. and gifted/talented. Indeed, my students in special education often outperform all the other students. I could go on and on about the success I have seen using this milieu! I am excited to have found this blog and look forward to sharing stories and resources with other educators. I am currently conducting a causal-comparative study for my dissertation wherein I am teaching chess to students in special education math to see if it will improve their math scores.

Chess in Education

2008-11-28T14:18:00.002-06:00

I started teaching chess about a month ago, and I see it as a good motivator for student achievement. The children are very excited about chess academy. Students who were not the best behaved during the school day are working harder to behave during the school day to avoid detentions that would keep them out of chess academy. Some students have expressed their excitement of chess academy to their homeroom and other teachers in the school. I think it's great that students are finding more reasons to want to come to school. I wish we had implemented the chess academy program sooner. I am especially interested in the gender disparity in chess academy. I have noticed that more boys seem to be interested. I would like to know what others think. I have created my own blog:Chess & Gender. Please post comments for me.

Chess...an even start

2008-09-23T19:34:00.005-06:00

Before a child can explore the world of extracuricular activities, they must first develop a specific level of skills and ability. There are very few events in which the brightest child can start to compete. Chess is not only international; it is universal. Anyone can compete against anyone else. Chess teaches kids from the youngest age about patients and self-discipline. It is the first opportunity kids have to be on an even playing field as everyone else. Give them the chance and they will shine!!!

As the Indian Proverb is said "Chess is a Sea in which a Gnat can Drink and an Elephant can Bathe".

For the less gifted

2008-08-18T20:52:00.002-06:00

It is interesting teaching those who are far behind grade level in math. Many of them are ready to think, but not in conventional, abstract ways. I am ready to begin my 4th year teaching high school freshmen, and for the 3rd year will teach chess. My obsersavations on students who are 3-5 years behind (according to state standards) are as follows.

1) The boys overwhelmingly enjoy the competitive nature of chess.
2) About 1 out of 4 students absolutely fall in love with the game.
3) It is a wonderful way to reach the mind of those who are not normally tuned into school.

It is nice when something like chess enriches both the teacher and the students in the classroom.

Mike Burke
Lompoc High School

Thinking Chess

2008-05-19T20:02:00.002-06:00

Chess enhances student's skills at logical problem solving, looking ahead, reasoning and memory, and also creative thinking, using both halves of their brain. Chess in a school environment enhances students' social skills as well, teaching them the values of camaraderie and discipline. It hopefully fosters these skills for the students' use throughout their lifetime.

Here is a .pdf link to a study of the benefit of chess in education:

http://www.gardinerchess.com/publicationsbenefits/ciers.pdf

64 Squares to Academic Success

2008-04-27T19:15:00.000-06:00

During the past few years I have had the opportunity to introduce chess on our elementary campus. I am a firm believer that all students need to be provided the opportunity to learn the game. Initially, however, I was not convinced whether or not I believed the “boast” that a thorough understanding of the game would boost academic grades and test scores.

I decided to do a little study of my own. What I found was that three correlations could be attributed to those students who received consistent chess instruction. The first, as documented in the movie “Knights of the South Bronx,” demonstrates how students gain self-confidence as they learn the game. This self-confidence is not just in playing the game, but also is evident in their everyday life. The second, is related but goes much deeper. Students who participate in chess tend to build a sense of intrinsic motivation. This motivation gives them the strength and courage to reach out, to participate in more programs whether school related or extracurricular. Shy students tend to become leaders. The third correlation proved that student test scores and academic progress was enhanced due to the critical thinking skills they learned from the game.

Out of this “little” study, I decided to use my Reading Specialist degree and begin pulling literature that has a chess theme. I found there are literally hundreds of rich literary works out here for children. Using these books, and continuing to teach the children the game, I have been able to build a bridge between chess and using chess principles to solve life lessons or experiences. Chess can be taught through every content area we use today. This being true, why would educators not jump at the chance to provide chess instruction for their students?

Children thrive in an environment where chess is taught. 64 Squares to Academic Success is a belief that all children, regardless of academic or socio-economic level, can benefit from a consistent chess program. The challenge now stands in the hand of the educator. It is your move.

Teaching Chess: A Serendipitous Event

2008-04-21T17:29:00.000-06:00

I currently work as the assistant director for IMACS (Institute for Mathematics And Computer Science) of North Miami. We are an enrichment center that offers advanced classes for gifted student in first through eighth grades. So teaching logic to kids is more than a way of life, is my passion. Although I’ve been playing chess since I was nine, it never occurred to me that it could be a tool for teaching logic and mathematics. Perhaps, I was hung up on the fact that I could never beat my older brother! A close friend works as the community education coordinator for a community college in the area. One day her chess teacher called and said that due to other commitments, he could no longer teach the class. This was a last minute notice and her class was about to start. She turned to me, “you love kids, you love logic, why not teach chess?” I started doing some research and soon fell in-love with the passion and enthusiasm that I perceived from other chess teachers and organizations. I started teaching a class of fourteen second graders, of which only two are girls. So far we had five sessions and I’m very impress with the children’s commitment and interest. The more I read on the web and prepare my lessons, the more I learn to appreciate the great teaching tool that chess is!
I’m sure that you’ll often hear from me with questions about the game and how to run the class. But for now, this is my question, how do I get more girls interested in chess? Even when I talk to parents they say that chess is for boys. I’m glad to have boys in my class, but would love to have more girls!

Parental Musings on Learning in Chess

2008-04-19T10:08:00.002-06:00

The propaganda on chess tells us that it’s an all or nothing game. It tells us that there is winning and losing, and if you don’t have ‘it,’ well, you don’t have it. The general public thinks that either you’re a prodigy, and you immediately know how to play chess, or you aren’t and can’t. We are constantly given the impression that there are people who just immediately know chess. These people, we are led to believe, instantly see all the lines there are to be seen on the board. Little kids walk into the park, watch a few moves, and then instantly sit down and beat former GM’s at the game that they studied their whole lives to learn.

What don’t we see in the images of chess, chess learning, and chess playing? As someone who never so much as touched a chessboard in my youth, I was surprised to witness the insane amount of effort and time that kids and adults put into learning how to play a game. I never thought I’d be a parent sitting in a crowded room on a beautiful Saturday waiting for my child to finish a game of chess. I never thought I’d refer to other people’s kids by the numbers that they’ve earned from playing chess.

When children learn at school, they often doubt whether their learning will have any practical applications. In chess learning, there is no doubt for a child. It is clear for the child or adult learning to play chess that most of what they are learning will have an almost immediate application. Learning to play chess takes scores of complicated concepts and focuses them down onto 64 squares. Contained within a chessboard and chess set are mathematics, logic, social learning, anthropology, history, pedagogy, child development, psychology, competition, and joy. That is not nearly and exhaustive list of all of the things we can extract from or project onto a chessboard.

Now the only problem I have is how to win against my 10 year old son. It hasn’t happened in over 6 months, and I’m beginning to think it never will.

From small beginnings

2008-03-26T14:05:00.002-06:00

When I first starting working in public schools 2 years ago, I was scared. I was hired to be the technologist at a local middle school. Not growing up in the city, I didn't know much about the school. People quickly started telling me the dark side. My new school was the "bad" school where kids don't care about learning, teachers get things stolen, families don't care, and the only things that matter are sports and rap music. While many of these things were over exaggerated, I will admit the school was different from what I was use to growing up. One thing this building did have however, was staff that cared about the students no matter how much they acted up, and staff that was like a family. As the newest and youngest member of the family, I tried to fit in right away. Like any good co-workers, we like to compete against one another. That is how it all happened. Sitting around during lunch in the staff rooms with other staff members, we began playing each other in chess. Granted none of us were pros, really none of us were that good in the grand sense, but we could tell if something was dropping a piece and understand some pieces where better then others. And so we played everyday during lunch, and sometimes after school and during conference periods. We even played during our training sessions. Slowly we started seeing certain tricks and strategies that worked well. We started understanding why moving e4 and d4 first where much better moves then some of the other strange openings we would make. We even learned the beloved 4 move checkmate, then even more quickly learned how to make the other player pay dearly if they dared try it on us.
Then something strange happened. Our students started asking us how we play. They wanted to learn, and to play us. We started with students during the last few minutes of their class, then during the time before school started, and slowly they started showing up everyday during their lunch. They would grab food from the cafeteria and head straight to our rooms. It was slow at first, we would beat the quickly, and briefly explain why moving the queen so quickly hurt them, or why moving the King unguarded in the corner was a poor defense. We would tell them to mirror our openings so they could learn them. We taught them when sacrifices need to be made, and how to carefully make sure you aren't dropping pieces and are guarding the important squares. Then alittle at a time we noticed the started beating the other teachers that have just started to learn also. We laughed at the time.... but then they started beating the rest of us teachers that have had a bit more practice. We blamed it on our carelessness and were able to put up face for a few weeks longer, but then it got to the point where every teacher prays for a student to be. They were learning faster then we could teach them, not only that, they were beginning to over power us. I won't lie to you, the first time it happens, it sucks. Now, however, I realize what a positive thing this has been. Other students who have seen how much fun the original students are having have began to show up to play. When we found a 1900 rated player who was able to play 6 of our children all at the same time, we had other students sitting by watching in silence amazed. The real amazing thing that happened though was what other teachers were telling us. They said they noticed the students we have that play chess everyday seem more focused and more patient. Students how typically sat around doing nothing and ignoring the teachers were trying hard to get through their homework so they could play chess at the end of the class time. Chess became a competitive thing in a positive way also. It is typical to hear some of the students tell us they will "kill us at chess" or tell another student that "they don't even stand a chance," then beg the teacher to let them play.
The patience and cooperativeness of students are just some of the easy things to see that chess has done for students. Pride and confidence are the things that are a bit more hard to see, but have come through so much in our kids. In our school filled with students yelling about the newest athletes and rap stars; chess players are thought of as something very cool. They think it is hard and difficult, but something that needs alot of respect for those very reasons. Everyday the club expands, and why the teachers are busy getting new tournaments for the children to play in, get more lessons for the students to expand their skill, and more funds to pay for trips and equipment, we have more and more students coming to play.

Chess begins today

2008-03-24T07:50:00.002-06:00

As it is clear that every move counts in chess, it also holds true that every decision counts in life. The decision to promote chess and its role in education can not be overstated. I was lucky to find chess or more whimsically stated it found me a great many years ago, and ever since I embraced this chance meeting.
I learned how the pieces moved by watching a friend play chess in my elementary school cafeteria, but I excelled under the mentorship of the late Gus Gosselin who dedicated himself to the game he so dearly loved. Under his guidance I learned about self-empowerment that chess is the great equalizer. Regardless of you or your opponent's socio-economical status you have the opportunity to apply yourself, and succeed. Chess levels the playing field so that we can follow our hearts content, our imagination, utilize our knowledge, and decision-making skills. Although I learned many lessons over the board it is predominately off the board that I have applied it's lessons, especially in determining my vocation and future aspirations.
Nowadays, I fervently strive to inspire children in schools through the game of chess. Teaching many of the lessons I learned. Coaching children to embrace their ability to determine their own future regardless of their proverbial station in life. I volunteer my time in inner-city schools, where many children may not have as great of an access to the game or tutelage. Chess has only benefited each and every child. They look forward to staying after-school oddly as this seems. They are even taking pride and joy in learning, through delivering pins, skewers, forks, and checkmates. They are learning the application of knowledge. I can speak volumes of how chess has positively impacted all these children. As such I implore those who have even felt even a fraction of chess innumerable benefits to promote chess in education.

Chess in Schools: How dedication emits performance

2008-03-21T21:05:00.003-06:00

Hello, for those of you who do not know I am a new contributor to this blog. My name is Travis Cormier and I am currently a Sophomore at Hallsville High School in Hallsville, Texas. The reason I am posting this is because I just want to let all of you out there know how dedicated Chess in Schools is to being sure that the intricate intelligent art known to us as chess into all of the schools.

Before I start ranting about all this AMAZING information (that I am sure all of you already know I just want to be sure to get it out) I will tell you a little bit about me:

I am 16 years old and have been playing chess since I was about 9 years old but did not really become very serious about it until recently. I picked the game up again after reading The Kings of New York: A Year Amongst the Geeks, Oddballs, and Geniuses that Make up America's Top High School Chess Team. It really opened me up to the true strategy behind the game. I started playing again (as previously stated by me) and it has actually not only improved my grades in school (like Chess in Schools says it will) but it has also improved my debate (I am an active member of the National Forensics League and University Interscholastic League Lincoln-Douglas debate). It has opened my eyes to more complex ways around a situation during questioning and in all has improved my intellect as a whole (my IQ has jumped 12 points!).

Now, you may be asking yourself: why is this guy from a small town in the middle of Texas saying, and what point is he trying to make? Well it is quite simple realistically:

My plan is to introduce to my school administrators that we need a school sponsored chess team. We have one that is called "Strategy Club" where all they do is play cards because the school will not give them access to our chess boards (I know ITS INSANITY!!!). So I am trying to convince them to pay for us to have USCF memberships and to travel to tournaments (just like they do for all our other competitive teams).

Now the point behind this is how Chess in Schools is dedicated to helping me achieve this goal. Not only has John sent me immense amounts of information and evidence for why this chess team would be beneficial to our school but has also given me contact information for a professor at the University of Texas in Dallas who teaches Chess history; enabling me to have the needed information (I believe) to convince school administration to set up this chess team so that maybe we may compete at Nationals next year.

The dedication that John and his colleagues have given to just one school can spread nationwide. If this is how much personal help and attention he gives to just me, a boy from a town in Texas with less than 3,000 people imagine how dedicated they are to fulfilling their goal and spread nationwide. This program has the potential of dedicated people who have a passion for what they love. Something that most other programs do not have. Something that drives for persistence of perfection. Chess in Schools is dedicated, and for those of you out there who are in the same predicament that I am, just send them an email. That's what I did and it worked.

Well, this is my first post of many to come, if anyone is interested using the USCF rankings calculator I am a 1699 (so close to 1700 it drives me insane). Maybe I will play you online. But if anyone out there has any questions feel free to email me at attax321@yahoo.com or John, we are both free to help and I can answer any questions that you guys have for me.

I hope that this post helps show the dedication that Chess in Schools has for its game and the passion that it contains to drive it to success!

Chess Buds: Yury and Alex O

2008-03-05T13:29:00.005-06:00

If you have a good friend you are lucky. If you have a best friend that you have known forever you are truly blessed. Grandmasters Alexander Onischuk and Yury Shulman first met as teenagers and to this day are buddies. They are fierce competitors and have been forced to face off against each other for more than one title. They met because of the love of the game and the intense competition could have made them rivals, but they have chosen to become and stay best friends.

I was happy to have a chance to sit down with both Onischuk and Shulman this past January during the Chess in Education workshops held in Chicago. Ladies, it is hard to deny that both Onischuk and Shulman are good looking. I have to say that some days I really love my job. Gentlemen, of course, you might also appreciate Onischuk and Shulman for their looks; I am not judging here. I think most people will agree that both young men are talented players and those of us in the United States are very proud to call them both ours.

Their first meeting occurred when the two were teens, paired against one another for the first time. Onischuk says, “We remember it well; we met in Alma-Ata. There was a junior championship taking place. We were playing so bad that we were joking – that there were three rooms over there: One room for the main players, one room for players that had some points and a third room for players that had practically no points. And that is where we played our first game.” As the three of us laughed at this description, Shulman blushed and said, “I remember, yes,” with a look that seemed to say, do we really have to talk about that part

Onischuk continued, “The funny thing after that, from the tournament he (Shulman) qualified for the World Junior. He won every single game after he made the draw against me. So it is like I gave him a push, I also started to play better after that, and I didn’t have a wonderful tournament but at least I won more games than I lost.” Shulman finished the story by pointing out that Onischuk went on to take second place in the World Junior that year, not himself.

To what do these Grandmasters attribute their chess success? Natural ability, study, personal instruction, or the Internet? Shulman answered with a laugh, “number four.” I doubt that playing chess on the Internet is really what made him great. Shulman said his success has been due to studying, especially books. Onischuk agreed, “I think that the ability to study is more important than being talented or even being a genius. I know so many talented kids from my generation that were probably more talented than I, but I worked harder. To become a Grandmaster or a strong chess player you need so many things together. Good nerves, ability to train . . . .”

Shulman cut in, “to be able to sustain the losses. Players lose the ability to play just because they can not take a draw, they can not take a loss. They take it too easy, or most of the time they take it too hard, but taking it too easy is a problem also.” Yes, they are such good friends they finish each other’s thoughts.

Since studying was such a major part of their development as chess players, I wanted to know who their most influential teachers were. Onischuk answered first. “I think my first teacher was my greatest teacher. He wasn’t a Grandmaster or anything. I believe your first teacher doesn’t have to be great at chess. What you need is just a good teacher that will show you what to do to learn chess. A good teacher has to develop in you your chess playing personality.”
Yury's Parents flanked by Leonard Gorivch

Shulman had to think a little bit before he answered, “It is really hard for me to name one. I was very inspired first by my dad, who taught me how to play and then brought me to the chess club. He spent so much time with me he would say, ‘Yury, now you are supposed to read the chess book at this time.’ At the same time, of course, there is my first teacher Tama Gorivch, who stays with me now. Her husband Leonard was helping me also and he was my teacher in university. Of course, one of my strongest coaches was Albert Kapengut; he was an International Master. He still plays sometimes.”

Shulman and Onischuk are chess teachers themselves now and will undoubtedly become another player’s most influential teacher. Shulman agrees with Onischuk that a teacher needs to help a player develop his own vision. He said, “They should believe in themselves and also try to understand the ideas of other players and apply it to their own personality. They should really try to think and apply when they play, not just memorize.”

Onischuk did point out, “I think it depends on if a student wants to become really good. If chess is just fun for you, then just play and enjoy the game. If you want to become a professional, you have to train. Not just play blitz online.” We all laughed then Shulman said, “ICC. . .” and Onischuk finished the thought, “ . . . or with your friends. You have to really train – almost every day.” He paused, “At least one hour a day.”

Shulman:
“But every day.”

Onischuk:
“But every day.”

Dynako:
Not just seven hours on Saturday?
Onischuk:
“No, no. Everyday! Ok, say, I have a New Year’s resolution to study chess and then you study for month and forget about it.”

Shulman:
“But even that month would be helpful if you studied for one month. But usually when people say they study for seven hours a day they studied for two hours that day, but they feel that they studied seven hours. . . ”

I took over for Onischuk when I finished off Shulman’s train of thought, “Or they think they studied that long but they go and get lunch, then some coffee, watch TV . . .” He wouldn’t let me go for long unchecked and countered with, “. . .play on the Internet.” Onischuk put us both in our place by summing up the discussion, “Sometimes people play with chess programs and say, ‘Ok I was studying the whole day today,’ but it isn’t really true.”

I don’t think Onischuk or Shulman exalt themselves being chess idols, but they hold others with such high esteem. Shulman considers any World Champion a star. For Onischuk, his idol was easy to name: “I think Karpov was an idol for me when I was young, and then it just happened at some point that I became his second. I have been his second for many, many years since 1996. I think I just got lucky that I met my idol and I have worked really close with him. When I was a kid, he was an idol to me and then he became a colleague.” I had to ask Onischuk who has learned more, he or Karpov. Onischuk puffed up his chest and tried to speak with pride, but he didn’t quite pull it off, saying with a smile, “He was a student. . .” Shulman burst out laughing. Onischuk continued, “. . . officially, but of course I learned more – ten times more, that’s for sure.” Shulman had the same experience with his friend Boris Gelfand.

Being such accomplished players, I knew they both have had to have victories and losses, which have stuck with them more than others. Onischuk’s biggest win was easy to guess: “For me the top accomplishment was winning the U.S. championship. When I won the U.S. championship it was like, now what?!” Shulman and I laughed at Onischuk’s joy and exasperation all tied up in one. “Maximum that I can do now is win the championship two times. I will never be the world champion. So it was like, I guess I could just retire after that.” I hope he doesn’t really believe that he won’t become world champion someday. The U.S. would love to see him pull it off, and there is no reason he isn’t able.

For Shulman, there was no one major tournament win that came to mind: “I think I remember more the individual games. I remember my loss to Alexei Shirov, which was a really tough loss for me. I had a winning position. I could have advanced. And again I remember the World Cup 2005 when I was able to eliminate Alexander Khalifman. Those events I tend to memorize more, they are short but full of emotion. When I won the European Junior Championship, I didn’t even realize it. Some wins aren’t as connected to you personally. Sometimes it is not what is the biggest accomplishment, but what it means to you.”

I turned to the question of the losses. Shulman, of course, picked his second round loss to Alexei Shirov in the World Championship as his most painful/memorable loss. Onischuk needed to think about it longer for an answer, “I’ve definitely had many.” He paused for a long time and looked to the ceiling. He finally said with a shrug, “Somehow I cannot remember them.” The three of us burst with laughter. Shulman pointed out, “You see this is a really good quality of a chess player, he forgets the troubles . . . ” Onischuk cut in, “. . . there are so, so many losses.”

Shulman:
“I am sure poor Alex can recall our last game when if he’d beaten me in the last round he would have qualified for the World Cup.”

Onischuk:
“The World Championship.”

Yury:
“That is why maybe he doesn’t want to recall right now.”

Onischuk:
“No, actually I have already forgotten about it.”

After another round of laughter, Onischuk did share this: “I was leading in some strong tournament, a round robin, and I played the white pieces against the weakest player. Everyone was a top Grandmaster in the world. I played the lowest rated guy – not a bad player – an International Master master with a rating of 2400. Had I won that game I would have at least shared first place. Of course, I lost, with white. I thought I was going to crush this guy. I lost and it was very disappointing. But I have had so many losses it is hard to recall them all.” To aspiring players out there, remember the Onischuk school of chess: Not remembering all of your losses is key to becoming a Grandmaster.

All of the talk of big wins and losses led me to ask Shulman and Onischuk to share their experiences of this year’s World Championship. They looked at each other and started to laugh, “It was the same experience,” Shulman said. Onischuk agreed, “More or less it was the same experience; we lost to the same guy. Unfortunately, Yury didn’t make it to the third round so we would,” in unison with out missing a beat they said, “play each other.”

Onischuk felt that round one was harder than both he and Shulman expected it to be, saying they were favorites in the round. Shulman claims only Onischuk was a favorite.
Onischuk summed up the tournament, “We managed to go to the second round and then Yury managed to lose to Alexei Shirov, the famous turn in the famous game. I beat Predrag Nikolic. Surprisingly, the second match was much easier for me than the first. So then I lost to Shirov. I drew the first game with black and the second game I felt obligated to play for the win. I didn’t really want to play rapid chess against him. The same thing happened in the World Championship in 2000 I played against Shirov. It was the same situation. I drew the first game with black, I quickly made a draw in the second game with white, and I lost in the rapid. So I decided this time I am going to get him with white in the second game. Somehow it didn’t work out. Actually, he played great chess against me. It was a fair game, fair match. What can I say? I wasn’t lucky like Yury.”

Shulman wasn’t going to let the “lucky” comment just pass, “He (Shirov) quite misplayed the game against me. I think Alex was watching this. I was playing black and my advantage was around six points at some point. If I played the move, I am sure I would have won the game, and it was the second game.” Onischuk echoed what must have been stuck in Shulman’s mind, “Yes, you were just one move away.”

Since the interview was starting to take a sad turn, I asked what they thought might happen in the Kamsky-Topalov and Anand-Kramnik matches. Both Shulman and Onischuk went on about how they don’t make predictions and why it is a futile exercise, but each of them ended up having an opinion of the matches.

Shulman:
“These matches are of a high level. Of course we are going to support Gata. I hope if a U.S. player is going to win that chess will be been given a boost, like in Fischer’s time.

“Anand-Kramnik will be the more unpredictable match, because when Kamsky and Topalov are playing you know their styles real well. I don’t think Kamsky and Topalov are going to switch away from their styles, but Anand and Kramnik are more flexible chess players. Topalov is a sharp and attacking player. Kamsky has his own original style. I don’t think they will play something different. I think both matches will be very interesting. In Topalov vs Kramnik it will be about whose style is better. In Anand-Kramnik it will be decided by who is better prepared.”

Onischuk:
“More or less I think the same thing. With Anand-Kramnik, I have no idea. It is very equal, anything can happen. For me it doesn’t make sense to make any predictions. I think recently Anand is playing better but Kramnik also had a busy year.”

The interview came full circle, as this one ended on the same note that it started. Even though I was interviewing Grandmasters about chess and their professional lives, most of what we talked about came back to personal relationships. The final question” What is the best and worst parts of being a chess professional? Onischuk answered quickly, “I think the best thing is you can travel and meet your friends.” Shulman seconded the motion, “In general you can have more friends than anyone who doesn’t play chess. It was really, really fun when I was a child, because I could see so many friends and new people. I remember I was taking addresses; we were writing letters to people 5,000 miles away from each other, in Siberia.”

On the contrary, the worst part of being a professional player for Onischuk is, “realizing that at some moment this will stop. Your lifestyle will change and you won’t see those friends you have all over the world, because you will settle down and do something else.” Once again Shulman completed Onischuk’s thought, “Also at some point you realize you cannot do the things you use to be able to do.” Somehow, despite their premonitions of slowing down someday, I don’t think either Shulman or Onischuk will be giving up chess anytime soon which I think is just fine with the rest of us.

Chess in Eduation

2008-02-28T16:23:00.001-06:00

Chess really develops creative problem solving skills. It forces you to focus on many things at once. I think that the fairness of it really appeals to kids as well.

elarkin1@mac.com

2008-02-21T22:53:00.002-06:00

There are many values to be learned through learning and playing chess. One learns discipline, patience, courtesy and ethical principles. While playing chess you are constantly faced with making decisions. If you make a good choice you get good results. Likewise another lesson learned is how to accept a mistake or bad judgement and do your best to correct it. If you lose a game you see that it's not the end of the world and will make you a stronger player for the next game. This principle can be applied to your many battles and confrontations you face which may not turn out the way you want.

What I like the most is seeing a gracious winner (especially when it's me) When things go your way it is always good to show others politeness. The principle of Chess etiquette can be and should be applied in every part of ones daily actions.

elarkin1@mac.com

2008-02-21T22:43:00.002-06:00

Hello Chess Academy,

Once again you open me up to a new level. Thanks for the hook-up!!!

Feeling good, just won a chess game.

Eco Ed

Using chess in math

2008-01-08T14:56:00.000-06:00

Hello,

I teach high school math as well as chess at my school, Forest Charter School. Some ways I use chess in my math class are:

1) Introduce how a Knight moves on a chessboard then ask how to calculate (without moving the piece) how many possible squares can the piece move in the corner, side and center. Have students check thier calculations by testing them.

2) Play the Knight Tour game. A Knight tour is where a knight needs to visit each square of a chessboard. Ask students what is the fewest possible moves it would take? Then have students play the game in teams, one counting moves and the other making the moves. Have teams compete to complete the tour with the fewest possible moves. After the teams have completed the tour, ask about the best (optimal) strategy that might be used. Play the game again using the strategy.

These are just a couple of activities I use.

-- Steve

Just What Does Chess Do?

2008-01-02T22:22:00.000-06:00

In the day and age of standards and high-stakes testing it is often hard to justify the utilizing of chess in the classroom without taking a leap of faith...and having a principal that will buy into your ideas. However, as most are probably aware reading this blog, there is plenty of empirical evidence suggesting at least some advances in test scores...especially with younger students. I have done a lot of work on this and don't want to bore anyone with the details...but I will try to gloss over what I am trying to do.

I have become interested in virtues of chess that are not directly tested by standardized tests and perhaps justifying the use of the game based on other criteria...hoping that there is still room for the game in even the most ardent standards-based classroom. Oftentimes the criteria is difficult to quantify such as "improves foresight" or "enhances concentration" and this is where the problem really lies but there are plenty of ideas expressed anecdotally throughout the last 400 years that propose a slew of valuable traits that are either enhanced or discovered through chess. For instance, Benjamin Franklin proposed persistence to be one of the top traits cultivated in the game and, several hundred years later, Josh Waitzkin's book "The Art of Learning" devotes an entire chapter to the notion that one has to believe that effort/strategy will triumph over innate ability in the game.

There have been no less than six books (and there may be more) published in the last few years devoted purely to the notion that chess exercises or provides insights into life itself (see my January 1, 2008 entery of my own blog). These range from "The Tao of Chess" where author Peter Kurzdorfer proposes, among other things, that chess requires a certain search for truth that once honed can spill into real life to other authors such as the mighty Kasparov ("How Life Imitates Chess: Making the Right Moves - From the Board to the Boardroom") who suggests, among other ideas, that chess training and training for the business world are not too much different and require a sculpting of intuition. Certainly these authors are taping into an area that many of us intuitively hold about the game of chess and the many interesting characteristics or habits of mind it may foster in kids and ultimately why it should have a special place in the school.

I utilize chess in my sixth grade advanced science classroom in many ways. I often utilize the centers approach in my classroom which means I organize my students into several groups and then have them rotate to different activities (usually one group will meet with me, another will work on seat work, and the other will be involved with visual-spatial tasks). One of the activities or "centers" I have available is those involved with visiual-spatial thinking activities such as origami, tanagrams, serious drawing (not doodling), and of course chess. I have found most students gravitate toward the game and are drawn to playing with the many different types of boards and the clocks. It takes the first two or three weeks to train the students that it is not a time to goof off...but once that has been established it is usually smooth sailing. I even have students rushing into my class between bells to see if they can get a quick 'blitz' game in before class starts.

Ultimately I would like to expand what I am doing and continue to explore how chess can be utilized in the school. I am encouraged about what I have read from previous posters and I hope to contribute if and where I can. Clearly I still need to narrow my interests but am very optimistic.

--Edukator
recess-bully.blogspot.com

Chess helps Learning Disabled

2008-01-02T09:56:00.000-06:00

This is my second year teaching chess to children in an inner city school in Chicago. I am very enthusiastic about the program because not only do regular students do well in the program, my learning disabled students seem to respond very well also. The reward of playing a game at the end of the program is very motivating to stay in the program. The reason, I think, learning disability is addressed by the program is that they receive a lot of individual and peer attention. When a group needs to wait for all members to finish, in order to play, they tend to help the individual that is lagging behind. Also, because chess separates students by talent, learning disabled students tend to wind up with each other, at their level, and so allows them to win against each other. Learning disabled students do not experience a lot of success at school, so this is very helpful for them. The main problem that the program has is lack of advertising, at least in Chicago. So many students come up to me when the program has already started, wanting to join. Unfortunately Chicago Public is set up so that no new students can join after initial registration. This does a great disservice to the program since students tend to listen to others before they want to join a program.

Chess in K-8

2007-12-31T21:39:00.000-06:00

I started working with kids and the chess club at the local school 3 years ago. We started with 16 kids then and have grown to 50+. We've learned together and now field teams to various local tournaments. Watching the kids learn to "see" several moves ahead is really amazing. Chess no doubt deepens their critical thinking skills. It is plain to see their progress by reviewing the games they have recorded over the course of the year.

New Chess Coach Needs Links

2007-10-23T16:33:00.000-06:00

I am in the process of starting a high-school chess team at a local high-school in Washington State, specifically the central Kitsap peninsula near Bremerton. I love chess and play whenever I can, but I've never taught chess before, and I've certainly never coached a team before. I'd like to get some contact information for other high-school chess coaches in the area so that I might seek answers to some questions and apply for admission to upcoming tournaments.

What are some of the ways a newly formed chess team can play games with other local teams? Is there a way I can get in touch with other teams? Are there regular tournaments or a season? For example, is chess primarily a fall, winter, or spring sport?

New Club in MA

2007-10-21T19:27:00.000-06:00

I'm going to be the teacher for a new chess club at an elementary school in MA. I definately feel that the chess classes I participated in when I was a kid helped me in many ways--in concentration, study skills, and socially. But most of all, chess and chess lessons were fun! I'm hoping I can pass this along. Any advice to someone just starting out as an instructor?

Chess and the challenged student

2007-09-25T19:30:00.000-06:00

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

2007-09-24T10:13:00.000-06:00

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

2007-09-19T13:31:00.000-06:00

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!

2007-09-14T19:37:00.000-06:00

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

2007-09-14T07:25:00.000-06:00

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

2007-09-13T09:49:00.000-06:00

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.

Chess in Malta, Europe

2007-08-31T02:36:00.000-06:00

We have organised a summer chess camp for children aged 7 -14. It was a great experience - fun, friendship and thinking were shared with all the children.

Chess in Education

2007-08-30T13:53:00.000-06:00

I have found chess to be beneficial in my classroom.
C

Chess and Education

2007-08-18T10:57:00.000-06:00

I was a chess teacher who taught at different schools in New York City. This exposed me to a wide range of students across the education system (general students, special education students, bilingual students, and exceptionally gifted students). Through teaching chess, I got to introduce to my students a game that was both fun and intellectually stimulating. Besides teaching them the rules of the game, my chess lessons were also tied in with math and history. To further show the practicality of the game, I even showed how strategies used in the game could also be applied toward making decisions in life. I am currently a JHS teacher and chess coach. I continue to teach chess and use it as an educational tool.

Chess and Behavior

2007-08-03T09:43:00.000-06:00

Hi
I work in an elementary school in Louisville KY where I spend a lot of time working with at risk students. Many of these students exhibit a lot of discipline problems. I am attempting to use chess to teach these students the rules of action leads to consequence, decision making, planning ahead, recovering from a mistake etc. I believe that as these kids learn to apply these skills on the chessboard, they will be able to make connections and apply the skills in life choices. Being successful at chess also boosts success in other academic areas, especially math. Success leads students to choose more positive behavior. I would appreciate feedback or dialogue with anyone else who is attempting a similar project.

Thanks,

Tom Causey

value of chess in education

2007-06-30T11:45:00.000-06:00

Hi ..
Chess requires that individuals become actively involved in a mentally demanding competition; its effects are stimulating, wholesome, and healthy. Students learn problem solving skills and are growing their mental capacities while at the same time having fun ! Chess should be an integral part of education.....Brian Ribnick

Chess in Education

2007-04-11T19:55:00.000-06:00

Hello,
I teach at a French Immersion PS in Ontario, Canada. Given the opportunity, I'd like to incorporate chess into the classroom on a regular basis. I've seen the passion that my players have developed this year and I also notice that, often, these students are very strong in math and science. I would like to further explore the correlation between the study of chess and those two areas so that all of my students might see improvement in those two courses.
Thanks.
Vballcoach

Chess at St Benedict's College - MALTA

2007-04-09T22:40:00.000-06:00

Hi, I am Maria and I just love chess. I teach at St Benedict's College - Boys' Secondary School in Kirkop, Malta and here we are working in a holistic method with chess. We are teaching basic skills, literacy and numaracy through chess. We are also using chess to build a community environment whereby children and parents twin up to learn and play chess together in the school (at after school hours).

Chess in the Classroom

2007-04-09T09:36:00.000-06:00

How would you like to integrate chess into your classroom instruction?