Chess Class

My 4th graders are hoping to be in the chess club at school this spring (for the fall they were already signed up for art club before they found out chess was on the same day). I think it's great for a chance to use their non-verbal reasoning skills, which the normal school day doesn't always work on much. It's a very logical and disciplined game and gives them practice thinking about the consequences of their actions (moves) and about how the other person is likely to react. Yes, I value the volunteers who help with this! I wish it had been available at our previous school.

My son realy likes chess. I think chess is great for anyone to play. It is a thinking game wich involves sharp thinking, planning ahead, and quick responce. Both my first grade daughter and second grade son enjoy the challenge. I value it enough to pay $30 for 10 lessons.
Just my two cents- T. M.

Chess club is one of the most popular clubs in our elementary. Our kids love it and a few have even gone on and won awards at tournaments the district sponsors. I say go for it, you will not regret volunteering with the kids.

My son was also in the Chess club last year for 5th grade. He absolutely loved it! I think it is great what your friend is doing. I value the "chess education" for my kids. My two boys can play. I cannot. lol I think it helps their brain work in ways that they normally wouldn't. I know that playing chess has helped them in many situations other than just the game. They can grasp math concepts easier and they love a good stimulating challenge. I think it's great! I wish they had chess club in their middle school!

Here's my chess story. My brother had a very difficult life as a child. We grew up in a blended family and sorry to say, my stepmother was not able to connect and attach to him. She was an educator and unfortunately had enough "difficult" and "unruly" students that she quickly spotted my brother as one of them...and actually told people (frequently in the presence of us kids) that he probably wouldn't make it to graduation. He struggled in school and never made the grades the rest of us were able to bring in. (Looking back it is easy to see that he most likely had a learning disability). Sad to say, we all believed he wasn't smart and wouldn't succeed. My stepmother was an alcoholic, BTW so I think that was the real problem.
Now back to chess...He learned to play chess by the age of 8 and was fabulous at it. He was mainly self taught and could beat just about anyone he could talk into playing. He even taught me to play just to have a partner...if only you could have been around then...
No one really thought much of the fact that my brother was so brilliant at such an intellectual game...
He did not graduate. He did a nose dive into drugs... Recovered from that and then died when a drunk driver hit him on his motorcycle at the age of 19. To my knowledge he probably never received the message of his true intelligence and real potential.
So get out there and inspire those kids! :o)
I am grateful.
Marianne

My 7 year old son who is in the second grade is taking Chess Club in the mornings. It will help them with thinking and problem solving. He does very good in math and I think he's been getting better at it since he started the club. I would say go for it. You WILL see kids improve allot with it. Also it is allot of fun.

I have 2 stepsons that were in the chess club in 5 & 6th grade. They both really enjoyed it and looked forward to it each week. I personally dont know the first bit about chess, but it seemed fun for the kids.

I have been looking for one for my oldest--where are they available? I think it is great for problem solving and just keeping boys out of trouble.

Chess is great as it is not only a game but also a way to develop a better thinking and logical capabilities.

Besides, the University of Texas in Dallas (UTD) and also the University of Maryland in Baltimore County have scholarships for chess players.

UTD not only has scholarships for titled chess players (titles are obtained thru the Internacional Chess Federation) but they also offered a scholarhip every year to the winner of the Texas and National scholastics tournaments.

So, if you can help these kids to improve their chances for a scholarship you are doing well!!

Take the advice from the mother of one of the youngest Chess Grand Masters in the world and actually a recipient of an scholarship at UTD.

My daughter's school starts chess in Prek and continues through 12th grade (as an afterschool program). They are start teaching chess in math class starting in 2nd grade.