I’m not quite sure exactly how many lessons I’ve given on how the rook moves, what fork is, or how to properly hit the clock when you’ve made a move – it’s too many to count. Being a teacher, time kind of flows in a different way in my schools, almost like each classroom is a time capsule. However, even as the semesters pass by, I will never forget my very first day teaching in front of a group of students.
Just under a week after Valentine’s Day, I was very surprised to receive Valentine’s Day cards from two of my 4th grade students, Christa and Jessica. I teach at a few schools, but have never received something like this! It was very sweet, and it made me realize that I had a bigger impact on the students that I teach than I thought. Teaching at Halls Ferry, along with many other schools, has made it clear to me that I love what I do. Although my main job is to teach the rules of chess and prepare students to compete in tournaments, I understand now that I must also show just how much work, creativity, and passion goes into achieving success in whatever they choose to do.
St. Louis Public Library Summer Camps explored a variety of topics through activities that encouraged teamwork, communication skills, problem solving, and strategic thinking. Over 551 children participated in one or two of 48 camps offered by the Library in summer 2018.
Teaching strategy can be difficult. Learning experiences that are meaningful can make it easier for students to relate to the concepts being taught. When the lesson can be applied to real life, students tend to have a greater educational take-away. To convey chess concepts like piece protection, consequences, and goal setting, I like to use real-life scenarios or storytelling.
To close the series, I’d like to share with you my final tip on creating a classroom culture using the final ‘S’ from our acronym C.H.E.S.S.
by Dan Todd, Scholastic Instructor
The Saint Louis Chess Club’s booth was buzzing with visitors in the children’s area, of the 2018 Forest Park Balloon Festival. The oldest and most well-attended FREE Hot-Air Balloon Event in the world.
From our acronym C.H.E.S.S., there are a few more tips on creating a classroom culture that I’d like to share with you. The first ‘S’ stands for:
“Chess is an extremely important game that tweaks the cognitive functionalities, enhances academic skills, aids rapid thought processes, boosts logical and strategic thinking, and helps to gain exceptional memory skills, creativity, focus and discipline” [1-5]. I strongly recommend it for any child or adult who aims to achieve excellence in academia, industry or in any field of endeavor.
The Saint Louis Chess Club helps provide even more exposure to chess for students in the Saint Louis area by running numerous chess camps throughout the city. The skills they learn in chess summer camps are skills they will use for a lifetime.
Let’s continue with another tip to help you create your classroom culture. The ‘E’ from our acronym C.H.E.S.S. stands for: Establish Everyday Practices.
OUR MISSION It is the mission of the Saint Louis Chess Club, an educational organization, to maintain a formal program of instruction to teach the game of chess and to promote and support its educational program through community outreach and local and national partnerships to increase the awareness of the educational value of chess.
Wheelchair/disability access is available in the rear - please proceed through the parking lot to our east and around to our back door. If you need additional assistance, please let us know.
The Saint Louis Chess Club admits students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
The Saint Louis Chess Club complies with the Internal Revenue Service's guidelines regarding publication of its non-discrimination policy in its brochures, catalogs, advertisements and otherwise making it known to the general community.