Digital Classrooms - Scholastic Chess Initiative

Welcome to the Saint Louis Chess Club’s digital school!

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our community, the Saint Louis Chess Club is excited to announce the kick-off of our Digital Classroom - Scholastic Chess Portal. Students (K-12) in the greater Saint Louis area will now be able to connect directly with Scholastic Certified Chess Instructors from the comfort and safety of their own home. Learners will have access to multiple digital classroom settings, teaching styles, and meaningful peer to peer engagement. This new initiative reflects the core of our mission, to increase the awareness and educational value of chess by providing support to neighborhood schools through this new teaching tool. Ask us how you can support a classroom today!

Jana "Queen" Thomas

Schools

Columbia Elementary, Gateway Elementary & Middle, and De LaSalle Middle (& many others in previous years!)

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

1pm, 5pm

Bio

Affectionately known as "Queen Thomas" by my students, I've been a chess instructor for 4 years now. I’ve taught students of all ages, from Pre-K on up through adults. I do my best to make learning chess simple and fun. My favorite part of being an instructor is finding ways to make this challenging-but-exciting game relate to the real world and apply to life.

Classroom Description

In my classroom, I meet my students right where they are. We will learn the basics of the chess board, piece movement, check, checkmate, and even more advanced strategy and tactics (if you're ready!). Whatever you need to know to start playing a full game of chess, I'll be covering it through various activities and mini-games. For those who already know how to play, we will learn to apply more advanced concepts (pins, discovered checks, etc.) through puzzles and play. All of you aspiring kings and queens of chess, join me!
Orlando Luis

Schools

Patrick Henry Downtown Academy, Kennard Classical Junior Academy, Washington Montessori Elementary School

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

9am, 10am

Bio

I am a 1600-rated active chess player. I am Cuban, the proud home of chess world champion José Raúl Capablanca. I am 48 years old and have been teaching for several years in the United States. I have experience as a professor at the university level, teaching Spanish, Creative Writing, and Literature in addition to my experience teaching scholastic chess. I started to teach chess in the Scholastics department at the Saint Louis Chess Club in September 2019. I have loved this game/sport/art/science called chess since I was a child, in La Habana, Cuba, and I enjoy sharing my love for chess with others.

Classroom Description

Absolute beginners can expect to rapidly become strong rated players up to my level and, hopefully, beyond! All aspects and tactics of the game will be covered in my classes; from the simplest concepts (movement, capture, castling, pinning, skewer, double and discovered attacks, etc.) to the strategic complexities of professional players (positional and combinatory thinking). This includes, of course, chess notation, as well as the history of the game. Chess is a great challenge for our mind and it is also extremely fun!
Benjamin Rahming

Schools

Ashland Elementary School, Ames Visual Performing Arts Elementary School, Lift for Life Academy, Griffith Elementary School

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

12pm, 1pm

Bio

Originally from Milwaukee, WI, I moved to St. Louis for college and stayed to become a teacher here. I love soccer, robotics and music. My favorite chess player is Tigran Petrosian.

Classroom Description

In my chess class students will have so much fun that they may not even realize they are learning, until they start to see the improvement in their games! Classwork involves puzzles, discussion, short lectures, and of course, playing chess. For students with no prior chess knowledge, we will start with the basics of piece movement and captures. For more experienced students, we will study checkmate patterns as well as tactical patterns such as forks and pins.
Dan Todd

Schools

Children’s Hospital, Hanrahan, Mallinckrodt, Northview, Oak Villa, St. Peters, St. Vincent’s Home for Children, STEAM, Villa di Maria

Class Start Times (Mon-Thur)

2pm, 4pm

Bio

My name is Dan Todd, the Chess Magician. I have performed magic and played chess for 50 years. I’ve been teaching chess for the St. Louis Chess Club since 2017 in schools, a Children’s Home, and at Children’s Hospital

Classroom Description

My classes include pictures, stories, poems, and magic tricks, to make learning chess FUN! It all starts some chess history, piece movement, rules, and principles. You’ll be given websites for more learning and practicing.
Jonathan Israel

Schools

Robinwood Elementary, Wilkinson ECC, Griffith Elementary, Montessori Lab ES, Our Lady of Lourdes, Lucas Crossing ES, St. Gabriel, Griffith Elementary, Ferguson MS, STEAM Academy, Venice ES*, Holy Redeemer Catholic School*, Johnson Wabash ES, Jewish Community Center Summer Camp, Normandy Library, Lemay Pavillion, Buder Library, Carpenter Library, Central Library

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

10am, 11am

Bio

My name is Jonathan Israel and I have been playing chess since I was seven years old. I have a B.A. in Mathematics from UMSL class of 2019, and have taught at the Saint Louis Chess Club for three years. I started taking chess more seriously in high school and have a current USCF rating of 1743. This is my favorite job in the world, and am very excited to teach your students this year!

Classroom Description

I believe that competing in chess can teach you more about yourself than improving in the actual game, because you get what you put in. I teach students all of the basics of chess, but also encourage playing amongst themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. As we improve at chess, I will start to go over some fundamental strategies and tactics to improve their chances of winning. Students will learn about
Dr. Dirk Downing

Schools

Jennings Junior High, Jennings Senior High, Fairview Elementary, Twillman Chess Club

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

2pm, 3pm

Bio

Hello everyone! My name is Dirk Downing and I love playing and teaching Chess! Additionally, I have a PhD in Sport Psychology help athletes and coaches perform at a high level. I have found that Chess is an incredibly fun and helpful way to train your mind –like athletes train at the gym—so that you can excel in other walks of life (e.g. sports, academics). Who doesn’t want to learn how to focus better? I have taught as part of the Saint Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center for just over a year and truly enjoy working with students of all skill levels. Whether you’re a Grandmaster or someone just learning, Chess provides many magic “aha” moments where you say, ”wait, I can do this!?” These moments are fun to witness as a teacher, because they are even more fun for the player.

Classroom Description

Whether you are the competitive type who likes to win or the mastery type who likes to improve each game, Chess provides an opportunity to level up on a daily basis. As your teacher, my goal is to help you improve so that you can experience that feeling of getting better each day. It’s true -- Mistakes and blunders happen at all levels of Chess, to all players. They are part of the game. In this class we will learn to value these moments when we come up a little short because it means that we are really challenging ourselves. These challenges we face as performers allow us to build our mental muscle and become a stronger Chess player and a better thinker!
Brian Windham

Schools

Patrick Henry elementary school, Hamilton, Woodland, Carnahan, Clay Academy, Herzog, Wilkinson, Barack Obama

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

10am, 2pm

Bio

I have been teaching chess for the past two years. Chess is my favorite game to play, even more then video games. My passion for chess is infectious, and will allow others to show their love for the game as well.

Classroom Description

It is my belief that chess is a game that can change a person's life without the player even noticing. Whether the change is intellectual, emotional, or just finding a new hobby, my students will learn to express themselves in new ways.
Lawrence Hu

Schools

Gateway Middle School, L'Ouverture AESM, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Stephens Protomartyr, South City Catholic Academy

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

3pm, 5pm

Bio

My name is Lawrence Hu and I have been playing and teaching chess with the Saint Louis Chess Club for just over two years now. I mainly play online speed chess, but have some over the board tournament experience as well.

Classroom Description

My focus in the classroom is tackling the fundamentals in an exciting and artistic manner. This will take you from knowing absolutely nothing to the game all the way to playing in your first tournaments. Through personalized game analysis, puzzle walkthroughs, and general concept lectures, my goal is to bring everyone to a level where they are comfortable jumping into far more advanced topics. My personal playing style is very aggressive and involves developing extremely quickly, attacking and sacrificing, and generally in a way that goes without memorization and study. My favorite openings include sacrificing pawns and pieces for development and mating threats. The Vienna Gambit is my current opening of choice. In my classroom, I welcome open discussion and high energy chess. I have lost more games than most of you have ever played, so I know what it feels like to be a beginner in a very complex game. That's why I am willing to take it slow with difficult concepts and move quickly in others so that you can try it yourself in your own games. I believe that online chess is an incredible tool that will help many of you get the experience that you need.
Vincent Tucci

Schools

Crestwood Elementary, Dressel Elementary, Mallinckrodt Elementary, St. Peters, St. Ambrose

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

2pm, 3pm

Bio

Greetings everyone, my name is Vincent Tucci. I have been working for the Saint Louis Chess Club for about three and a half years. I have been teaching chess for about four and a half years now, and I have also been playing chess for just about 20 years. I have always enjoyed the game of chess. It is one of my favorite games to play. It's a game I can play when I want to relax and ease my mind, or get into a competitive mindset and play to win. All around a great game to play!

Classroom Description

In my classroom, my overall goal is for you to know how to play the game at a level to where you could beat the average Joe off of the street. At the end, you will know how every piece moves, some endgame tactics, and many more. But most importantly, you will enjoy the game of chess and have fun!
James Tyus

Schools

Soldan International Studies High School, Innovative Concept Academy at Blewett, Missouri Department of Youth Services, St. Vincent Home for Children

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

11 AM, 12 PM

Bio

I am a psychologist, youth mentor, husband, father of four, and avid chess player. I have been a Scholastic Instructor with the St. Louis Chess Club for over 4 years. I love teaching a wide range of students, but I take a special pride in teaching K-12.

Classroom Description

My chess classes are designed for a wide range of players, from absolute beginner level through to an intermediate level ready for tournament play.

At the completion of my class, players will also be fluent in chess notation; will be introduced to the full range of tactical skills and to opening, middlegame, and endgame theory; will be capable of in-depth analysis of their own and others’ games; and will be knowledgeable of the range of resources that are available to continue to improve their games after the class finishes.
Aaron Luhrs

Schools

Mason School of Academic & Cultural Literacy (SLPS), Long Elementary School (Lindberg), South City Community School (Independent), Jefferson Elementary School (Normandy)

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

2 PM, 3 PM

Bio

Chess was foundational for me. It showed me the value of diligence, planning ahead, and sacrifice, and I think it is important to build that same foundation for my students. The game taught me that rules create a fertile environment for creativity, helped me to see the world from different angles, and deepened bonds with friends, family, and mentors. It is my hope that I can pass this love of chess along to my students, teaching them a fun game that not only strengthens their critical thinking and problem solving skills, but also instills in them confidence, perseverance, and a sense of sportsmanship.

Classroom Description

Students come into my classrooms at all sorts of levels of chess experience. I tailor lessons to their individual skill levels and try to come up with creative ways to engage them and take their gameplay to the next level. I play music, juggle, and even use physics to help flip switches in their minds. My students will be challenged to think about new perspectives, both on and off the board.

Beginners focus primarily on board geometry, terminology, and proper piece movement. Once the basics are understood, students can confidently call themselves chess players. Students at this level can expect to improve their game in my classes by studying and analyzing relative piece values, opening principles, board patterns, move notation, and endgame tactics. These building blocks, along with a lot of time and hard work, will help to pave the long road to becoming a champion, even a Grandmaster!
Joe Bruno

Schools

Sumner, Kennerly Elementary School

Class Start Times (Mon-Fri)

9 AM, 10 AM

Bio

I am a retired Firefighter and entered the world of teaching several years ago. The opportunity at the St Louis Chess Club has been so much fun and I look forward to learning along with my students. I know how the benefits of playing chess apply to life and love to see passion for the game in my students.

Classroom Description

Repetition is the soul of learning, but that does not mean it has to be boring. Emphasis on fundamentals and solid play is paramount, along with basic drills and gameplay. Ultimately the goal is to bring each player to a place where they can advance their understanding of the game on their own.