Classroom Project

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"I teach 4th grade in a high-need community. Student test scores have been consistently low. Our school district is emphasizing literacy, and that is good. However, there is also a need to promote creative ways to improve ways to learn math. Students in my school have had few opportunities to do ... MORE

"I teach 4th grade in a high-need community. Student test scores have been consistently low. Our school district is emphasizing literacy, and that is good. However, there is also a need to promote creative ways to improve ways to learn math. Students in my school have had few opportunities to do this apart from worksheets. Chess is a game of war where knights battle with queens and kings, just to name a few. It provides a high interest opportunity to learn at school and a game to play with their families at home.

Traditional schooling is steeped in worksheets. Where I teach students have had little opportunity to learn with games that promote critical thinking and problem solving. Students also come to me lacking the ability to concentrate for long periods of time. In a world of television and video games, chess offers a student the chance to learn a ageless game of concentration, strategy, pattern recognition, and competition. Chess offers students a learning opportunity beyond worksheets and gives them a life long skill. I ultimately want to start a chess club in my school and enter into community competitions.

I have 20 students. Eleven chess sets allows all students to play (with on extra set) at the same time. The instructional chart allows me to teach the whole class at the same time. The timers are used in competitions. A student must learn to play using a timer if he/she wants to go on beyond the classroom to community chess tournaments. This is absolutely a goal of mine.

Research shows that chess improves students' math skills, the ability to concentrate, and behavior. With your help, we can start something big in my classroom, in my school, and in my community. Let it be said that you helped lay the foundation for the success of this group of students. HIDE