The cost of 20 chess sets (from Nasco) is $393, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
I teach the AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) class at an urban public high school. AVID is a program designed to help "average" students to prepare successfully for college and ultimately attend a 4-year college. In other words, it helps them to become "above average" students. A team of teachers do this by implementing an academic support system, sharing with students the "inside scoop" on what it takes to get to college. We teach students how to get organized, to study smartly, to manage their time, and to use strategies for critical reading and writing. The goal is to increase the number of students attending college whose backgrounds are not traditionally well-represented on campuses. Some of our students will be the first in their families to go to college.
Why chess? AVID's philosophy is that we get things done because we have "WIT" -- "WHATEVER IT TAKES" -- to help our students fulfill their dreams of going to college. This means we closely observe our students' needs, often going beyond conventional means to meet them. At a large high school with many sources of distraction, our students benefit from lessons that teach them how to focus their attention on primary goals. They crave an environment that challenges their intellect with deliberation and calm. Chess is a game known to quiet and sharpen the mind. It cultivates some of the critical skills needed to perform in rigorous high school classes and at the college level. In AVID, we look for fun ways to teach our students the essentials of being successful in high school, college, and beyond. Chess is a perfect fit for our curriculum.
In 2005 - 2006, we will have two AVID classrooms serving approximately 80 students. Each classroom will need 10 chess boards. An official chess table, complete with oversized wooden pieces and chairs, will help us send the message that in AVID class, students experience calm deliberation when needed.
With a class set of chess boards, we can integrate the game into our regular curriculum. For many of our students, learning to play chess in AVID will be their only opportunity to pick up the skills this game teaches. Like everything else we strive to do, we want to bring chess to AVID because we want the best for our students, many of whom work to overcome the worst to realize their dreams.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. G. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.