Professional Chess Instructional Programs for Schools
Since 2001, The Roving ChessNuts have taught tournament chess in scores
of schools in Edmonton, St. Albert and surrounding region. Thousands of students from Grades 1 through 12 have been involved.
While the majority of school programs do occur in elementary schools, we have also held classes in junior highs and high school, often
teaching chess basics to top math classes.
In conjunction with the instructional school programs, The ChessNuts host school team
matches. While the majority of these matches are for elementary school teams of five players each, there are usually annual
matches at the junior high level and in February 2011 the first high school team match was held.
School programs require the
school to only provide an appropriate quiet place with adequate chess playing tables, and communications with students and parents.
Instructional fees are usually paid entirely by parents, although in some cases schools will subsidize or hire instructors for specific
classes or even entire grade levels. Regular programs usually operate during a lunch period or right after school. The
after-school programs are usually the best because they attract committed and keen students and also operate for a full hour to 75
minutes, unlike the lunch period programs which may only allow 45 or 50 minutes.
A typical school program class consists of an
opening lecture usually involving a chess demonstration board or a Smart board on which computer-generated teaching aids can be used.
Then there are practice exercises involving pieces and boards, followed by a serious game rated by the national Chess'n Math Association.
The class may wrap up with an analysis of a game played in the class or a review of chess topics. Homework or tip sheets are
often handed out, along with announcements and notices about upcoming chess tournament and activities.
Schools, libraries and
community services/recreation department can arrange Chess Exposure Workshops where an instructor will perhaps spend a day visiting
one or more schools, hold an evening workshop for all ages, and then hold a rated tournament the next morning. Such events have
been held in many rural towns and schools throughout the province such as Medicine Hat and Drumheller in the south, Rimbey
and Sylvan Lake in central Alberta, and in about 10 northern Alberta locations including Jasper, Peace River and Whitecourt.
If
you are a parent, teacher or administrator interested in getting chess into your school, please contact us. rovingchessnuts@shaw.ca
See details
of the current schedule of classes at our Edmonton Training Facility