School Chess Club Resources
This page is meant for teachers and parents interested in running or are running a school chess club
Benefits of Chess
Rather than describe them, these articles cover the topic very well.
- Benefits of Chess
- Benefits of Chess in Education
- Americas Foundation For Chess - Chess as a learning tool
- Education World - Chess as an Essential Learning Tool
Aspects of School Chess Clubs
School chess clubs can fall into various "types" depending on some major parameters. They are:
- Frequency of meetings (Once a month, week or more often)
- Duration of meetings (1/2 hr, 2 hours or longer)
- Timing of meetings (During recess, lunch, 3-5PM after school, Saturday or Sunday)
- Desired student achievement level ( just know the rules, minimize obvious mistakes, pattern recognition, abstract thinking ... up to excelling in US Chess Federation tournaments)
- Teacher/Parent/Coach skill level (just know the rules, basic game, tactical ability, ... up to mastery)
- Teacher/Parent/Coach teaching level
- Resources (books, videos etc)
- Student desire (just fun, really fun, fascinated, ...)
- Events and organization (playtime, informal tournaments, training sessions, formal tournaments, interschool or higher level competition)
The above factors combine to affect the structure, purpose, effectiveness and goal of the school chess club.
Starting A School Chess Club
Books
For Beginners
In my opinion, the best book for a beginner adult teacher or parent to learn chess from is The Complete Idiot's Guide To Chess, Third Edition by Patrick Wolff.
Comprehensive Chess Course: Learn Chess in 12 Lessons and Comprehensive Chess Course Volume II: From Beginner to Tournament Player in 12 Lessons, both by Lev Alburt have been around quite a while and are well organized for a teacher to use as a strong basis to teach from. In other words, if you don't have a clue and don't want to have to work up your own curriculum, these two are just for you. They may not be the latest and greatest in every department but you can't go wrong with them. You want this one to teach from. You don't have to get the second volume if you don't want to initially but if things go well, you will eventually.
Supplies and Vendors
If you can get the school to pay for the chess sets (they aren't expensive) all the better. If not, getting parents or the PTA to donate the dollars or sets are also possible. There are budget sets that will take a beating from kids but there are also nicer ones for those that want a nicer look or feel to playing the game.
Most of my chess supplies I have gotten from wholesalechess.com as they have almost everything I have looked for. Their prices are more than reasonable and they have been responsive.
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