Learning to play and playing to learn

Newspaper articles on educational subjects are filled with listings of cuts in teacher positions, cuts in curriculum, loss of funding for programs, and falling scores. Isn’t there any good news?

Well, yes there is — if one looks at stories about area chess tournaments.

Weber Elementary in Iowa City recently conducted its annual chess tournament for players of all ability levels in grades K-6. The tournament attracted students from local schools, a Neighborhood Project in Iowa City, and schools and students from Cedar Rapids. About 150 students took part.

Were all these students the brightest of the bright? Chess certainly has the reputation of attracting the brightest students. But chess isn’t for just the brightest students. Nor does it make a student “bright.” It is widely accepted that chess promotes higher level thinking skills, but for the average person, what does that mean exactly?

Chess requires concentration and motivation. It requires some discipline and patience and penalizes impulsiveness. Making a move without considering what will happen next can result in a loss. At a time when teachers need help in finding ways to unlock a student’s potential for learning, chess is a tool to stimulate skills essential for classroom learning. Not just for the brightest, but for everyone.

Chess teaches sportsmanship; rowdy players will be asked to leave a chess club or tournament. “Trash talk” or other forms of taunting an opponent are not allowed. There is no jumping up and down when a player wins. Yet, there is real reason for a growth in self-esteem when a player wins. A win is not just a victory in one game. A win signifies mastery of many skills. As a player progresses in his ability, he can easily see how his concentration, discipline and experience resulted in his victory.

Full article here.