School chess flourishes in Nashville
Gifted students, even some with hyperactivity, benefit
By Andy Humbles • THE TENNESSEAN • March 16, 2009
Chess is a mind game, one that Pennington Elementary fourth-grader Tristan Oden already recognizes can help him as a student.
“Strategic stuff, math, processing,” said Tristan, referring to the elements to chess. “And it helps you because you have to think ahead.”
Tristan is one of about 50 to 60 students who have been participating in a chess club meeting each Thursday after school at Pennington.
There are other Metro schools where the game is popular. Meigs Magnet Middle has 45-55 students that stay after school Thursdays to play. Ross Elementary has more than 30 students participating in a second- through fourth-graders club on Mondays.
“We have children who are gifted, and it works for them because they are able to process skills they normally wouldn’t in the classroom,” said Ross Elementary principal Amelia Brown. “We’ve seen it calm students who have hyperactivity. It is knowledge other than academics, and it translates to school.”
The Nashville Chess Center on Belmont Boulevard facilitates school programs throughout Middle Tennessee, concentrating on Metro public and private schools. Jim Lech, director of scholastic programs at the Nashville Chess Center, estimated involvement with about 20 schools at the present time.
Here is the full article.
Every place is doing well no thanks to the USCF.