Chess a brain-booster, principal says
Ali Pearson
Monday, June 29, 2015 6:22:18 EDT PM
Tim Pearson, principal of Riverview public school, has a hard-to-match passion for chess, and he willingly share his love for the game with his students and participants in the Summer Chess Academy.
He completed his masters of education thesis based on evidence that learning to play chess significantly improves a child’s nonverbal reasoning ability”.
As a chess coach, teacher and chess dad, Pearson has for 20 years used chess at school and at home to engage children in the game, from JK to Grade 8.
“Chess is a strategy game and it’s important because it make me smarter. I’m really looking forward to Chess Academy because Andrew Peredun is going to be there,” testifies Thomas Copps, aged 10.
Peredun is an FIDE Master and the World Youth Chess Championship Coach for Team Canada. His coaching took him to Brazil, Slovenia, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa in 2014 for international competitions.
A Sault Ste. Marie native, Perdun has worked as a full-time chess teacher and coach in the Kitchener-Waterloo area for the past 10 years. He is a two-time national and five time provincial scholastic champion.
Playing chess has improved my school work, says Grade 5 student Noah St. Germain. “I can use the same types of strategies to reach my goals. It teaches me to make a plan and to stay organized.”
Pearson adds, “Chess is a great game on a variety of levels for children. It sharpens their ability to concentrate, enhances problem solving skills, improves their ability to make decisions, develops creativity, and builds social skills.
“Several studies have cited the impact of chess on academics, suggesting that playing chess can improve math and reading skills,” he says.
Full article here.