Thought-provoking pastime

Chess offers alternative to technology
First Move teaches critical thinking skills, builds self-esteem

Nearly 100 Green Bay-area students recently competed in the 14th annual Scholastic Chess Tournament at Franklin Middle School in Green Bay — proof that, despite its difficulty, chess can be fun for children.

Many educators believe there is a correlation between the thought-provoking pastime and how well a student does in life.

“Chess teaches them not so much the movement of the pieces, but what your opponent can throw at you … preparing for the unforeseen by trying to predict … just like life,” said Josh Bentley, a volunteer chess instructor at Sartell Middle School in Minnesota.

The contest at Franklin was sponsored Saturday by the Green Bay Chess Club and Green Bay School District. In the elementary division, there was a three-way tie for first place: Naveen Balu, a second-grader at Pioneer Elementary, Mack Collins, a fifth-grader at St. Bernard, and Faeez Juneja, a fourth-grader at Pioneer Elementary.

In the middle school division, there was a two-way tie for first: Noah Swan, Grade 8, Parkview Middle, and Michael Wagner, Grade 8, Parkview Middle. There was a six-way tie for third: Christian Novak, Grade 8, Lombardi Middle; William Karman, Grade 8, Edison Middle; Calvin Kanzenbach, Grade 8, St. Thomas More; Nathan Prevost, Grade 7, Red Smith School; Bobby Gelhar, Grade 8, St. Thomas More; and Luke Kiernan, Grade 7, Wisconsin Connections Academy.

“We are happy to partner with the Green Bay Chess Club to offer this opportunity for students to have fun and use their minds,” said Shirley Paulson, Green Bay School District supervisor for the gifted and talented.

Source: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com