New York Times: Maybe Teach Them Math, Science, and Chess
This report by the Chicago News Cooperative for the
New York Times shows that the enjoyment of chess is not limited to boys-only clubs in high school, but that it can be a valuable learning tool, particularly for young students. Exposure to the game at a young age can help students develop "discipline, analytical thinking, time management, focus, and patience". These are crucial habits for gifted learners with cognitive ability that may arrive ahead of their ability to sit still for long periods of time.
There are other benefits as well. Gifted girls who may shun the game in middle school can instead foster a lifelong love of chess with the influence of female mentors like grandmaster Susan Polgar, who took up chess at age 4.
"My dream is to get in front of education decision makers and convince them to make chess part of the curriculum for K through second grade. That’s when thinking patterns and habits are formed. It should be mandatory, like physical education,” says Polgar.
Do you think chess should be mandatory in schools? Has your child benefited from learning chess?
If your gifted 5th or 6th grader has an interest in chess, logic, and game theory, consider enrolling in the Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) course, "Recreational Math", which will incorporate strategies and mathematics of two-player games of perfect knowledge such as chess, go, nim, and mancala. Students will explore, develop and employ strategies and higher level reasoning skills as they evaluate their alternatives and discover cause and effect relationships. The course begins January 14, 2011. Sign up here!
New York Times: Maybe Teach Them Math, Science, and Chess
This report by the Chicago News Cooperative for the New York Times shows that the enjoyment of chess is not limited to boys-only clubs in high school, but that it can be a valuable learning tool, particularly for young students. Exposure to the game at a young age can help students develop "discipline, analytical thinking, time management, focus, and patience". These are crucial habits for gifted learners with cognitive ability that may arrive ahead of their ability to sit still for long periods of time.
There are other benefits as well. Gifted girls who may shun the game in middle school can instead foster a lifelong love of chess with the influence of female mentors like grandmaster Susan Polgar, who took up chess at age 4.
"My dream is to get in front of education decision makers and convince them to make chess part of the curriculum for K through second grade. That’s when thinking patterns and habits are formed. It should be mandatory, like physical education,” says Polgar.
Do you think chess should be mandatory in schools? Has your child benefited from learning chess?
If your gifted 5th or 6th grader has an interest in chess, logic, and game theory, consider enrolling in the Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) course, "Recreational Math", which will incorporate strategies and mathematics of two-player games of perfect knowledge such as chess, go, nim, and mancala. Students will explore, develop and employ strategies and higher level reasoning skills as they evaluate their alternatives and discover cause and effect relationships. The course begins January 14, 2011. Sign up here!