A subject... No
A voluntary extra-curricular activity ...Yes
From experiance... an after school activity once a week is a very good thing.
A voluntary extra-curricular activity ...Yes
From experiance... an after school activity once a week is a very good thing.
I wish it were integrated into normal mathematics curriculum for younger grades. Pretty sure it would be popular and productive.
Not really. It is an afterschool activity though.
It is a popular thing in my school. I am in middle school, and there are like 60 people attending.
I'd love to see Chess taught as part of a math curriculum in early grades (1-4th grade for example) as there is mounting evidence that suggests chess improves a lot of key aspects conducive to academic excellence including math, critical thinking, creativity, and I read a study earlier this year that suggested improved reading skills (not exactly sure how chess applied there!). As a parent with three young kids and who teaches kids, anything in a game type format is excellent tools for teaching children.
I feel chess is on par with music and sports activities in school. Music apparently was really big in schools for a long time until recently.
Chess provides every bit of important educational benefit as music does.
Chess provides every bit of important educational benefit as music does.
@jg777
Having taught chess for many years in grades 1-12 and "applied" this notion that chess is beneficial to improving learning skills, I have some input to share.
It works for some, but in general I think the notion is misleading. If a kid takes a genuine interest, then it's a great tool. I found after an introduction to chess that a percentage of students took an interest. Quite a smaller percentage actually stayed with the program.
Of course, Parents played a role. Some even pushing their kids into a program, thinking it would help their grades or such. All the while the kid wanted out.
Chess is attractive for some, but not for all. Of course math and chess is related, but if the interest is not there, one will not lead to further understanding the other. The basics of Math needs teaching, but the basics of Chess is another story imo.
Having taught chess for many years in grades 1-12 and "applied" this notion that chess is beneficial to improving learning skills, I have some input to share.
It works for some, but in general I think the notion is misleading. If a kid takes a genuine interest, then it's a great tool. I found after an introduction to chess that a percentage of students took an interest. Quite a smaller percentage actually stayed with the program.
Of course, Parents played a role. Some even pushing their kids into a program, thinking it would help their grades or such. All the while the kid wanted out.
Chess is attractive for some, but not for all. Of course math and chess is related, but if the interest is not there, one will not lead to further understanding the other. The basics of Math needs teaching, but the basics of Chess is another story imo.
Agree with @mdinnerspace.
Though chess does provide substantial benefits, there are 2 problems. First, and this applies to all subjects, to be good, it takes lot of time to learn and practice, which will take time out of other activities. And second, chess can become very addictive.
I think, if the kid takes genuine interest they can pursue the activity, but I dislike it, when parents take more interest than the kids.
Though chess does provide substantial benefits, there are 2 problems. First, and this applies to all subjects, to be good, it takes lot of time to learn and practice, which will take time out of other activities. And second, chess can become very addictive.
I think, if the kid takes genuine interest they can pursue the activity, but I dislike it, when parents take more interest than the kids.
Yes. An introduction to all subjects is a good thing. But in the end, a genuine interest is something that can not be taught. Parents have a habit of thinking they know what is best for their kids and in most cases they are right. "Forcing" chess on unwilling kids is never a good thing.
Chess is in the end is simply a board game, a hobby to be enjoyed. It can teach us many things. But if a kid has no interest in the game, then after school classes became free baby sitting for the parents who imagined they were doing best.
Chess is in the end is simply a board game, a hobby to be enjoyed. It can teach us many things. But if a kid has no interest in the game, then after school classes became free baby sitting for the parents who imagined they were doing best.
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