Chess Team (Gr K-6) – NJ

Chess Team (Grade: K to 6)

The Chess Team Class will be a structured 75-minute session. Each class will begin with a lesson designed by the head coach, followed by problem-solving activities. Lessons will include instructive game analysis, candidate moves, tactical maneuvers, middlegame strategy, and endgame clinics.

After the problem-solving session, students will break into pairs where the coach will assist them in notating their games (a requirement for tournaments) and using a chess clock to simulate a tournament experience, as clocks are necessary at the highest levels. The goal is to make students comfortable with tournament conditions and help them use their newly acquired skills successfully.

Each student will receive a chess workbook (which will remain at the school) and have the opportunity to work in it and advance their skills. The head coach will periodically evaluate the students and work with them to further develop their chess abilities..

We typically recommend 1-2 competitions per month. The fee for a coach to attend a local tournament (limited to 1-day events in NJ or NYC) is $300. Events such as the National Chess Championships are 3-day events that require a separate fee for the coach. During these events, the coach will review games with the students (which is why we practice notation!) and prepare them for the remaining games. The coach will spend considerable time analyzing games and providing constructive feedback. Tournaments typically last up to 6 hours, and possibly longer for higher-level participants.

Here are a list of recommended tournaments in NJ/NYC:
October 21, 2023: Avenues, The World School Fall Tournament (NYC)
November 19, 2023: NJ Individual Grade Championships in Lincroft, NJ
Dec 3, 2013: Livingston, NJ Chess tournament
Dec 9, 2023: HudsonWay NJ Tournament – Stirling, NJ
January 14, 2024: HudsonWay NY Tournament (NYC)
Feb 10, 2024 Avenues, The World School Winter Tournament (NYC)
Feb 25, 2024: NJ State Elementary and Junior High Championships (K-5 and 6-9th grade) Lincroft, NJ
April 14, 2024: Livingston, NJ Chess Tournament
May 4, 2024: HudsonWay NJ Tournament

Vendor: Growing Minds Chess Academy
Growing Minds Chess Academy is a progressive chess instruction company that incorporates the latest in modern educational theory with tried and true approaches to scholastic chess learning. At Growing Minds, we understand that being good at chess is important but knowing how to teach chess is critical. That is why our instructors are both accomplished players as well as experienced teachers and coaches. They understand the challenges of childhood learning and incorporate elements of Mindfulness and a Growth Mindset approach to their teaching.

Tuesdays @ 3:45 pm to 5:00 pm 10 weeks, $450 (price includes t-shirt for tournaments). The cost to participate and the coach fee for the tournaments is not included in the price.
Dates: Sep 10-Nov 19, 2024
No class dates: October 15 (Staff in Service), Make up class: Nov 25, 2024

Policy for All Classes:
– No refunds will be issued for student absences.
– In the event of teacher absence, a make-up class will be scheduled in advance.
– Late registrations will incur a higher per-class fee if a student joins after the session has begun.
– Certain classes do not accept new students once the session has started.