Personal Update
We are back again with more passion for chess than ever. I have not played a ton of ranked chess, but have still been playing a good amount. I have rekindled a bitter rivalry with my younger brother and we play full games daily. He has yet to beat me, which is a testament to my progress as a player, our rivalry which has spanned decades has now turned into a one-sided annihilation. Something I have been doing is watching chess content on Youtube and Twitch, specifically Gotham Chess. I don’t know is this is as beneficial as actually playing but it has been a good time consumer for me, and I think I have gained some insight about endgame chess and some other things.
Chess in the classroom
After finishing my Midway Meeting Ali, she had the really great idea of collaborating with some older grades to help design the checkerboard pattern. If you have been viewing any of my past posts, you will know it has been a struggle to get a base for my checkerboard. There has not been a super time or cost-efficient way to create a chess board, especially in the younger grades. While having my midway meeting with Ali, she suggested collaborating with a high school or middle school woodworking program to help create my dream chess board. This, if possible solves all my problems, it allows me to have a durable, personalized chessboard for my students. It also will bolster my student’s collaboration skills, and it allows them to work with some older students, which is a positive experience in itself.
Chess.com In the classroom
Something that I haven’t really taken into consideration till recently, is using Chess.com in the classroom. One of the features I have just come across is the classroom feature. This can be used to create “breakout” room-style chess games that can be accessed super easily. It allows for really fast matchmaking, and it also allows for other students to view games and replays similar to SeeSaw. One of the ways I see this being used is when a student finishes their work early, you can give them the option to go play chess with a fellow student. This to me seems like a really good way to keep students engaged in critical thinking, while also using gamification to give them a brain break. One of the biggest goals for my future classrooms is creating a “chess culture” where students are excited to play and compete and learn with eachother, similarily for how games like “Fortnite” and “Clash Royale” have spread through kids.
