CHESS CLUB
Middletown Elementary School
Jefferson County, Kentucky

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Middletown Elementary School Chess Club Home Page

(Go to "Schedules & Divisions" page for Fall 2008 Signup Sheet)

2008-2009 Chess Club

Starting September 5 th, 2008 the Middletown Elementary School Chess Club meets every Friday from 3:45 to 5:00 pm in the school library or in the gym. There is additional instruction in the library from 6:30 to 8:00 PM on Mondays. Any student pre-K thru 5 enrolled at Middletown Elementary is welcome to attend. Players at all skill levels participate. Club membership is $30 and includes a chess T-shirt, 3 months of instruction, and participation in Jefferson Co. Chess League. $15 fee (each added sibling) includes all of the above. 50% discount for Families on JCPS reduced Fees. Purchase and use a Middletown Elementary Kroger Gift Card to reduce your fees.

Anyone wanting additional information should contact Coach Chip Eskridge, (649-3254, cell) or Coach Michael Willis (489-5257 home), or at the e-mail address shown below, or just show up in the library on Fridays.

Why Chess?

We have brought chess to Middletown Elementary because we believe it directly contributes to academic performance. Chess makes kids smarter. It does so by teaching the following skills.

  • Focusing - Children are taught the benefits of observing carefully and concentrating.
  • Visualizing - Children are prompted to imagine a sequence of actions before it happens.
  • Thinking Ahead - Children are taught to think first, then act. We teach them to ask themselves "If I do this, what might happen next?"
  • Weighing Options - Children are taught that they don't have to do the first thing that pops into their mind.
  • Analyzing Concretely - Children learn to evaluate the results of specific actions and sequences. Does this sequence help me or hurt me?
  • Thinking Abstractly - Children are taught to step back periodically from details and consider the big picture.
  • Planning - Children are taught to develop longer range goals and take steps toward bringing them about. .
  • Developing Independence. Kids are forced to think on their own without the immediate aid of an adult.
Chess turns problem-solving and learning into a game! Studies conducted over the last 30 years show that student' IQs increase and test scores improve after less than a year of systematic chess study.

Chess is fun and motivational. It develops self-esteem, builds team spirit and increases concentration. Chess is a thinking game. It encourages students to use patterns and logical deductive reasoning to solve problems.

Chess players come in all ages. Even very young children can be successful at chess, as demonstrated by the 2500 kids who participated in the annual US Elementary Chess Championships help this last Spring in Nashville, TN- of which 150 kids were in Kindergarten.

Coach Chip Eskridge     E-mail:   chipeskridge@yahoo.com
Coach Michael Willis     E-mail:   mawillis@insightbb.com

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