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 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.