Why is chess great in schools?

5

Improves capacity to focus and attention

Chess is all about concentration, you have to learn to get into the board, this is why this game is played in silence! The chess players need to label the patterns and ideas he has seen in other chess games or have prepared themselves to make decisions.

4

Helps you overcome failure

You will have to accept that not always win at chess, you will have to accept that you will lose sometimes. Chess is a cruel teacher, if you get out of the rules you will get punished, sometimes is hard and painful, but it teaches you a lot.

3

Develops critical thinking

Chess is all about making decisions, you will have to coldly analyze and consider every aspect of the chess position. Once you have done this, you will have to take your decision based on your analysis.

2

Improves social interaction skills

Obviously, learning chess will put you very close to a group of people with the same interest as you. It's the same effect that will have if your child gets into any group of any sport.

1

Chess makes kids more creative!

If you think that chess is a Pandora box for all it treats about, you have more to see, this is just the tip of the iceberg! Chess is also about creativity, there is the theory, but many times theory will not be an option, and your creativeness will come into play.

Chess has not been defined yet over the years, most of us know it as a game, others like science, even like art. Chess is made out of a lot of components, not even a chess teacher would be able to know them all.

Everyone’s perception of the board is unique and full of creativity and new ideas. The principles and concepts that were developed in history about the strategy of chess, make it a lot more interesting.

Attempts to explain how the chess game works, trying to understand it through simple principles and ideas. None of these attempts were successful, and always oblige us to take our own perceptions of chess.

Creating our ideas our plans, and our strategy to defeat our rivals! When you look at chess this way, how a chess teacher would view it, everything turns out to be different. It’s not two people moving around wooden figures, is a battle of ideas, two minds clashing for superiority.

This is what makes chess so special, unique, and exciting, chess is a journey to discover, grow, and enjoy.

It can give a lot of skills to children that will be useful in practical life, and can really help them with their psychological development. Playing chess is never a bad idea, it is one of those healthy and interesting activities that are nothing more than nurturing.

The chess teacher’s duty is to make children see chess like this, make them passionate about it, without forcing them of course. This is why it doesn’t necessarily have to be a subject, but an optional activity or sport that is always there.

This is the case in some schools. Unfortunately, chess is a game that lacks the attention it deserves and doesn’t have that much public which has made it different in front of different sports.

How would it be if chess was a subject in schools?

The idea of chess in schools is something that does not sound bad at all. In some schools is already an official activity for students to learn and recreate. However, if you want to know how it would be if it was a necessary subject, you can take Russia as an example.

The thing is that in Russia people take chess as something else, in Russia chess is not simply a board game. Chess is taken as a science, just knowing is a subject in all schools you know that is something else. Chess has been taught in Russia for so long.

Other countries take chess as an opportunity to grow, like India for example.

Chess is a great beneficial activity for the brain.

If you don’t have chess in your school or you don’t have a chess club near your location, you can find a chess teacher. You can do it easily, you can find many online chess teachers, with high-quality pedagogy and great resources.

You can surely find one near where you live, but there is always the online option, you can also try it in the Academy at any time!

We have treated this matter in other posts, getting a chess teacher is a great investment, something that you won’t regret. 

This will give you a lot of opportunities to play in tournaments, learn new lessons, and train your brain!

However, there is another option to consider if you are not into chess that much yet…

If you don’t have chess in your school or you don’t have a chess club near your location, you can find a chess teacher. You can do it easily, you can find many online chess teachers, with high-quality pedagogy and great resources.

You can surely find one near where you live, but there is always the online option, you can also try it in the Academy at any time!

We have treated this matter in other posts, getting a chess teacher is a great investment, something that you won’t regret. 

This will give you a lot of opportunities to play in tournaments, learn new lessons, and train your brain!

However, there is another option to consider if you are not into chess that much yet…

This is another matter that is to be debated, do children need a chess teacher? It has lots of positive advantages.

They can learn how to play chess or just they can simply start by watching some videos, reading some guides and playing some free online games online.

They will immediately want to know more ideas, tricks, and will help them to develop their abilities.

Typically, chess beginners will start by looking up some “tips and tricks” some traps, and simple ideas to win.

Learning chess is useful in their common lives also!

If you want to hire a chess teacher or coach, you probably want to know them a bit more.

Normally chess teachers are IMs, GMs, or FMs (International masters, Grandmasters, or FIDE masters respectively). These are titles that certify them as great chess players with experience on the matter.

These titles are awarded by the world chess federation (FIDE) and you have to meet some requirements in international tournaments to get them. Try to get a chess master that holds any of these titles, that will give you the security that the person is well-prepared in chess.

You can see if a person who claims to have a title really has it on the FIDE official webpage. The requirements to get the titles are pretty rough, not anyone could get one of those titles with ease!

What should a chess teacher do?

This will also serve as another tip to know that you have a good chess coach and is something essential in teaching chess.

Being a good chess teacher is not only about having a great playing strength, but also about knowing how to efficiently teach. We have already talked about what the chess coach should do, but here is what you will look for in a chess teacher:

Experience

Only by having the title you can know the player has a lot of experience in chess, many people take years in achieving such titles. However, a chess player can still be really good despite not having a title.

Reputation

At the end of the day, teaching chess is a profession, a business, and businesses tend to have a general opinion. You can consult on the previous students that the teacher has had, this way you have a second opinion on the service you are hiring.

Communication

As we have said, even if the teacher has great knowledge about the game, it will be useless if he doesn’t know how to transmit it. Remember that you need to have great communication with your teacher so you work out efficiently.

Method

The methodology is highly important, the strategies and factors that you use to teach your student make a difference. Remember, for 8 hours in the gym, making one single type of exercise just one day will not put you into shape.

What should a chess teacher acquire?

To become a chess teacher, you have to become really good at chess, but not only that but show it in competitions.

You will have to earn a name of yourself out there in tournaments, where everyone wants to win. Of course, you will need a lot of general knowledge and understanding about the game, and maybe publish some works!

You can also get a title that certifies you, not as a chess master, but as a chess teacher!

These different kinds of titles are awarded by the FIDE trainers commission and there are the following titles:

  • Developmental Instructor (DI)
  • National Instructor (NI)
  • FIDE Instructor (FI)
  • FIDE Trainer (FT)
  • FIDE Senior Trainer (FST)

chess teacher

If you don’t have chess in your school or you don’t have a chess club near your location, you can find a chess teacher. You can do it easily, you can find many online chess teachers, with high-quality pedagogy and great resources.

You can surely find one near where you live, but there is always the online option, you can also try it in the Academy at any time!

We have treated this matter in other posts, getting a chess teacher is a great investment, something that you won’t regret. 

This will give you a lot of opportunities to play in tournaments, learn new lessons, and train your brain!

However, there is another option to consider if you are not into chess that much yet…

It will depend on many things; you can work with a chess coach for your entire life if you want. Remember, the important part of working with a teacher is that you feel comfortable, and plan strategies to keep improving.

Obviously, this process is easier if it’s done by two people, and there is always something to improve in chess. There are no limits on how much you can improve in this game, and every day new things are discovered.

As we have said, you can learn the basics of chess by yourself, there is a lot of useful information online. However, the chess player will reach a point where a chess teacher will be necessary, otherwise, it can be really difficult to progress any further.

We could say around the 1200 and 1600 rating is necessary to get a teacher involved. Most of the players at +1700 are people very serious about chess, that want to get closer to the 2000 rating.

Can I learn chess without a chess teacher?

If you still feel that you are not prepared to get a chess teacher, or simply don’t want to do it right away, there are options. As we have said, there are infinite opportunities on the internet these days, and you can study there.

You can’t compare studying alone on the internet with having a chess teacher, but you can still learn a lot if done correctly. Remember that there are passive learning and active learning, make sure you do active training too!

But if you know how to handle the information can be really beneficial, but you need to make sure you study correctly. There are millions of chess videos and articles that you can find on different platforms but you only must study the content adapted to your level.

In case you are looking forward to getting a serious position in competitive chess, when do you need to get a teacher? Here the thing changes, consider that you are not a regular player looking for fun, you are in for the real deal.

 

Many have these expectations in chess, and if this is your case, here is some advice for you:

 

  • Progressing in chess is tough, and if you really want to make a difference you will have to invest.
  • You should get a chess teacher right now, regardless of the level you are right now.
  • You will need a specialized coach, someone who is available to be working with you for a long time. 

 

You should have a chess teacher as soon as you can, the younger you are the better. But you need to make sure is a good teacher, actually, a certified teacher or an IM or GM will do.

 

In this case, it must be this way because you are trying to get a chess formation, a competitive approach to chess. In competitive chess, there is pressure, tension, and sometimes anger, that must be canalized and used in-game.  

In case you are looking forward to getting a serious position in competitive chess, when do you need to get a teacher? Here the thing changes, consider that you are not a regular player looking for fun, you are in for the real deal.

Many have these expectations in chess, and if this is your case, here is some advice for you:

  • Progressing in chess is tough, and if you really want to make a difference you will have to invest.
  • You should get a chess teacher right now, regardless of the level you are right now.
  • You will need a specialized coach, someone who is available to be working with you for a long time. Usually, this has a higher cost, this kind of coach you should find on a chess club.

You should have a chess teacher as soon as you can, the younger you are the better. But you need to make sure is a good teacher, actually, a certified teacher or an IM or GM will do.

In this case, it must be this way because you are trying to get a chess formation, a competitive approach to chess. In competitive chess, there is pressure, tension, and sometimes anger, that must be canalized and used in-game.  

That will depend on many things, mainly on three important factors:

  • Trajectory: If you want to get into competitive chess for real and get a title and become recognized is one thing. You will need an amazing teacher, someone with years of experience that can take you to that path. Things are different if you are just eager about the game and see it as a fun hobby. In this case, any regular teacher could do.
  • Possibilities: Of course, hiring a chess teacher is also about the experience, but this costs money. If we could we would hire the world chess champion to teach us chess, we would. So you should get a chess teacher based on your necessities, you can’t stop eating just for chess!
  • Comfortability: Remember that you need to form a good connection with the chess teacher. So you will need to be comfortable with the classes that you are receiving, and this is important.

If you get a chess teacher, you will learn some special abilities that you would take plenty of time figuring out on your own. It’s not like chess masters have the secrets of chess in a hidden camera, and that will magically make you improve.

But we actually have some important practical knowledge about methods and ideas to train your chess. Some of these important concepts are:

  • The art of analyzing your games and re-playing them so you can actively improve your mistakes.
  • How to calculate in an efficient and favorable way according to your time situation.
  • How to assess and understand a position and play accordingly.
  • How to spot the ideas and get a better conception of tactical patterns
  • Pure prophylactic thinking


And many others ideas, usually, these are the areas where intermediate players with lots of talent struggle with.