U.S. Chess Mates - Article # 2
Chess and Math?
From: Deb
Improving Math Performance 1 Move at A Time:
First of all, Math provides the building blocks and foundation that children
will need throughout their lives. If you think that the basics are adding,
subtracting, multiplying and dividing - think again! Today, we live in an
information age where it's reported that information is doubling at a rate
less than every two years. The basic skills need to function in the
workplace today are decision making, problem solving, critical thinking
and deductive and inductive reasoning along with the ability to make
judgements and good estimates. We haven't loved math but we've
certainly loved our games. That's when Chess comes into the picture.
Chess is a game that requires problem solving. Math requires problem
solving, it makes good sense then to become a good problem solver
means you'll do better in math.
Chess (and other games) require a mental workout, thinking ahead,
planning, being systematic, and determining the outcomes of certain
moves. Chess moves can't be memorized, weakness in math often stems
from an over emphasis on memory skills instead of thinking skills.
Research studies have indicated that students playing chess have
improved problem solving skills over the group that have not been
involved in the playing of chess. Ollie LaFreniere, the Washington Chess
Federation's statewide Coordinator for Scholastic Chess, said in a Seattle
Post-Intelligencer interview on May 31, "Chess is the single most powerful
educational tool we have at the moment, and many school administrators
are realizing that." There are also studies that indicate that many
students' social habits improved when playing chess.
The late Faneuil Adams (president of the American Chess Foundation
(ACF). believed that chess could enhance learning, especially for the
disadvantaged. He with the ACF founded the Chess in Schools Program
which initially began in New York's Harlem School district. Early in the
program, the focus was on improving math skills for adolescents through
improved critical thinking and problem solving skills. Remarkably "test
scores improved by 17.3% for students regularly engaged in chess
classes, compared with only 4.56% for children participating in other
forms of enriched activities."
The ACF reports that chess improves a Child's:
Many countries are following suit. In Canada, a growing number of
elementary schools have incorporated chess into the regular school
curriculum. Looking specifically at Quebec, 10 years ago their math
scores were the lowest in the country, Chess became a school subject
and now the children in quebec have the highest average math scores in
Canada.
Overcoming Math Phobia through Chess:
Why is it when we ask the majority of people what they think of math or if
they're good at math, they immediately show a look of distaste? Think of
what happens when a group of people are at a restaurant and the bill
comes on one check instead of on separate checks. Usually, you'll hear
'here, you figure it out, I was never any good at math.' I'm sure you've
been in this situation yourself at times. However, do they ever say, here
you figure it out - I can't read. When we take a look at why people don't
like math, we're told it's because it makes them feel stupid, or that they
just don't understand it because there are too many rules, formulas and
procedures to remember. But, can you think of a situation where there are
rules, procedures and such that we enjoy? Games!!! Perhaps if our math
instructors treated math like a game, more individuals would excel and
would like mathematics. A more favorable attitude in math leads to better
performance. Let chess pave the way to better math scores and improved
problem solving strategies!
From: Deb
Improving Math Performance 1 Move at A Time:
First of all, Math provides the building blocks and foundation that children
will need throughout their lives. If you think that the basics are adding,
subtracting, multiplying and dividing - think again! Today, we live in an
information age where it's reported that information is doubling at a rate
less than every two years. The basic skills need to function in the
workplace today are decision making, problem solving, critical thinking
and deductive and inductive reasoning along with the ability to make
judgements and good estimates. We haven't loved math but we've
certainly loved our games. That's when Chess comes into the picture.
Chess is a game that requires problem solving. Math requires problem
solving, it makes good sense then to become a good problem solver
means you'll do better in math.
Chess (and other games) require a mental workout, thinking ahead,
planning, being systematic, and determining the outcomes of certain
moves. Chess moves can't be memorized, weakness in math often stems
from an over emphasis on memory skills instead of thinking skills.
Research studies have indicated that students playing chess have
improved problem solving skills over the group that have not been
involved in the playing of chess. Ollie LaFreniere, the Washington Chess
Federation's statewide Coordinator for Scholastic Chess, said in a Seattle
Post-Intelligencer interview on May 31, "Chess is the single most powerful
educational tool we have at the moment, and many school administrators
are realizing that." There are also studies that indicate that many
students' social habits improved when playing chess.
The late Faneuil Adams (president of the American Chess Foundation
(ACF). believed that chess could enhance learning, especially for the
disadvantaged. He with the ACF founded the Chess in Schools Program
which initially began in New York's Harlem School district. Early in the
program, the focus was on improving math skills for adolescents through
improved critical thinking and problem solving skills. Remarkably "test
scores improved by 17.3% for students regularly engaged in chess
classes, compared with only 4.56% for children participating in other
forms of enriched activities."
The ACF reports that chess improves a Child's:
- Visual memory
- Attention span
- Spatial reasoning skills
- Capacity to predict and anticipate consequences
- Ability to use criteria to drive decision making and evaluate
alternatives
Many countries are following suit. In Canada, a growing number of
elementary schools have incorporated chess into the regular school
curriculum. Looking specifically at Quebec, 10 years ago their math
scores were the lowest in the country, Chess became a school subject
and now the children in quebec have the highest average math scores in
Canada.
Overcoming Math Phobia through Chess:
Why is it when we ask the majority of people what they think of math or if
they're good at math, they immediately show a look of distaste? Think of
what happens when a group of people are at a restaurant and the bill
comes on one check instead of on separate checks. Usually, you'll hear
'here, you figure it out, I was never any good at math.' I'm sure you've
been in this situation yourself at times. However, do they ever say, here
you figure it out - I can't read. When we take a look at why people don't
like math, we're told it's because it makes them feel stupid, or that they
just don't understand it because there are too many rules, formulas and
procedures to remember. But, can you think of a situation where there are
rules, procedures and such that we enjoy? Games!!! Perhaps if our math
instructors treated math like a game, more individuals would excel and
would like mathematics. A more favorable attitude in math leads to better
performance. Let chess pave the way to better math scores and improved
problem solving strategies!
U.S. Chess Mates
Professional Chess Instruction for Children of all Ages.
| "Bringing Chess Instruction to as many Children as Possible" |
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