Basic Endgame Checkmates
Asked students what they remembered about last week's Wolf and Sheep. Pointed out that a queen is worth 9 pawns. Value is based on mobility. The queen (wolf) should indeed be able to win against the sheep with correct play.
On October 5, 2012, Dr. Alexey Root taught the Game Theory Challenge, a castling exercise from her forthcoming book Thinking with Chess: Teaching Children Ages 5-14. Some students also played notated games, with chess clocks, in preparation for our forthcoming tournament on October 13.
Before I began teaching each group, I reminded students to raise their hands to contribute answers. Each group spent about 15 minutes with me. When not with me, each group played chess games supervised by the Chess Program Director.
On September 28, 2012, Dr. Alexey Root taught the Scholar’s Mate Activity from her book Read, Write, Checkmate: Enrich Literacy with Chess Activities to 16 students. There was also time to finish games left over from last week and play new games. After Denton High School chess club, 15 students, Mr. Mueller, and Dr. Root attended a social gathering hosted by our chess club’s historian’s family.
Before I began teaching each group, I reminded students to raise their hands to contribute answers. Each group spent about 15 minutes with me. When not with me, each group played chess games supervised by the Chess Program Director.
For Denton High School Chess Club on Friday, September 21, those who will be competing in the Scott Watson tournament on October 13 played a G/30 notated game. Everyone else played for fun or learned basic endgame checkmates (such as king and queen versus queen) from Dr. Root. 16 students attended.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 was my first day of teaching chess at the extended day program at Greenhill School, Addison, TX. Chess runs from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. each Tuesday through November 13. Three groups (beginner, experienced, and advanced) rotated to me during the hour. Before I began teaching each group, I explained my expectation of their raising hands before they speak to allow everyone a chance to think without the answers being given away.
Two chess club officers and three chess club members volunteered at Bronco Night. They took turns playing each other and playing students and adults who stopped by our table during open house. Dr. Root believes that there will be a bigger attendance this Friday at Denton High School chess club because of the successful Bronco Night chess table.
On September 14, 2012, Denton High School students practiced basic checkmates (such as king and queen against king) and openings before Dr. Alexey Root’s lecture on Material versus Activity. Then there were a series of announcements about upcoming events, such as Bronco Night (Open House on Monday, September 17), where Chess Club will have a table.
For the September 7, 2012 meeting, the first general meeting of the 2012-2013 academic year, 12 students showed up. They paired up to play casual games, renew acquaintances, and meet new members. Dr. Alexey Root announced the October 13 Scott Watson Memorial Chess Tournament, November 16 visit to UT Dallas and Dallas Chess Club, Bronco night/Open House (including possible T-shirt sales), and the on-going Monday night chess club (North Branch Library).
For the first meeting of the Denton High School chess club for 2012-2013, on August 31, the club’s five officers met with sponsor Fred Mueller and volunteer coach Alexey Root. We discussed finances, wrote thank you letters to donors, reviewed our fall 2012 tournament schedule, and planned publicity. The first general meeting for this academic year is Friday, September 7, 2012.
I am teaching July 9-13 (mornings) at the UT Dallas Chess Camp. (My name is Alexey Root and I am a WIM, which means Woman International Master). The camps also have a GM (Valentin Iotov), an IM (Rade Milovanovic), and another WIM (Cheradee Camacho) as teachers, in addition to Rheanna English, David Phillips, and Julie Blasingame. The camp director is Jim Stallings, head of the UT Dallas Chess Program.
