For Beginners:
Dr. Root asked how to move a bishop from one location to another in the fewest number of moves. For example, "How can you move a bishop from f1 to f5?" (Similar drill will be done for capturing on f5). The student should respond either, "Bf1-d3-f5" or "Bf1-h3-f5." After one of those possible best responses, Dr. Root moved the bishop as indicated.
Dr. Root taught mazes to the beginners. After Dr. Root presented a sample maze on the demonstration board, students set up a mazes for each other then captured each chessman in the maze with a rook. From Science, Math, Checkmate: 32 Chess Activities for Inquiry and Problem Solving.
For four years (1991, 1996, 2004, and 2005) I taught at Hummingbird Chess Camp, held during one week of the Hummingbird Music Camp (Jemez Springs, NM). The founder of the chess camp, Elliott Higgins, passed away today. Hummingbird is a magical place. I am grateful to Elliott for hiring me to teach at the camp. He also gave wonderful tours, told great stories, and had a passion for music and for chess. I would like to express my condolences to the Higgins family.
Dr. Alexey Root taught at the Greenhill School Chess Camp July 14-18 and July 21-25, 12:30-3:30 p.m. each day. The first week she had 12 students and the second week 10 students. Two other coaches had other groups: One had a less advanced group and the other a more advanced group. In Dr. Root's group, most students (ages 5-8; entering grades 1-4 this fall) started the week knowing the names of the chessmen and how some of them moved but not knowing en passant, promotion, or castling.
For the first meeting of Greenhill Chess for the fall of 2014, chess club sponsor Cathleen Garcia went over the rules and procedures. Alexey Root taught the Classify activity (from Thinking with Chess: Teaching Children Ages 5-14) to the beginner group.
Thanks to those who joined Denton High School chess club players and tournament director Alexey Root at a non-rated tournament for middle and high school students on Saturday, May 24.
Ten Denton High School chess club students welcomed 20 students (and their parents and chess sponsor) from Newton Rayzor Elementary. The high school students taught small groups (2-4 students) the two-rook checkmate, the Pawn Game (or Battleship Chess), and UIL Chess Puzzle solving. The elementary students had time to practice. Dr. Alexey Root dismissed the elementary school students with a game of chess Simon Says.
Denton High School students played bughouse. Three new members learned chess from the Chess Club Secretary. There was food, particularly lots of cookies. This was the last regular meeting of the 2013-2014 year. However, two more important events are coming up May 9 (visit of elementary school students) and May 24 (tournament at Denton Public Library).
Greenhill chess students had their last meeting of spring 2014. Chess Director Cathleen Garcia passed out awards. Parents brought in food and took photos. Dr. Alexey Root supervised bughouse games.The club is for first through fourth grade students. Fifth grade students attend the middle school chess club.
Denton High School chess students played Progressive Chess today (Scottish variation). White starts with one move, then Black plays two moves, then White plays three moves, and so forth. Dr. Root noted that a turn ends when check is given and that the checked king must use its first move to get out of check.
UIL stands for University Interscholastic League.Thanks to UIL and Texas Tech University Chess Program, Chess Puzzle is now an official event for UIL A+ Academics. Dr. Alexey Root is writing an article about Chess Puzzle for Chess Life magazine. Her book Science, Math, Checkmate: 32 Chess Activities for Inquiry and Problem Solving provides activities that UIL Chess Puzzle sponsors can share with students to help them succeed at the UIL Chess Puzzle event.
This was the last chess day for spring 2014 for St. Vincent's chess. There was pizza and all the students stayed together rather than separating into three groups by level. Dr. Root taught Progressive Chess (Scottish variation). Briefly,White starts with one move, then Black plays two moves, then White plays three moves, and so forth.
