-- Dedicated to providing schools with the highest-quality chess educational materials on a pro-bono basis, Kasparov Chess Foundation is rolling out a complete chess curriculum to schools throughout the U.S. The not-for-profit organization is requesting that interested schools visit the Foundation's web site at www.kasparovchessfoundation.org and register to receive their complimentary materials.
The three-volume curriculum, titled Teaching Chess Step by Step, features a Teacher's Manual (336 pages), Exercises (160 pages) and Activities (48 pages). Authored by notable chess educators Igor Khmelnitsky, Michael Khodarkovsky and Michael Zadorozny, and editorialized by Pete Tamburro, the materials provide teachers with mechanics to lead a group of beginning students from the rudiments of chess rules to the ability of playing a full game in a competent manner. Combined, they bring a 21st Century approach to teaching one of the oldest strategy games in existence.
The authors have produced an exceptionally user-friendly curriculum so that teachers can help their students improve the educational experience in so many rich and rewarding ways, said editor Pete Tamburro.
In his foreword, Garry Kasparov, Chairman of the Kasparov Chess Foundation notes that, "In an age when information is being created at rates well beyond that of any other era, it is not enough to assimilate that information; it must be processed in a highly intelligent way to meet the demands of living in a complex world. The children being taught chess today will be able to better understand this information and make better decisions for the rest of their lives."
The Kasparov Chess Foundation is making this complete curriculum program available to teach chess in a compelling, fun and educational way. The Foundation plans to expand the number of participating schools in the US to meet the overwhelming demand for quality educational programs in the schools, where they will reach the greatest number of children.
Pointing to the many educational benefits inherent in chess, Garry Kasparov explains, "The benefits of chess for children are enormous -- the ability to visualize moves and patterns in their minds, to create plans, to focus their thoughts and energies, to solve problems as they occur, to apply sets of knowledge in dynamic and creative ways. All these skills are transferable to other academic fields. No other environment challenges children to perform the intensive type of thinking that chess requires."
The organization also plans to conduct the first comprehensive study to quantify the academic benefits of chess programs in the schools. Kasparov Chess Foundation believes its findings will help reinfoce the need for a national chess education program and help to influence educational policy.
Founded by World Chess Champion
Garry Kasparov, KCF's mission is to bring the many educational
benefits of chess to children throughout the United States by
providing a complete chess curriculum and enrichment programs. The
Foundation promotes the study of chess as a cognitive learning tool
in curricular classes and after-school programs for elementary,
middle and high schools, both in the public and private school
sectors. The not-for-profit educational organization also organizes
tournaments and competitions on a local and national basis. For more
information, please visit http://www.kasparovchessfoundation.org/
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