The best grade to start chess club

The age to begin learning how to play chess is different than the best age to join chess club.

I feel that the age of five is a good age to start learning about how to play chess. Most of my own children started playing chess at the age of five and were able to grasp the concept of the game by that time. As far as when to start playing in the chess club, that's a different story.

It's my opinion that second grade is the best for children to join chess club. I feel that kindergarten is too early for children to join the chess club and don't offer it to families at that age. I have made exceptions in the past but those exceptions are far and few between. Social maturity is the big issue for me with children at that age.

I open the chess club for children in first grade but I feel that is still a little too early for children as well. Although first graders can understand how to play chess they seem to really struggle in the chess club. They lose many games and seem to get frustrated by losing so often. I also spend most of my time with the youngest children in chess club which gives me less time to work with others who may need it.

Second grade is the perfect grade for a child to start chess club. It is at that time that children really seem to grasp the concept of the game and are mature enough to not take losing as personally.

Communication

I've tried many ways to communicate with families of the MadWash chess program over the years and am still searching for the best one, if there is such a thing. Here's a list the different types of communication that I use. I list these on the first chess flier that I send home with children and again in the first official chess letter home with those who join.

Notes Home: Most parents prefer good ol' fashioned notes home. The biggest obstacle is getting the children to bring the notes home, although chess kids do a pretty good job of it. Here a copy of the letter for 2016-2017 season MadWash Newsletter

Email: I created a chess email group to communicate with parents. I have parents email me first so I can add their names to the group more easily. I like easy! My email is jbolduc@warsawschools.org

Newsletter: This idea was taken from the great Joe Riegsecker. I created a chess newsletter on Microsoft Word and now update it whenever it needs to be. The newsletter lists information and upcoming events for the chess club. I copy and paste the document into an email to send to the parents in the email group. I also make a PDF copy of the newsletter to post on the Website. I post the link to the newsletter on Facebook, too. I like using PDF's on Facebook because the hyperlinks will work on mobile devices. MadWash Chess Newsletter

Facebook: Parents who use Facebook tend to get messages quickly and respond to them in the same. I like it when a parent "likes" a post, too. It makes me feel like they are engaged and it motivates me to keep posting. MadWash Facebook

Website: The school corporation has a website that I use to put the chess webpage on. I use the site to post information throughout the year. When I post on the webpage, I send emails to the email group and post on Facebook so that parents will know that new info is available. MadWash Webpage

Texts: This year will be my first year trying to send text alerts to those interested in the club. I'm using a program called Remind. It seems to be a good way to communicate with parents. Remind

Blog: This is my first year trying a blog. I don't plan to use the blog to communicate with parents the way I do with notes home. I plan to use it to share what I'm doing an to get feedback from others. No point linking to the blog, you're already on it

Out of the Gate

It's the beginning of a new school year and time to start thinking about the upcoming chess club season. 2016-2017 will be my 14th year sponsoring chess at Warsaw Community Schools. I like to begin each year by reflecting on the past year and creating goals for the present year.

Madison: Last year was the first year that Madison did not place in the top ten at the Indiana state chess team finals since I started chess 14 years ago. I thought that the 6th and under A team was pretty good and had a shot to place at state but it wasn't meant to be. All of the players on the team were sixth graders and have moved on to middle school. The B team placed in the top twenty-five at state last year. I had three fourth graders and a fifth grader and they will all be back for this year. I'm pretty optimistic about the team and plan for them to place higher at state this year. My goal, as always, is for the A team to place in the top ten at state.

Last year was a rebuilding year for the 3rd and Under teams. All 8 players on the teams had never been to the state finals. It was the first year that I sent two completely "green" teams to state. The A team blew me away at state. After round 3, they had won all three rounds and were in 4th place out of 50-something teams. I didn't think they would even win three rounds the entire day and there they were, 3-0 at the halfway point. I won't mention the rest of the day but let me say that I was proud of them. (I'm proud of all my teams but that one blew me away). There was only one third grader on the 3rd and under teams so most will be back. Unfortunately, I lost some players to the gifted and talented school this season, as I do every year, so we're going to fill in the gaps to build a contender for state.

Washington: In the 6th and Under section at state finals last year, the A team placed 6th. The entire team was made up of 5th graders so all will be back! The B team placed in the top 20. They were all 4th and 5th graders and all will be back! High hopes for Washington this year; top three finish at state is the goal for the A team and top ten for the B team. I've never placed two teams from the same school in the top ten.

In the 3rd and Under section, the A team placed 6th at state. All players were 3rd graders and will move up to the next level. The hard part is that the 6th and under section will be stacked this year. I only plan to send 8 players to state so the competition will be fierce! I may make three teams, but I'll have to do a lot of reflecting and praying about that one. The 3rd and Under "B" team placed 12th at state with a team of first and second graders. I was thinking top five at state this year for Washington until the gifted and talented school took my top player. As happens every year, I'll have to work hard to prepare other players to fill in the gaps. I'm still going to shoot for top 5 at state as the goal for the 3rd and Under team.