introduction

Challenging Heads Chess Program was started in 1996 as a means to introduce children to chess as well as to teach them the skills that are developed while playing the game. Through chess a child develops math, reading and analytical skills which will serve them in future academic endeavors. The Challenging Heads Chess Program introduces students to the basics of chess including chess pieces, piece values and legal piece movement through interactive classroom instruction taught by Mr. Bady and his qualified staff. The program concentrates on developing tactical abilities with an emphasis on understanding basic end game positions. The Challenging Heads Chess Program has been welcomed in the school systems as an extra curricular activity and eagerly accepted by the students in the class.

What do we do?

Challenging Heads Chess specializes in teaching chess to persons as young as three years old to adults. Challenging Heads uses a unique program that emphasizes concepts pertaining to mathematics. It is the belief of Challenging Heads that math, logic and art are incorporated into the game of Kings. Although there are combinations in chess that require higher thinking skills, the trouble in teaching chess to children is finding a fun and creative way to expose the concepts.

Once children learn the basics of chess, they become excited. They are excited at the movements of chess pieces, the Knight's L-shaped movement, and the Bishop's long ranged diagonal attacks. The movement of the pieces bring the game of chess to life in the minds of young children. After learning the basics of chess children yearn to learn more, and their thirst for chess leads to an open mind. Challenging Heads can begin to teach geometric concepts and problem solving skills in a fun way through the game of chess. Children are instructed to use their mind and exercise it, as a gymnast would practice his /her routine.

Pupils are first taught the chessboard. There are eight ranks and eight files, which gives 64 squares. The ranks are assigned an individual number from one to eight and the files are assigned an alphabetic designation from a to h. Every square on a chessboard has its own .name. i.e., at the start of a chess game the white queen sits on d1. This notation is called algebraic notation. Algebraic notation is identical to coordinate plane on a graph (X, Y). When students understand the chessboard, they learn the value of pieces and the relative value of a piece, e.g., a knight is worth three points, but if the knight's movement is restricted to one square, what is its real value?

Instructors emphasize math concepts by teaching space control to restrict the movement and devalue your opponent's pieces while adding value to yours. Challenging Heads system of teaching is proven to work!

Why your child should learn chess

Chess is the gymnasium of the mind. A child taking part in a chess program develops critical thinking, problem solving skills, concentration, visualization, skills, confidence, determination and good sportsmanship.

We believe the primary aim of education should be to teach children to think for themselves. The most effective teaching methods are those that children enjoy. A Pennsylvania study on the effects of strategy game revealed that children improved their creative thinking skills by an average of 18.23 percent. Participants in the chess group improved their critical thinking skills by a staggering 69.18 percent. The results have been verified by studies in countries in Congo (Zaire), Brazil, France, and Canada.