Dallas School Challenges FunMasterMike!

Yolanda Peña is the chess coach for Kahn Elementary and Arcadia Park Elementary in Dallas, TX. Here she shares the success of her chess clubs using ChessKid during the spring semester!

ChessKid is awesome! It offers chess puzzles, games, lessons, videos and so much more to help students at different levels learn how to play chess. The beauty of the program is that it meets the needs of students at the beginner level to the advanced. For example, I have students in chess club in grades first through fifth. Some of my students were new while others had been in chess club for a few years. Students were able to start at the beginner level or choose a more advanced level.

 

ChessKid makes all kids smile, no matter their age or chess level!

As a coach, I was able to monitor student’s progress. I could communicate with students by sending messages, provide parents with a report card, and give students awards for accomplishments. In addition, I like the convenience of ChessKid for students to use the program at home and on mobile devices. They did not need to take a chess set on vacation breaks, rather they could use their parent’s phones or computers.

When using ChesssKid, students are having fun while learning. ChessKid offers a format that is student friendly. Students work for the incentives, they can play against each other, and they can monitor their progress. I have witnessed a student’s excitement and positive energy while using the online program. Also, most students welcome the opportunity to use the computer. In addition, during our time in Chess Club I noticed that they challenged each other to earn more incentives. 

The school that solves ChessKid puzzles together, wins together!

I have seen positive results and student growth as a result of using ChessKid. On April 22, 2017, both clubs entered the UIL chess puzzle competition. Results of the UIL was impressive. Kahn’s fifth grade students took first and second place. Fourth grade students placed third and fourth. The most exciting result for UIL were the third grade students who were new to chess club this year they took, first, second and third place. Arcadia Park’s fifth grade students placed fourth and second.

I owe the success of these students at UIL to their work on ChessKid, especially the new students I placed on ChessKid to solve chess puzzles!

Both clubs entered the Dallas district-wide ChessKid chess puzzle competition for the month of April. Kahn Elementary won first place while Arcadia Park took third. Both clubs worked very hard to become number one, but the Kahn Elementary chess club was triumphant in the end!

Channel that ChessKid energy and try to outsmart FunMasterMike!

The prize for winning the district-wide puzzle contest? A chance to play FunMasterMike in a live chess game on ChessKid! 

The kids worked together and voted on each move throughout the game. Unfortunately, the Kahn Elementary chess club was not victorious, but they had a great time trying to beat the master! Check out their exciting game below:

I have no doubt that ChessKid is a beneficial program as I have seen both clubs grow and succeed!