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.
Greenhill chess students played Progressive Chess today (Scottish variation). Briefly,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. And that it cannot move into check during its turn. The variant teaches students to make every move count and to plan ahead.
On another free day at Denton High School chess club, Dr. Alexey Root finished her game against a group of students. Two other students tried a UIL chess problem solving test. Three students planned activities for tomorrow’s outing at Arts in Bloom in McKinney. And four other students played a chess variant (Knightmare Chess).
Dr. Alexey Root will be appearing April 10 and April 12 at huge gatherings. On April 10, Dr. Root is signing her books about chess in education (and libraries!) at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference. Look for Alexey Root in the exhibit hall in the ABC-CLIO/Libraries Unlimited booths, 2122 and 2123, on Thursday, April 10. A complete list of authors at the conference can be found at this link.
Greenhill chess students in the beginner and advanced groups tried the "3 on 3" challenge from Dr. Alexey Root’s Science, Math, Checkmate: 32 Chess Activities for Inquiry and Problem Solving. One six-year-old boy commented that trying different moves to find the right solution was "like science."
The seven high school students attending Denton High School chess club today played chess games for fun. One pair of students played a king safety vs. material drill, where white plays without a rook on h1 and black's king to start on e4 with play continuing normally from there. Dr. Alexey Root continued her game from last week against two students.
For April 2, St. Vincent’s chess students met in the Parish Hall for "bughouse." Dr. Root had four students demonstrate how bughouse is played while other students gathered around to watch. Dr. Root also provided a poster with rules and verbal explanations of those rules.
Greenhill chess students tried the "Choices" challenge from Dr. Alexey Root’s sixth book Thinking with Chess: Teaching Children Ages 5-14. The challenge teaches pawn promotion and gives checkmating practice. It’s also fun for children because they get to roll dice!
The six high school students attending Denton High School chess club today played chess games for fun. Dr. Alexey Root continued her game from last week against two students.
Dr. Alexey Root taught the en passant rule using material from Children and Chess: A Guide for Educators to all three groups at Greenhill School. The beginners then paired up to play Pawn Games and raised their hands when en passant opportunities arose in their games.
Dr. Alexey Root will be signing her books about chess in education (and libraries!) at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference. Look for Alexey Root in the exhibit hall in the ABC-CLIO/Libraries Unlimited booths, 2122 and 2123, on Thursday, April 10. A complete list of authors at the conference can be found at this link.
Dr. Root hopes to see you in San Antonio!
