Chess Mentoring: The Development of the Mind
11.05.10 Gabe Borland, the 2009 Maine High School Chess Champion, wrote a
thought-provoking article that explores the question: Can the teaching of chess to young children be a tool for their mental development? An interesting read from someone who has benefited from both playing and coaching the game.
Chess Mentoring: The Development of the Mind
A few years after I learned how the pieces moved on the chess board I began wondering if chess had yet another usefulness besides being a really fun and addicting game. In my early high school years I finally had the chance to find out for myself by teaching elementary children the game. At this point my teaching was mainly driven by a single question: Can the teaching of chess to young children be a tool for their mental development? By self-observation and asking their parents I discovered that physical and/or mental changes in the children were taking place. In fact, research shows that, due to the many advantages that the game of chess offers to young children and teenagers alike, it should be widely known and accepted throughout the nation so that chess could be added to the normal school curriculum.
The full text of the article can be found here.
Comments
Hey guys to all those who have read this article I thank you for giving time to do so. I would just like to point out that this was one of my completed rough drafts as it were, and there are still typos present. Since this copy was all that I had from my high school days I had no choice but to choose it. Well that's all I had to say. Thanks again.
Posted by: Gabe Borland | January 31, 2011 12:16 AM
Excellent article. I have passed it on to my nephew in the hopes it will influence his family. This article should be sent to every school in Maine.
Posted by: Darrell Salisbury | November 5, 2010 7:22 AM