CSC Teesside Training Day 2016

The 2016 CSC Teesside Training Day took place today at the Middlesbrough City Learning Centre, Acklam Grange School.

My students were a fabulous collection of teachers, TAs, parents and chess players.

Claire Nixon was my assistant for the day and she very skilfully facilitated everything required to ensure the day would run very smoothly and highly efficiently. Claire also took most of the photographs in this report.

We explained the basics of the CSC, demonstrated how we teach children to play chess, made brave volunteers move around the room like chess pieces, played lots of mini-games and discussed the advantages to adding chess to the school curriculum. But most of all, we managed to demystify the game of chess.

Thank you to everyone who came along today. I really enjoyed working with you.

Sweets were on the table even before the chess pieces!
But to whom did they belong?

Ah-ha!

'What is she thinking?'

Claire multitasking (as usual); taking photos, mingling
and explaining things all at the same time.

10 minutes to write down all of the merits of chess.

The buffet, supplied by the centre, was of a very high quality. Thank you!

Nick was the brave volunteer who moved around the room like a Bishop.

A Rook, concentrating hard on straight lines. 

Queen Amanda!

Serious stuff.

'Is this the best move?'

'No!' 

Demonstrating the Knight moves.

Victor - a Knight moving with swagger!

Val (inadvertently) plays the Grand Prix Attack against the Sicilian Defence.

What is unusual here?

Yes, that's right - a jelly baby chess piece!
(Will this madness never end...!?)

Getting rather professional!

Chess is fun!

ALMT: Whale Hill Wonders

As previously mentioned, funds from the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust have enabled CSC Teesside to provide a number of chess items for our chess players in the Gifted and Talented category.

Today I presented medals to six wonderful Y2 chess players at Whale Hill Primary School.

Farrell won the UK Chess Challenge in her class (with 21/21!) and then
played extremely well at the Megafinal, even qualifying for the Gigafinal 

Oliver, Billy and Lawrence were the top UK Chess Challenge
scorers in their Y2 class. They are also champion smilers.

Layla won her class UK Chess Challenge with a maximum score of 21/21.
Lily was Whale Hill's top Y2 player at the Megafinal and qualified for the Gigafinal.

More awards will follow soon...

In Their Own Words (14)

Chess is a really fun game to play and I even play it at home. I beat my Dad.

Lillie (8)

Chess is the best lesson because it teaches me how to play. I have a chess board at home and I play games with my sister. 

Atalyia (8)

When I first learnt chess I was confused and I didn't know what to do. Also I was daydreaming when Mr Marsh was talking. I would like to go to Barclaycard to play different people. 

Now I am not daydreaming I am concentrating and working hard. When I was in Year 3 I was playing people and losing but now I am winning.

Kaci (9)

Did you know you have 16 pieces? Chess is the best game you can play when you are bored.

Ashton (8)

Chess is the best game I have ever played. Chess is fun. I felt really good when I beat one of the best players in my class.

At home I played chess with my Mam and Dad and I beat them. I played my sister. Sadly, she beat me.

Destiny (9)

I have learned more since we have started chess. Chess is the best game ever. I feel good at chess when I beat good people.

I enjoy teaching my family how to play.

Keaton (9)

CSC Teesside Training Day 2016

CSC courses are aimed at teachers, teaching assistants, parents and anyone involved in school chess. Or, indeed, anyone else who would simply like to know more about the CSC and how we teach chess.

No teaching or chess playing experience is required to attend.

The next CSC Teesside Training Day is on 15 June 2016.

This is the last call for enrolments, which must be registered by Monday 13 June 2016.

Simply complete the online form to enrol.

ALMT: Friday's Awards

As previously mentioned, funds from the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust have enabled CSC Teesside to provide a number of chess items for our chess players in the Gifted and Talented category.

Yesterday I presented Fritz 15 software (as used by Grandmasters the world over), a chess puzzle book and several medals to five chess players at Westgarth Primary School.

Caitlin, Leia, Lili, Charlotte and Sam all qualified for the forthcoming Gigafinal. Caitlin and Leia both became Supremas at the Teesside Megafinal.

More awards will follow next week.

Barclaycard Volunteers in Action

It is proving to be a very busy month for our Barclaycard chess volunteers, who continue to help in our schools as part of the Yes2Chess project.

Miss Jefferson worked with two groups of Y3s at Brambles...

 ...and Mr Revell spent two hours at Sacred Heart.

The volunteers helped the children with their workbooks and games.

The children are looking forward to seeing them again.

ALMT: More Awards

Today we presented three more awards from the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust to Gifted and Talented chess players, continuing the very pleasant task we started yesterday.

First stop: Sacred Heart, where we recognised the excellent performances of Carlton and Leelan at the recent Megafinal and for their commitment and hard work over the course of the year.

Next, we were at The Avenue to present Lilia with a book and a medal. Lilia was The Avenue's top scorer at the Teesside Megafinal.

Well done, everyone!

More awards are due to follow over the next couple of weeks...