Granite Gambit
Connecting Chess to the NH Classroom
Granite Gambit Chess Festival
May 4, 2024 – Manchester, NH
Early Registration Deadline: April 23rd
The Granite Gambit Chess Festival is sponsored by Chess in Education-US in partnership with the NH Chess Association and the NH Department of Education. The festival takes place on May 4, 2024 at Memorial High School in Manchester, NH. Activities are scheduled 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for grades K-12 and for all levels of chess knowledge. Facilities open at 8:30 a.m. Onsite registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 9:00 a.m. Onsite registrants should plan to arrive early.
Pre-register students online by April 23 to qualify for the early-bird registration fee of $5 and avoid onsite registration lines. The fee for online registration after April 23 and onsite registration is $7.00.
Email paulroberts@chessineducation.us for cancellations or registrations for large groups.
Where are you in your Granite Gambit journey?
Get Ready!
I have questions. I want to find out more about Granite Gambit.
How can I prepare a Fall 2024 CIE program for my school?
See the following:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Courses (see below)
- Instructor and Quotes from Past Participants
Get Set!
Based on the course descriptions below and feedback from other NH teachers about this course, I’m ready to become a certified Chess in Education – Level 1 Instructor.
Support Granite Gambit
Classes are planned for July 2024, but for Granite Gambit to continue. We are seeking grants to offer Granite Gambit classes in multiple locations, at convenient times, and at affordable costs, but we need your help to win these grants.
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Invisible
Prerequisites for CIE Instructor Level 1 Training
- Classroom teaching experience.
- Basic knowledge of chess rules including piece movement. Teachers with no chess knowledge may register but will be asked to complete assigned internet-based chess lessons prior to attending class. Free ChessKid.com licenses will be provided to all participants in advance of training.
Prerequisites for CIE Instructor Level 2 Training
- CIE Instructor Level 1 certification
- Experience teaching chess
Go!
I’ve attended PD; I’m ready to use Granite Gambit’s Resources and Support!
ChessKid gold memberships are an important part of the Granite Gambit package. This typically requires schools to whitelist chesskid.com in order to use their product. LEAs requiring a NH Student Data Privacy Agreement signed by ChessKid can find one on our support page.
Courses
Click on the tabs below for course descriptions.
- CIE Instructor Training - Level 1 Certification
- CIE Instructor Training - Level 2 Certification
- Granite Gambit for School Adminstration
Duration: Four Days
Prerequisites: Classroom teaching experience. Basic knowledge of chess rules including piece movement. Teachers with no chess knowledge may register but will be asked to complete assigned internet-based chess lessons prior to attending class. Free ChessKid.com licenses will be provided to all participants in advance of training.
Course Description
See how chess connects to any area of the curriculum allowing teachers to engage student interest, differentiate for complexity, and encourage critical thinking in and beyond the classroom. Participate in a hands-on experience designed to introduce the game of chess and demonstrate deliberate classroom connections. Learn how to incorporate chess in the classroom as well as plan an after-school chess program. Learn teaching methods that develop chess skills as well as academic and 21st century skills. Discover activities to differentiate for differing skill levels, keep students motivated, and build student participation. Learn how to integrate critical thinking, literacy, and math into chess-related activities. Learn how to communicate with stakeholders about the benefits students are gaining from chess. Successful completion of the course along with a passing grade on the final online test grants the participant certification from Chess in Education – US as a Level One CIE Instructor.
Learning Outcomes
Through interactive lecture, group discussion, and hands-on activities, participants will:
- Learn/Review basic chess knowledge with a view to instructional methodology.
- Connect chess to teaching academic and 21st century skills.
- Discover ways to differentiate for varying skill levels.
- Learn chess notation and how to use it as a literacy skill.
- Learn strategies for classroom management along with using mini-game and social chess activities that help to differentiate for varying chess skill levels and keep students motivated.
- Develop initial plans for a school chess program.
- Create and share lesson or program plans that integrate course knowledge.
- Complete an online assessment based on course content.
Chess Equipment
Granite Gambit registrants (i.e., NH Educators) will receive classroom chess training material and equipment and for their school including:
- 12 chess sets
- 1 demo board
- ChessKid Gold memberships (or possibly an alternative currently under consideration for middle and high school grades)
- Training material
- Motivational chess-related items
Duration: Two Days (12-14 hours)
Prerequisites: Level One Certified Instructor Training and experience teaching children in either a classroom or club setting.
Course Description
Participate in hands-on experiences designed to improve chess skills. Gain additional experience in designing chess-related lessons and after-school chess programming. Learn about activities which will increase student participation and maintain student interest. Learn what is required to sustain a classroom chess program over time within a school or school system. Successful completion of the course along with a passing grade on the final online test grants the participant certification from Chess in Education – US as a Chess in Education Instructor – Level 2.
Recommended for educators who want to…
- Improve their chess skills to teach students with greater confidence.
- Learn from other teachers the successes and challenges of using chess as an educational tool.
- Assist other educators in building a CIE program.
Learning Outcomes
Through interactive lecture, group discussion, and hands-on activities, participants will:
- Build on basic chess knowledge.
- Create chess-related activities for differentiated skill levels.
- Learn and create examples of additional connections between chess and curriculum standards for lesson planning; including use of AI tools.
- Learn additional program activities and strategies.
- Discover ways to improve communication with stakeholders.
- Learn the risks to success that school chess programs face and how to mitigate them.
Duration: Half Day (3 hours)
Target Audience: School and District Administrators and Educators
- considering chess in the classroom programs, or
- looking for ways to increase the educational benefits of current programs
Prerequisites: None. No chess experience needed.
Course Description
Discover what the Granite Gambit program offers to students and teachers. Hear what educators in other states are saying about chess as an educational tool. Participate in a hands-on experience designed to introduce the game of chess and demonstrate how chess engages student interest, offers differentiation, and encourage critical thinking in and beyond the classroom. Learn about the variety of Chess in Education approaches being practiced nationally and internationally and their strengths and weaknesses. Understand the steps needed to create a sustainable chess program.
Learning Outcomes
Through interactive lecture, group discussion, and hands-on activities, participants will:
- Receive an overview of the Granite Gambit program.
- Learn introductory chess skills.
- Learn how chess builds critical thinking and life skills.
- Understand the varieties of Chess in Education programs.
- Determine next steps for a chess program in their school or district.
No classes scheduled at this time.
Testimonials from NH Teachers
As a special education teacher, I deal with many students that have difficulty with impulse control. I found it difficult to teach them how to analyze a situation and choose the right response using traditional SEL materials, particularly when dealing with older students. This course taught me how to teach those through chess, so that I can then transfer them to use real-world situations.
The best four days of PD I’ve ever participated in. Step by step learning from how to play chess, how to teach in class, and how to implement chess across the curriculum with a lens of 21st Century skills and higher order thinking skills. Engaging and fun. Can’t wait for the Level 2 class. I wish every school in the state could attend at least one Chess in Schools workshop.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Paul Roberts
paulroberts@chessineducation.us
Administrative & Technical Support: support@chessineducation.us
