Checkmate!
Students at Hidden Forest Elementary School are learning strategy and building confidence #theNEISDway through its new Chess Club.
Gifted and Talented (GT) teacher Tiffini Greer sponsors the club. Any student in first through fifth grade is welcome to join. While chess is a great way to embrace strategy, concentration and problem solving, it’s also a fun way to connect with others.
“My favorite parts of Chess Club have been watching students playing with others outside of their normal peer group, building relationships through the game and helping out students that are just learning the game,” said Greer. “Chess has been a way for students to connect socially while filling in some of those developmental gaps.”
Another unexpected perk of the club for Greer has been watching her fifth grade students mentor their younger peers. She says it’s been a joy to watch the older students mentor others while building their own confidence and skills. It’s also just another opportunity to have fun!
“It is always a good day when students are racing through the school doors with smiles on their faces saying, ‘I want to play you today!’”
