Building a Strong School Building a Strong School Based Chess ProgramBased Chess Program

Description of the Description of the

T. H. Rogers Model and its T. H. Rogers Model and its Applicability to other SchoolsApplicability to other Schools

T. H. RogersT. H. Rogers

Public Magnet School in Houston, Texas.Public Magnet School in Houston, Texas.

All Special Ed students …. No neighborhood children.All Special Ed students …. No neighborhood children.

3 programs:3 programs:

• K – 8 Gifted and Talented (Vanguard)K – 8 Gifted and Talented (Vanguard) 180 Elementary Students180 Elementary Students 320 Middle School Students320 Middle School Students 500 total Vanguard students500 total Vanguard students

• Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (Pre-K – 8)Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (Pre-K – 8)

• Regional Program for the Multiply Impaired (Age 3 – 23)Regional Program for the Multiply Impaired (Age 3 – 23)

750 Students total on campus, 221 staff750 Students total on campus, 221 staff

High Maintenance ProgramHigh Maintenance Program

The T. H. Rogers Chess Program as currently The T. H. Rogers Chess Program as currently configured is a high maintenance club.configured is a high maintenance club.

You do not have to do all of the things we do to You do not have to do all of the things we do to have a successful program.have a successful program.

We are way out here!

Not a reasonable place for most clubs.

Increasing Level of Effort

IncrementalBenefit

Mission StatementMission Statement

Clearly lay out your goals.Clearly lay out your goals.

Your whole program will / should follow from this Your whole program will / should follow from this statement.statement.

Be sure achieving those goals is under your / the Be sure achieving those goals is under your / the program’s control.program’s control.

Be succinct.Be succinct.

Original Mission Statement Original Mission Statement for T. H. Rogers - 2001for T. H. Rogers - 2001

The goals for the chess club were to:The goals for the chess club were to:

Measurably improve each participant’s skill level,Measurably improve each participant’s skill level,

Provide opportunity and encourage habits useful for Provide opportunity and encourage habits useful for further advancement,further advancement,

Foster good sportsmanship,Foster good sportsmanship,

Have fun.Have fun.

Mission Statement Mission Statement from another schoolfrom another school

To teach and enhance basic chess skills for the To teach and enhance basic chess skills for the beginning player and tactical and strategic skills for the beginning player and tactical and strategic skills for the more experienced player.more experienced player.

To provide information on additional outside resources To provide information on additional outside resources for enhancing skills, e.g. US Chess Federation material, for enhancing skills, e.g. US Chess Federation material, educational books and CDs etc.educational books and CDs etc.

To provide fundamentals for participating in area wide To provide fundamentals for participating in area wide tournaments.tournaments.

To encourage good sportsmanship/team play.To encourage good sportsmanship/team play.

Mission Statement TodayMission Statement Today

Since 2001, I have added the following to our Since 2001, I have added the following to our original mission statement:original mission statement:

Systematically recognize excellence.Systematically recognize excellence.

Provide the structure and support necessary to maintain a Provide the structure and support necessary to maintain a national caliber team.national caliber team.

Ensure that our instructional programs and participation in Ensure that our instructional programs and participation in local chess tournaments are available to all our students local chess tournaments are available to all our students regardless of their families’ ability to pay and problems with regardless of their families’ ability to pay and problems with transportation.transportation.

Ensure good communication.Ensure good communication.

Current ProgramCurrent Program

Small Group InstructionSmall Group Instruction• Offer 6 separate after school classes organized by age and Offer 6 separate after school classes organized by age and

ability. ability. • Classes meet once a week for 1Classes meet once a week for 1½ hours.½ hours.• Taught by master / expert level chess coaches.Taught by master / expert level chess coaches.

Chess ClubChess Club• Tournament Practice Session.Tournament Practice Session.

Run two regular 5 week tournaments and two 1 day bughouse Run two regular 5 week tournaments and two 1 day bughouse tournaments each semester. tournaments each semester.

• Meets once a week for 1Meets once a week for 1½ hours.½ hours.• Learn skills and test for higher rank.Learn skills and test for higher rank.• Chess Tactics for Beginners Chess Tactics for Beginners program available on 24 laptops.program available on 24 laptops.

Current Program - continuedCurrent Program - continued

Kindergarten – 3Kindergarten – 3rdrd Grade receives chess instruction as Grade receives chess instruction as part of the enriched math curriculum.part of the enriched math curriculum.• Once a week, during the school day, for 45 – 60 minutes per Once a week, during the school day, for 45 – 60 minutes per

grade.grade.• 2 teachers so we can split the rooms into beginners and 2 teachers so we can split the rooms into beginners and

everybody else.everybody else.• Chess program pays the professional coach. I volunteer. Chess program pays the professional coach. I volunteer. • Each homeroom receives 3 chess sets for the year so that the Each homeroom receives 3 chess sets for the year so that the

kids are able to play chess during center time and indoor recess.kids are able to play chess during center time and indoor recess.

• Summer ChessSummer Chess• Open to the wider community.Open to the wider community.• Weekly evening lessons and club are available all summer.Weekly evening lessons and club are available all summer.• One week camp.One week camp.

Measurable ImprovementMeasurable Improvement

To accomplish this we will:To accomplish this we will:

Use a sequenced curriculum and have instruction Use a sequenced curriculum and have instruction available on several levels.available on several levels.

Track participation and progressTrack participation and progress• Keep attendance recordsKeep attendance records• Track homework, rating points, and rankTrack homework, rating points, and rank• Track tournament participation and resultsTrack tournament participation and results

USCF ratings - good metric for USCF ratings - good metric for ⅓ of club⅓ of club who who participate.participate.

In-house ranking system for everyone elseIn-house ranking system for everyone else

Tournament FunTournament Fun