Granite Gambit
Connecting Chess to the NH Classroom
Where are you in your Granite Gambit journey?
Get Ready!
I have questions. I want to find out more about Granite Gambit and why learning chess is one of the best things a child can do to increase his or her ability to think!
See the following:
- Original NH DOE Press Release – August 5, 2021
- Frequently Asked Questions (below)
- Classes (below)
- Instructor and Quotes from Past Participants
Get Set!
I’m ready to register my school and plan its Granite Gambit program!
Then
We meet with key participants to plan your customized Granite Gambit program. Topics: professional development registration, participants, chess training licenses, ….
Invisible
Prerequisites for Schools
- Identify the decision-maker for signing up your school and teachers.
- Determine the number of teachers from your school to receive training.
- Determine which administrators should attend the three-hour overview.
- Determine the kind of program you want (# of students involved).
- Register your school at the link above.
- When contacted, schedule a Zoom call with Jerry Nash to discuss details.
- Register for training.
Prerequisites for Teachers Attending CIE Training - Level 1 Certification
- 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.
Eligibility for Free Professional Development and Stipends
Free professional development is offered to the teaching staff of New Hampshire schools recognized by the New Hampshire Department of Education or by designated volunteer staff of those schools who plan to participate in scholastic chess training.
To qualify for stipend payments, the participants must meet the stipend eligibility requirements of their sponsoring school or Local Educational Agency.
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.
Classes
Granite Gambit courses are now being held at Manchester Community College, 1066 Front Street, Manchester, NH 03102.
1) CIE Instructor Training – Level 1 Certification – This is a 4-day course. Classes run from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Session 1
- Day 1-2: September 30 – October 1
- Day 3-4: October 14 – 15
- Session 2
- Day 1-2: October 21 – 22
- Day 3-4: November 4 – 5
2) Introduction to Granite Gambit (1/2 day class for administrators): Wednesday, October 20. Time: 9:00 a.m. – Noon
Manchester Community College COVID-19 protocol requires that masks be worn.
Click on the tabs below for course descriptions.
- Introduction to Granite Gambit
- CIE Instructor Training - Level 1 Certification
- CIE Instructor Training - Level 2 Certification
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.
Duration: Four Days (not necessarily consecutive 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 Schools / European Chess Union 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 the SMART Teaching Methodology.
- 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.
Duration: Two Days (12-14 hours)
Prerequisites: Level One Certified Instructor Training
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 Schools as a Level Two CIE Instructor.
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.
- Learn additional activities for after-school chess club programming.
- Learn additional strategies for program culminating activities.
- Discover ways to improve communication with stakeholders.
- Learn the risks to success that school chess programs face and how to mitigate them.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Jerry Nash
jerry@chessinschools.us
1-888-400-7182 ext 3
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