Chess Club Teacher Mr. Dustin gave a demonstration last week (with the help of some Larry Evans Chess Club alumni) and OTA students were captivated. 78 Students signed the Chess Club interest list!

Why Study Chess? Patience, Planning, Problem-Solving, Puzzling, Perseverance… Chess teaches self-control & humility, grace under pressure, & it makes children smarter.*
Larry Evans Chess Camp is taught by master instructors, using very effective tools and motivation techniques. OTA students loved it during our first year but schedule changes brought it down to once a week last year. Once a week isn’t enough to learn anything! So, we’re bringing it back to two days a week.
- Students may sign up throughout the quarter–contact the Chess Camp for pro-rated discount. Sign-up Online Now! (Choose Old Town from the dropdown menu: Chess Club will be offered Wednesday and Friday after school.)
- Get Inspired, watch the film Brooklyn Castle about America’s best chess team!
*
STUDIES (see more studies at Quad City Chess Club)
- In a 1973-74 Zaire study conducted by Dr. Albert Frank, employing 92 students, age 16-18, the chess-playing experimental group showed a significant advancement in spatial, numerical and administrative-directional abilities, along with verbal aptitudes, compared to the control group. The improvements held true regardless of the final chess skill level attained. [1], [2], [7]
- In a 1974-1976 Belgium study, a chess-playing experimental group of fifth graders experienced a statistically significant gain in cognitive development over a control group, using Piaget’s tests for cognitive development. Perhaps more noteworthy, they also did significantly better in their regular school testing, Continue reading →