At Salinas Elementary we have very high expectations for our students and we believe that every student can perform given the adequate motivation plus effective instrucion. This includes offering our students opportunities to challenge themselves and acquire critical thinking and problem solving skills. For that reason, we offer students an opportunity to learn by challenging their thinking abilities while playing a Chess game, which is challenging and complex , yet fun.
Research has proven that stress in the learning environment may by the single greatest contributor to decreased learning. We want the well-being for our students, yet we want them to perform as well and chess is an excellent alternative to help our students deal with some of the stress associated with academic performance. At the same time, playing a game of chess, offers the right amount of stimulation and challenge that will additionally help students make important brain connections and yet, relax. Playing chess also helps students concentrate and build on strategies that may later transfer to the content areas such as math and reading. It helps students better understand what "playing by the rules" means as well as help students build on focused task endurance. All this mental challenge and training can in turn come about and help our students better understand daily lessons in the classroom plus assist them during test taking.
Chess Tournaments are held weekly by our principal, Silverio Macias, who has proved to be quite an expert at the game. Being the principal the person in charge, offers an additional challenge and benefit to the students who display their pride and joy each time they defeat the master.
Chess Schedule Mondays 3rd grade Tuesdays 4th grade Wednesdays 5th grade Thursdays & Fridays Open to 3rd--5th grade in groups of 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
