Making chess part of the US school curriculum

Why Chess in the Classroom?

Research from around the world reveals that chess is improving children's critical thinking and problem solving skills. How can we be sure? Higher math and reading test scores among chess players is one indicator. Intellectual, social and emotional maturity is another. Studies have shown that chess improves a child's:

• visual memory
• attention span
• spatial reasoning skills
• capacity to predict and anticipate consequences
• ability to use criteria to drive decision making and evaluate alternatives

As a result, America's Foundation for Chess is leading the charge to take chess to those who've never even considered learning the game by making chess a regular part of school curriculum. How? By bringing chess to elementary and middle school classrooms around the country and by providing teachers, who have little or no chess background, with chess instruction materials, training, support, and technology, AF4C will make chess more accessible to children, while empowering teachers to use chess as a learning tool.

• Click here to watch the video clip