Why Chess?

Chess is thinking.  And chess is fun.  Therefore, not surprisingly, chess is rocket fuel for developing human brains.  Benefits of high quality chess instruction include improved verbal, spatial, and mathematical reasoning, as well as better impulse control, decision making, and higher self-esteem, to name just a few key research findings.  Moreover, these benefits hold across socioeconomic groups, including English language learners (Ferguson, 2000).  This is not all that surprising when we stop to consider some of the core "competencies" that chess nurtures: sustained attention, visualization, pattern recognition, evaluation and decision making, memory, and self-efficacy.

Why Start Right Chess?

Our credo—“Reach each child, each time!”—is our organizing principle.  In practice, it means that every child is positively acknowledged, every class, and individual participation and learning goals are also in place for every child, every class.  Equally important, Start Right uses fun, innovative approaches to chess - e.g., our chess coloring book - that keep it engaging.

Teaching children is a rare opportunity to positively influence whole lifetimes.  Nobody should be in a classroom who doesn’t get this. We get it, and we don’t bring anyone on board who doesn’t get it also. 

Finally, our program has been developed on the ground with kids we serve, including some with diagnosed special needs.  We use multiple modalities to reach each child and to keep it fun! Thus, in addition to traditional methods, our programs may include chess video games, singing, coloring book exercises, and working things out on a giant chess rug for kinesthetic learners.  We’ve even developed a copyrighted “chess rap” to teach kids—and adults—how chess pieces move!

Our Coaches