1. Classroom Management Skills
Running a Class
Running a Club

2. Running a Class Establish Roles Tutor’s Role Teacher’s Role Chess !
Keeping the children enthused
Keeping the teacher on side
Teacher’s Role
Discipline
Joining in !
Helping with difficult children

3. Running a Class 2. Learn Names Teacher ! Teaching Assistants
Head Teacher / Receptionist / others
Children
disruptive children
uncooperative children
shy children
keen children

4. Running a Class 3. Plan each lesson Decide on your structure Talk
Keep children and pieces apart !
Exercise
Paper based / books / with pieces
Play

5. Running a Class 4. Attracting the Children’s Attention
Clapping / Hand in the air
What you expect when you have their attention
Stop talking
Stop touching the pieces
Look at the chess coach
Giving them a time limit by counting

6. Running a Class Dividing the Class into different groups
To start – strong player with weaker players
Change to – strong players together and weaker players together
Chess Groups

7. Running a Class Vary your teaching materials and methods
CSC Exercise Sheets
Photocopies
Individual wipe boards
CSC Exercise Books
Individual Exercises / Group Activities
Writing moves down

8. Running a Class
Explain how each lesson fits into the greater scheme of things
Introduction at the beginning of each lesson
Sum up at the end

9. Running a Club Establish Rules No eating at the board
Shaking hands at the beginning and end of each game
Setting up the pieces before leaving the board
Leaving the room
Method of attracting attention and what you expect when you have their attention

10. Running a Club
2. Learn Names
Register
Swiss Pairing Cards
Labels

11. Running a Club
3. Divide into groups
Ideally each group has a tutor

12. Running a Club 4. Run Competitions All Play All Swiss
Use 0 – 10 scoring system - rewards
Good behaviour
Good opening
Trying hard
Writing moves down
Swiss
Use 0 – 3
Use 0 – 5

13. Running a Club Watch out for intimidating behaviour
Quiet shy players can be bamboozled by more vocal seemingly confident players.
If there is a dispute insist you are called
Never allow the word “Cheat” to be used. Explain that everyone is learning and we all made mistakes
Agree protocols eg touch piece move piece
Never allow fist pumping / gloating etc
Congratulate the winner but try to find some aspect about the loser’s game that you can praise, and some aspect that they could improve on so that they move from being a loser to a learner

14. Running a Club Stay positive
Children have chosen to attend the club in their own time and you want them to return
Children teach each other so relax !

15. Running a Club Feedback
Tell children and parents where and when they can play more chess
Local chess club
External competitions
Online