From: hwr@intercal.com (Hanon W. Russell)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Review: Chess in the Classroom
Date: 7 Sep 92 03:56:05 GMT
Organization: Chessnews list (chessnews-request@tssi.com)


CHESS IN THE CLASSROOM, by Rosalyn B. Katz, 1992 Executive 
Training Concepts, 217 pp., $24.95

While there are many books available for the student to try to 
learn the basics of chess, there are very few which are of any 
great help in directing and guiding the chess instructor. This 
book is an attempt to fill that void.

We are not given much help about the qualifications of the 
author, either from a chess or an instructional point of view. 
We have to deduce from the brief introduction by America's 
pre-eminent chess teacher John Collins that she has considerable 
teaching experience ("She combines a professional lifetime 
devoted to education...). There is also no mention of this 
instructional method being tested or used in the field and, 
although there is a reference to a chess program in New York 
City, it is not certain if this is the same one espoused in the 
book.

Be that as it may, the clear strength of this book is the 
tremendous guidance it gives to the aspiring (or experienced) 
chess instructor in the organizing of chess classes. Things such 
as the location, timing, preparation and enrollment of the 
classes are covered in great detail, with valuable suggestions 
each step of the way.

The book is designed to be used with the apparent premise that 
the students already have a working knowledge of the rules of 
play. It contains blank forms which should prove very useful. 
The forms include, among others, the following - (1) Personal 
Instructor Assessment; (2) Facilities Check List; (3) Program 
Description; (4) Student Registration Form; (5) Material Check 
List; (6) Scoresheet; (7) Chess Quest [information about the 
student's motivation]; (8) Mid-point Check; (9) Player 
Assessment; and (10) Final Evaluation form.

No doubt the each instructor will want to tailor the course for 
their own personal goals. The ten lessons, broken down nicely as 
to description, objectives, teaching strategy, required 
materials and an opening to be discussed, may not be to everyone 
instructor's liking. The suggested reading list, while 
objectively good, fails to a certain extent to accomplish its 
goal, since it provides no guidance to the instructor about 
either the content or value of the books in question. It is 
obviously intended to direct an already knowledgable instructor. 
There is even a "calendar" intended to "break the ice at [the] 
early meetings [and] provide interesting information." It is a 
direct lift of copyrighted material from the "International 
Chess Calendar" without proper credit or acknowledgment. This 
last point is inexcusable.

Nevertheless, on balance, this book should be of great help to 
chess instructors. It will help them organize, plan classes and 
give them necessary direction in an otherwise little-charted 
area.

The books which are reviewed by Mr. Russell are furnished 
courtesy of the United States Chess Federation. The views 
expressed are those of Mr. Russell and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of the United States Chess Federation. You may 
order this book and/or obtain the latest catalog of chess books 
and equipment from the U.S.C.F., 186 Rt. 9W, New Windsor, NY 
12553 or call toll-free 1-800-388-5464.

Copyright 1992 Hano W. Russell
All Rights Reserved