Teachers take a break with chess

Several educators admitted to being wary of the programme at first because they didn’t know the game of chess.

October 31, 2015

2 minutes read

Teachers of Paardekraal Primary are winners. Here they are with some Silverstar officials.

More than 200 Tsogo Sun Moves for Life (TSMFL) chess teachers from disadvantaged schools around Gauteng took a well-deserved break from teaching to participate in the 2015 Teacher Tournaments and Award Ceremonies at the group’s three sponsoring casinos – Silverstar, Gold Reef City and Montecasino respectively.

The TSMFL chess programme is reaching more than 10 000 pupils – from Grade R to matric – at 25 schools around Johannesburg of which 10 are from Mogale City, supported by Silverstar.

“We’re delighted at the success of the Tsogo Sun Moves for Life chess programme, which this year saw several of our pupils taking part – and some doing rather well – in the SA Junior Chess Championships in Kimberley. But it’s also used as a tool to equip teachers to master maths concepts, which in turn is helping children to master the basic building blocks of maths in a fun and incidental way,” explained Shanda Paine, Tsogo Sun’s head of CSI.

The teacher tournaments and awards ceremonies were held in recognition of the essential role the TSMFL educators play in ensuring the success of the programme and to honour them for the dedication, passion and hard work they invest in the programme.

Teachers from Mashudu Primary versus Nooitgedacht Primary.

“The tournaments were an opportunity for the teachers to show off their chess knowledge and prowess – all in the name of fun and good sportsmanship!” Included in the fun was a Pawn Soccer Tournament (playing only with the pawns and king) and Knight Tour (where the player capturing with the least moves was declared the winner).

At the awards ceremonies following the tournaments, teachers who have completed all four of their MiniChess Level 1 training sessions successfully were presented with a certificate. In addition, teachers and groups of teachers were awarded for their initiative and creativity in integrating the in-class chess programme with their daily Caps (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) lessons, for their dedication to the programme, and for their commitment to using the programme as an educational tool in class.

Teachers of Paardekraal Primary with Hellen Moropa from Silverstar (second from left).

“The general feedback from educators and pupils on the success of the TSMFL programme was very positive and educators said they have gained more self-confidence in conducting their daily lessons,” said Paine.

Several educators admitted to being wary of the programme at first because they didn’t know the game of chess, but they overcame that as the TSMFL tutors and trainers consistently helped them gain an understanding of the game and confidence in the programme.

Educators stated they can see real benefits in their classrooms, saying pupils love the programme and are enthusiastic and motivated about it. They have noticed that pupils’ attention spans seem to have improved, that social and listening skills have improved, and many teachers have suggested that it becomes part of their curricula as it has a bearing on their other work.

“We certainly could not run a successful chess programme without the wholehearted support from the educators and we’re delighted to be able to spend time with them, having fun with chess and acknowledging their contribution to the programme, and of course to the pupils’ lives,” said Paine.