Vernon School

The Vernon Knight Owls are a Chess for Success team for Portland Public Schools. More than 60 students participate in practices twice a week, coached by Mr. Malone. Teachers find that chess team members show abilities in problem solving, thinking systematically, and encourging classmates to succeed. The Vernon Knight Owls are the 2009 Elementary and Middle School Chess for Success Regional Champions. The team continues to be competitive with students competiting at the state level each year.

Following is a history of the program and the benefits of paricipating, as summarized from the oragnization's website:

Founded in 1994, Chess for Success is an extracurricular, educational program that uses chess to teach children important skills necessary for success in school and life. More than 52 schools host Chess for Success programs, with more than 2,500 children participating. This appealing after-school activity promotes their healthy development, enriches their lives, and entices them to attend school so they can participate in chess club. Children have to make decisions slowly and patiently about choosing good moves and then re-evaluate their decisions. Without realizing it, they are developing the same skills children need to read a book with comprehension, solve a math problem and take exams.

Chess instills in children a sense of self-confidence, patience, self-control and responsibility. The challenge of the game stimulates critical thinking. Children learn social skills, sportsmanship, how to solve problems, control anger and learn from mistakes. They also learn the important connection between actions and consequences and the benefits of thinking before acting.

Chess has a positive effect on the self-image of students, particularly those students who have not enjoyed academic success and may not be perceived as “smart” by their peers and adults. Chess possesses a unique capacity for focusing the attention of young children and providing challenging experiences that stimulate the development of critical thinking, even among children who are usually restless and unable to concentrate on schoolwork.

For more information, please go to the Chess for Success website.