Mon 4th July – Friday 8th July 2022 from 9.30am-2pm (Face-to-Face)

Chess for Social Skills is like no other summer course as it is extremely hands-on and teacher centred. Chess is a growing pastime in Irish primary schools with over 200 schools now joined the Ficheall.ie network of teachers promoting chess in primary schools. It is an excellent hobby for students (and teachers) for rainy days and promotes a variety of social and cognitive skills such as respect, forward planning, problem solving, decision making, accepting defeat, understanding resilience and developing a growth mind-set when exploring a new skill; all of which are explicitly addressed in the free beginner lessons available to participants. 

Teachers will have the opportunity to learn how to play chess by playing mini chess games against other novice teachers. The course will teach all participants:

• how to play chess (from zero prior knowledge) and the best methods of teaching primary school children as young as first class the rules using a fun, games-based approach
• how to utilise chess as an additional resource in teaching social skills in the mainstream and special education classroom
• how to organise a school chess club, school chess team and in-school chess competitions
• a variety of digital teaching resources will be made available to all participants

This summer course has been hosted through eight education centres around Ireland since 2016 and always receives the highest standard of feedback. It attracts principals and experienced teachers looking for something new and easy to implement in their schools. Newly qualified teachers also find the course an excellent addition to their CV.

Feel free to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to ask any questions of the course.