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The Title I Chess2Think Initiative has thousands of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) students eagerly embracing chess, the ancient game of strategy. Students practice for hours every week, compete in championships, and even battle each other online to perfect their skills.
“I enjoy chess because it’s a thinking game where you can play and have fun. Ever since I’ve started playing chess, I’ve gotten smarter,” said Sophia Ramos, a fourth grader at Oak Grove Elementary School, who has been playing since she was in kindergarten.
The Chess2Think Initiative not only assists students in honing their concentration skills but also fosters intellectual maturity. Additionally, it facilitates the acquisition of essential skills, better equipping students for success in post-secondary education and career development.
“Chess forces students to think strategically, processing the moves, and engaging them in higher order thinking.” said Eliazbeth Tejada, Supervisor I, Student Advocacy from the Department of Title I Administration. “The game of chess creates a competitive environment where children are focused on measuring their skills against other opponents, while also learning valuable skills that they will apply to their everyday lives.”
The Chess2Think Initiative was started 20 years ago. It evolved into a Title I program a few years after Tejada began a chess club at her son’s elementary school. This year, there are over 4,600 students enrolled in the program representing 146 Title I schools. The program hosts in-person regional tournaments, online Grand Prix competitions, and a District K-12 Championship to recognize the efforts and achievements of the students throughout the school year.
The school’s chess club, led by a dedicated chess coach, typically enrolls 20 to 25 students.
These students meet throughout the week to delve into the intricacies of the game, honing their skills and refining their strategic moves. Students engage in online practice sessions, solving puzzles, and engaging in friendly battles to enhance their mastery of chess.
“People say it’s only chess, but chess empowers all children. On the board, you have control, you get to make all the decisions, coaches or parents don’t tell you what to do,” Tejada said. “You practice, you analyze, you concentrate, and learn from your mistakes.”
Besides the weekly chess club meetings, students as young as kindergarten and first grade attend local championships to prepare them to compete. They love the thrill of these contests, and the weekend field trips, explained Elizabeth Flocker Aming, a teacher at Oak Grove Elementary and the school’s chess coach for the last five years. She also coaches the John F. Kennedy Middle School team.
Once a year, each region holds a tournament and the top 15 teams from those contests go to the district championship and, if the teams succeed, move on to nationals. M-DCPS Chess2Think teams and students have reached nationals several times.
“It really motivates them. Most of these kids are from modest backgrounds so when they get a medal or a team trophy they cry because they have never been recognized like this,” Flocker Aming said.
Many parents also have a firm belief that succeeding in chess can lead to academic gains and maturity in how students tackle problems.
“It’s a game where you have to plan your moves ahead of time; you don’t do it on the fly and it’s the same way with grades,” said Sophia’s father, Keven Ramos, “She is more conscious of her grades and that comes from playing chess.”
Providing students with the chance to learn chess, offering them a skilled mentor at the school level, and providing resources for local and national competitions are additional compelling reasons why M-DCPS is you best choice.
For more information about the 2023-24 Chess2Think Initiative in Title I Schools, please visit the Initiative’s website at https://chess2think.dadeschools.net or call 305-273-2830.
Dr. Jacqua Little is Executive Director, Department of Title I Administration, Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
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