This article is exclusively for the parents of International Charter School that have, thought about or are enrolled in our chess program. This article is being sent to those parents to inform them about the goals, progress, visions that Chess for Children has for I.C.S.’s chess program. This article will also inform you about our instructors and philosophy and products. This article will also touch on a few questions which have been raised by our parents.
About Us
Hello my name is Steve Colding and I have achieved the title of Life Master by the United States Chess Federation (U.S.C.F.) and the title of National Master by The International Chess Federation (F.I.D.E.) and am the author of three chess books currently on the market. I teach regularly in schools, chess clubs and other venues and have organized chess events and tournaments for many organizations, including UNICEF, NY Public Library, Children of Chernobyl Fund, etc. for the past 40 years. In addition, I have worked with or have relationships with all of the major chess organizations in the Tri-State area. My children have won many city, state and National Championships both individually and as teams.
My organization is Chess for Children. Chess for Children has but one mission and that mission is to be helpful to children by freeing their minds through the game of chess. We believe that children can be their best selves if their thinking is deep, expansive and free. Chess gives children many tools which are vital for their their success. Foresight, planning, problem solving, sportsmanship are just a few skills that children strengthen by playing the royal game.
My right hand and winner of many teaching awards is my fellow teacher Debra Davis. Debbie has been working with me even before my Chess for Children years. She has developed many innovative and valuable techniques for teaching the young. She does this even though she has a hearing problem. Sometimes, it may seem she is a little loud but that is because her hearing aid might need an adjustment. Students love MS Davis because she cares about each and every one of her charges and shows this through her loving commitment to their improvement.
Our Mission
Our mission is to make a difference. That is why we only take on programs that we can make a difference. We want the children to be truly who they want to be. This is done by removing the fallacies of thought that they may have and replace it with objective truth.
“Lies and hypocrisy cannot survive long on the chess-board” – Emmanuel Lasker
Our Goals for I.C.S.
Our goals for I.C.S. are as follows:
- Establish the best after-school chess program in the U.S.A.
- Establish one of the best chess teams in the U.S.A.
- Establish a viable chess culture at I.C.S.
- Build children’s resumes so that more opportunities will be open to them
How’s it Going?
Very well, thanks for asking!
The classes have now established the vast majority of children now play chess easily and with gusto. While there a still a few children who are tentative in their approach to the game, the vast majority play in an aggressive and confident manner. Now we enter the second phase of the chess program in which we introduce the culture of tournament chess. Here we show children and their parents how and when to play in chess tournaments. We also begin to organize for the chess team and we set up a network of info for the parents and students of the team. if you would like to be part of the team(there are a lot of jobs to go around) please contact me Steve (631) 278-1677 or email me cldng1@yahoo.com.
Our Pricing and Schedules
We have gotten some feedback on our pricing and we now realize that some parents would prefer a semester pricing. We will offer that to any parent, the cost for Monday Classes for both remaining semesters $135 and for all the rest $20/class. If you have any questions call me Steve (631) 278-1677 or email me cldng1@yahoo.com.
We wish to thank all the parents and administration at I.C.S for allowing us to be a part of their family
