Chess Club at the Mix at Arbor

PlaceZander Levit & Pat

Montgomery

The Mix at Arbor Place“The Mix at Arbor Place is a non-denominational faith-based, 501c3 not-for-profit organization located in Southeast Lancaster City. The Mix at Arbor Place is dedicated to meeting the spiritual, social/emotional, academic, and physical needs of Lancaster’s inner-city youth.”

After school programs run Monday through Friday - poetry, chess, sports, tutoring

Ages 7 to 15

4 sessions of summer camps and Vacation Bible School

~10 full time staff members

Rotating Volunteers

Purpose of our Investigation- The purpose of our project is to understand the best method of

teaching chess to the students at the Mix. - Help create more programing at the mix

- Many of the kids at the Mix come from at risk and lower income backgrounds- Chess gives them an activity that can potentially enhance their intellectual

abilities and create cognitive strategies.- More options for students at the Mix

Why Chess?Sharp decline in Math scores statewide

40% math efficiency statewide

47% math efficiency for Lancaster County Schools

0% efficiency for Phoenix Academy

9 out of 10 of the lowest performing schools are in the city

Implications hurt school profiles and teacher ratings

Past Research: Benefits of Chess- Chess has been shown to improve cognitive competences

in adolescents who play regularly (Aciego, García & Betancort, 2012)

- Chess can increase IQ, math scores, enhance spatial memory, and teach both logical thinking and flexibility to children (Dauvergne, 2000; Bart, 2014)

- Longitudinal studies show significant grade increase in special needs students (Barrett & Fish, 2011)

Comparison of two programsLa Academia

● Began September 2015● Voluntary program● Ages 10 to 12● 2 continuous students● Average class of 3● All male

The Mix at Arbor Place

● Began January 2016● Mandatory participation● Ages 13 to 16● No continuous students● Average class size of 5 (3

participants)● Mixed genders

What worked?La Academia

● 4 way chess● Learning through

gameplay● Small prizes

The Mix at Arbor Place

● Incentives - prizes and competition

● Relating gameplay to sports● Conversations regarding

best practices and student interest

Challenges at the Mix

Low participant retentionInability to chose another activity*

Gender**

Race/ethnicity***

*(Fischer, 1979)**(Maass, D’Ettole & Cadinu, 2008; Blanch, Aluja, Cornadó, 2015)***(Fordham, 1985)

Low organization

Inconsistency of instructors

Lack of time

Older students

Why was it hard to replicate the success of La Academia at the Mix at Arbor place?

Recommendations for High School Programs

Give students the power of choice

Provide a clear purpose for the program

Convey the ways that the program positively affects the students

Be approachable and aware of cultural boundaries

Recommendations for the MixStart with younger students

Bi-weekly or longer sessions

Full-time staff member as instructor

Consistent incentive system

Solidify knowledge of the pieces before gameplayDiagrams

Mini games

Thank You!