SUM25-10 “Chess for Social & Cognitive Skills – Ficheall Network”

Dates: Monday 18^th – Friday 22^nd August

Time: 9.30 a.m. – 2.00 p.m.

Cost: €50.00

Venue:

Facilitator: Shane Finnegan

Participants will need a laptop or tablet from Day 3 onwards to engage with the online elements of the course including online chess. Smart phones are not sufficient for this purpose.

Chess for Social & Cognitive 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 1 in every 6 primary schools now joined the Ficheall network. It is an excellent extension to teaching the SPHE curriculum from 1^st-6^th class as well as being a fun hobby for students (and teachers) for rainy days. It promotes a variety of social and cognitive skills such as respect, forward planning, problem solving, decision making, accepting defeat, understanding resilience and developing a productive disposition to problem solving; all of which are addressed in the free beginner lessons available to participants.

Teachers will have the opportunity to learn how to play chess by playing chess mini-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 game 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 to address the SPHE curriculum
• how to organise a school chess club, school chess team and in-school chess competitions

Summer Course Booking Policy

Our summer courses are booked on the condition that the course fee is only refundable if cancelled 2 full weeks prior to course starting date.
Unfortunately, if you wish to cancel your place on one of our courses or are unable to attend the course after the 2 week deadline, we are not in a position to refund fees.

Navan Education Support Centre reserves the right to cancel a Summer Course where there are not sufficient numbers to run the course.
In the event of the Centre having to cancel a course, you will be offered an alternative course or offered a full refund.

In line with DES Circular 0037/1997, participants attending Summer Courses accrue entitlements as follows:

• Full Attendance (20 Hours): 3 EPV Days
• 4 Days Attendance (16 Hours): 2 EPV Days
• No EPV days will be awarded for less than 4 days attendance