Teacher: Joy Howard

Tuition: $160.00 per year, payable in monthly installments of $20.00 OR  payable in two semester installments of $75.00. Family discount: semester payment discounted to $140 for 2 students (or classes) or $205 for 3 students.

Supply/Materials Fee (due at registration): $15.00

Deposit (due at registration): $20.00

Grades: 5th-8th

Minimum Class Size: 6

Maximum Class Size: 20

Midterm Enrollment:  Yes

Class Time: 5th hour (1:25-2:20)

Prerequisite: None

Estimated homework hours: 0

Required Materials or Books:

• Supply fee will cover chess curriculum and games.

Class Description:  Playing games CAN make you smarter! (see http://www.championshipchess.net/research.html for proof!) In this class, we will be learning and playing chess and many other brain-developing games.  All games are selected to develop math and logic skills, language arts ability, or factual knowledge.  They are also specially selected to be fun!         
                                                         
A typical class starts off with a few rounds of Bananagrams, followed by a chess lesson and/or a game of chess, and then, free play from a selection of other games.  Free play games are rotated so students can learn a variety of skills. Even chess beginners will be playing chess by the end of the first semester. Last year we focused on learning new “Chess Openings”.  This year we will be focused on “End Games”---learning to checkmate instead of chasing the king around the board only to end in a stalemate.       
                                 
Some favorite games from last year that will definitely be returning are:                       
•    Bananagrams
•    Baffle Gab
•    Apples to Apples Jr.
•    Muggins
•    Mastermind
•    Rush Hour                                   
•    Scrambled States of America 2 Card game
•    Art Memory
•    Authors Card Game
•    Brain Box         
                                             
Mrs. Howard is in the midst of a search for some fantastic new games for this year! Some of the games currently in the running include Quiddler, Spotcha, and three person chess!  (If you’d like to suggest a great game, feel free to e-mail her.)


Teacher Information: Joy Howard first taught as a public school teacher. She is now in her 6th year of homeschooling and 3rd year at the Brazos Valley Co-op.