Improving math skills with chess

Studies show that people who play chess greatly improve their math skills, said Richard Hunt, owner of the Mathnasium in Bowling Green and Louisville.

“Chess and math are related strongly,” Hunt said. “It’s just a natural fit.”

Playing chess requires planning several steps ahead and having a vision, he said.

“Chess is a nice vehicle to help with our students’ confidence,” Hunt said.

Gaining confidence in their math skills is Mathnasium’s goal for its members, said Craig Dickson, director of the Bowling Green center.

A member of WKU’s chess club is always on hand to teach strategy, Dickson said.

“A lot of our students come in, and they don’t know how to play chess,” he said.

Students have the opportunity to work with a chess instructor and play a game at the end of their session, Hunt said. Mathnasium has also hosted several chess tournaments this summer.

A number of students became members of Mathnasium this summer especially for the chess experience, Dickson said.

“Chess is a big draw for us,” he said.

Zach Dilliha, 12, of Bowling Green, started coming to Mathnasium specifically for the chess lessons and tournaments.

“It’s really fun. You get to meet new people,” Zach said.

He was in a chess club when he was in elementary school and was excited when he found out that Mathnasium offered opportunities for chess, he said.

“I like the strategy and amount of thinking you have to do (in chess),” Zach said.

The chess lessons and tournaments at Mathnasium have helped him improve at the game as well as math, said Zach, who will be in eighth grade at Drakes Creek Middle School this fall.

Hunt said he will continue to offer chess throughout the school year, at least on Saturdays, and at other times if there’s a demand.

To take advantage of the chess opportunities, students must be members of Mathnasium, Hunt said.

Pricing for the summer is based on a one- or two-month option, he said. During the school year, students pay for a three-, six- or nine-month option.

“The cost depends on their grade level and how long they want to commit,” Hunt said.

The center has a sponsorship program to help students who may not be able to afford to come otherwise, he said.

“Children who don’t get that help in math, they continue to slide back,” Hunt said.

Every member has a learning plan and receives one-on-one guidance, he said. Each session is an hour and a half and students can come in as many times during the week as they want.

The Mathnasium curriculum is developed in the franchise’s headquarters in Los Angeles and focuses on the common core standards, Hunt said.

An average learning plan takes about three months to complete, but many students stay beyond that, he said.

“About 20 percent of our students are working ahead,” Hunt said.

Hannah Scott, 16, of Bowling Green, came to Mathnasium about a month and a half ago to prepare for the ACT, which she will take this fall during her junior year at South Warren High School.

Math was her lowest score on ACT practice tests and she wanted to improve over the summer, Scott said. Mathnasium has really helped with her math and test-taking skills, she said.

“I was freaking out before and now I feel a lot better,” Scott said.

Math used to be her least favorite subject, but now that she knows what she’s doing, she finds it more enjoyable, she said.

Mathnasium has been a great tool and Scott said she would definitely recommend it to others.

“You’d expect it to be a chore, but it’s really not,” she said.

Source: http://www.bgdailynews.com