League Match 3

We had great participation at the last Southern Arizona Chess Association's (SACA's)  League Match!  Two players represented Harelson in the K-6 section and 11s in the K-3 section.  Three players competed for the first time.  The K-3 team brought home a trophy!  Congratulations to all!

SACA has posted Arizona State Grades Tournament (see website).  This year, the tournament will take place on Jan. 7^th, here in town.  Students compete against other players in the same grade. 

For players who would like additional tournament experience, on December 17^th, Arizona Chess for Schools will host a tournament at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center (TCCC) . 

League Match 2

League Match 2 was a huge success! Thank you parents!  Thank you staff!  Thank you students!

The Harelson Chess Team was determined to win on home turf and players delivered! They placed 1st in the K-3 section; for many, this tournament has only been their second or third!  Congratulations to our first-time players, Thomas (K-6) and Lucas (K-3)!  WOW!

To check your child's rating at this tournament, click USCF Rating

League Match 3 will take place on Dec. 3 at BASIS Oro Valley School.  Mark your calendars!

League Match 1

League Match 1 is in the books! It took place at St. Cyril on Oct. 15th. The Harelson chess team did extremely well, placing in 5th in the K-3 section in what is only the first or second tournament for many kids. Great job!

This was also a rated tournament. To check your child's rating, click on USCF's Member Search List

League Match 2 will take place on Nov. 5 at our school!  Stay tuned for information on how YOU can help make this tournament a success!

Helpful Chess Links and Holiday Gifts

For our K-6 student-players, I highly recommend chesskid.com!  Basic membership will give players opportunities to play both slow and fast chess with others online.  This site also provides FUN and HIGHLY INSTRUCTIVE puzzles, tactics, and articles and videos, which I often use to teach!  I also recommend chesstempo.com — a dedicated site for free tactics!  Problem-solve with puzzles!  Sign up is a breeze!

Players may begin on the basic (free) account then upgrade.  Interested?  E-mail me at amateer@email.arizona.edu.  

Looking for gifts? Click below and more!

• The U.S. Chess Federation's Chess Shop
• Books and DVDs
• Books and Puzzles

Enjoy!

National Chess Day!

Celebrate National Chess Day on Saturday, October 8th! Bookmans on Speedway and Wilmot is hosting a free chess event from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M.! Open to all!

9 Queens: Empowerment Through Chess

Amanda

Why Notate?

Huge benefits for young minds:

• Increased understanding of the chessboard layout
• Opportunity to learn from mistakes after each chess round
• When a conflict arise, tournament directors use notation to retrace chess moves to help clarify confusions and discrepancies.
• Notations slows kids down so they think before they move!

Learn more.  Notating is fun!

Amanda

First Day!

Today, we practiced classroom procedures and reviewed expectations i.e., chess lessons, challenges, and good behavior reward-system (chess bucks). Students also learned about check and a checkmate. Please reinforce your child's learning with the worksheets provided.  I   highly encourage reviewing the King and Checkmate worksheet with your children!

Amanda

League Warm Up Tournament

St. Joseph's League Warm Up Tournament results are:

• Quinn (Section B) – 2/4, tied for 5^th place
• Ethan (Section C) – ¾, 4^th place
• Drew (Section D) 2/4, tied for 6^th place
• Xander (Section E) – 2.5/4, 5^th place
• Ian (Section F) – 2.5/4, 5^th place
• Sofia (Section I) – 2/4, tied for 5^th place
• Skyler (Section I) – 1.5/4, tied for 10^th place
• Tyler (Section I) – 1.5/4, tied for 10^th place
• Conor (Section I) – 1.5/4, tied for 10^th place

CONGRATULATIONS to your perseverance and chessmanship! 

Another fun day!

Go Team!

Nine Harelson students are participating in tomorrow's Tucson Scholastic Warm-Up!  Kids, have fun, meet new friends, and learn lots!  GO BOBCATS!

Welcome to Harelson's Chess Team!

On this blog, you will find information on Harelson's Chess Team (Tucson, AZ).  We will post details on upcoming tournaments, provide tips from coaches,  share information, and post questions and comments. We are excited for the upcoming year and look forward to meeting new team members!