A Look Inside Chess at WMS

The Washington Market School’s blended Montessori and Reggio Emilia curriculum is unique in that it enables us to meet children where they are developmentally. Each classroom offers materials and an open-ended curriculum based on the interests of the children in that classroom. In conjunction with the WMS classrooms, our Studio program shares an equally unique blend of the two philosophies. Our Chess program provides a playful approach that weaves storytelling into the lessons and allows for the children’s imaginations to play a role in the stories.  

Since 2011, Chess at Three has made it possible for young learners to master tricky subjects like chess through the power of storytelling. Founded and headquartered In New York City, Chess at Three's 400+ tutors have taught over 30,000 students to date and partnered with more than 600 schools. Today, Chess at Three offers a range of programs, all based on the unifying principle that children can learn anything through fun, well-crafted stories. 

Chess at Three doesn’t simply tell children how a piece likes to move, they answer that age-old question asked by children everywhere: Why?

The king doesn’t just move one step at a time because that’s the rule, he moves one step because King Shaky lives in a castle made out of pillows and is scared of anything that’s not a pillow, including the grass outside, so he takes one scared step at a time. The Chess program at WMS  focuses just as much on empathy, self-confidence, and sportsmanship as it does on nuts-and-bolts gameplay. 

Each lesson consists of the same basic structure: A story to teach the piece/concept being discussed and then gameplay where children apply those skills learned in the story practically on the chessboard.

The Washington Market School Chess teacher, Max Berry, is thrilled to be returning in the fall after teaching his first year with our community. Max has been working as a Chess at Three tutor for the last five years and has spent that time perfecting his methods to ensure that each child walks away from chess, not only with new knowledge but with a smile on their face and an eagerness to learn more. Max also serves on the creative team for Chess at Three, writing curriculum, which means often our WMS learners are the first to experience the exciting new lessons and curriculum being released!

Over the course of the school year, the children learn everything from basic piece movement to opening strategies, to tactics like fork, pin, and skewer, to even chess notation. They learn to play Capture the King with all the pieces and even learn check and checkmate!