Chess Rabbits at the Academy of St. Dorothy
I’m very happy to be starting this program with your children. The goal is simple: learn the game well, get stronger week by week, enjoy playing together, and build a small chess community at St. Dorothy.
What to expect each week
At the beginning, the chess instruction will be divided into two groups. Class One will be for students who are still learning the rules and how the pieces work. Class Two will be for students who already know how to play and are ready to work on tactics, strategy, better decision-making, and stronger practical play.
While one group is working on chess, the other group will have a separate supervised after-school activity. Then the groups will switch. That gives each student a more focused block of chess instruction while keeping the full session active and enjoyable.
Once everyone knows the rules, we’ll reorganize the chess groups by level rather than by “beginner” and “experienced.” That way students can keep moving forward at the right pace and play opponents who give them a useful challenge.
What we’ll be working toward
Students will learn how to play complete games with confidence, recognize tactical ideas, make plans, understand why moves work, and become more comfortable thinking for themselves at the board. For students who want to compete, we can also begin preparing for scholastic tournament play and stronger results.
I’d like this to become more than a weekly lesson. The aim is to build a real St. Dorothy chess group: students who know one another’s games, root for one another, improve together, and eventually have a chance to represent the school. And yes, we’ll be aiming for a few trophies along the way.
About your instructor
I’m Phil Rosenberg, founder and lead instructor of Chess Rabbits. I’ve spent more than 25 years teaching children and adults through schools, after-school programs, private lessons, and small groups, and I’ll be teaching the St. Dorothy program personally.
My approach is to make chess understandable without making it dry. Students should know what they are trying to do, get enough real playing time to test the ideas, and leave each week wanting to come back and play again.
Questions?
You can always reach me at phil@chessrabbits.com. I’m looking forward to meeting the St. Dorothy families and getting the games started.