Help! I Have to Teach Chess!
(Even If I Don't Know Chess)

by National Master Ernest Colding | Teaching & Learning

 Sound familiar?

Your principal just told you the school is starting a chess program.
The kids are already excited.
And you're sitting there thinking…

"I don't even know how the knight moves."

Take a breath. You're going to be fine.
I promise.

I've spent over 40 years teaching chess to children in Brooklyn schools, community centers, and after-school programs. And the #1 thing I hear from teachers isn't How do I teach chess?
"
It's: "I don't know chess — can I still teach it?"
Yes. You absolutely can. And I wrote the book to prove it. t.

Introducing: Teach Your Class Chess

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  1. Teach Your Class Chess: The Definitive Guide for Introducing Chess into the Classroom is the book I wish every teacher had on day one. It's not a chess textbook. It's not a strategy manual. It's a step-by-step guide written specifically for teachers and parents who want to bring chess into the classroom — even if they've never played a single game in their life.
Here's Exactly What You Get ✅

✅ Ready-to-use scripts — just open the book and start teaching
 ✅ Three complete lesson tracks for different age groups
✅ Easy activities that keep kids engaged and begging for more
✅ Simple explanations of every piece, every rule, every move
✅ Tips for managing the classroom while kids are playing No chess experience required. Seriously — not even a little.

Three Scripts for Three Age Groups

Every classroom is different. That's why the book includes three complete teaching tracks:
🟠 Pre-K to 1st Grade
Colors, shapes, and the chessboard — introduced in a way that's fun, age-appropriate, and genuinely magical for little ones.
🟠 Grades 1–5
Real chess knowledge, piece by piece, with lessons and activities that build confidence and keep kids excited.
🟠 Older Children
Deeper strategy, critical thinking, and character development. Chess starts getting serious — and so does the growth.

What Chess Actually Does to Kids (This Is the Good Part)

After 40 years in classrooms, here's what I've seen chess do over and over again:
The distracted kid learns to slow down and think before acting.
The shy kid finds their voice — because on the chessboard, everyone starts equal.
The struggling student discovers they're a brilliant strategic thinker.
The overconfident kid learns that losing gracefully is a superpower.
Chess doesn't just create chess players. It creates thinkers, problem-solvers, and young people with real character. And the teacher who brings chess into the classroom? They become the hero of the story.

You've Got Nothing to Lose

One chess set. One book. Forty years of teaching experience packed into every page.

If those kids in the picture look familiar — if you've got a classroom full of energy waiting to be channeled into something amazing — this book is for you.

No chess experience required. This book makes it easy.

👉 Get your copy on Amazon — available as a Kindle eBook and paperback.
coming soon!

National Master Ernest Colding is the founder of Chess for Children and has been teaching chess to children for over 40 years. He has taught thousands of students across schools, libraries, and community programs throughout Brooklyn, New York City, and beyond. Visit ChessForChildren.com to learn more.

Further Reading: 

School Chess Programs
Private Chess Lessons
Jess's Chess Adventure
Can a 3 year old year chess? Part 1
Can a 3 year old learn chess? Part 2.
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