School Programs

Midwest Chess Academy (MCA) is offering an exciting effort to incorporate chess into the regular school curriculum, called Chess Challenge Educational Program or simply Chess Challenge. Tim Steiner owns and operates, along with other professionals in the community the MCA which services both the Kansas and Missouri side. Chess brings out latent abilities that have not been reached by traditional educational methods. Chess must assume its fundamental role as a mental integrator and motivational activator.

More specifically:

• The essential goal of education is to teach children to think critically; students must learn to make reasoned judgments.
• Encourage patience, memory retention, the ability to concentrate, problem-solving skills, and the understanding that behaviors carry certain consequences.
• Achieve local, state, and national recognition for our students.
• Teach children to compete and succeed in tournament chess.
• Get students exposed and active in scholastic chess in Kansas City to hone their skills.

• Allow schools the ability to continue this unique program in the absence of myself or any other chess professional through instructional multimedia.
• Make chess accessible to regular classroom teachers in the elementary and middle school grades as a vehicle for reaching a number of intellectual, social, and emotional goals. As we proceed, we will work with the regular teachers to develop connections between chess and their existing educational goals.

Our basic format is we supervise one, 1-hour chess club per week for an entire semester (usually a 10-12 week session) either before, during, or after school. A 15-20 minute tutorial on a topic will be provided during this club session. A session for advanced students may be made available within your district or at an outside location. However, our group would like to stress that lessons occur during school time because we strongly believe that chess is a viable educational and social tool. This also permits us to allow more exposure of chess to other districts and schools.

Lessons are planned to be taught on school grounds at each location. Typical enrollment is around 20 students. We will also accommodate the mixing of grades for each session. Days and times will have to be negotiated with this company and the availability of an instructor. We will initially assess differences in skill level and will split up the class into several groups for more effective teaching. In the event that school is cancelled due to inclement weather, a majority of students are unavailable due to another school activity, or the instructors are ill, classes will be rescheduled at a convenient time for all parties. However, individual absences for whatever reason will not be extended this courtesy or any partial refund. Supplemental material will be made available to those students to keep pace.

We would like to kick things off with a complimentary promotional simultaneous exhibition to generate interest in your program.

Private

The Pembroke Hill School - This is a very extensive, comprehensive program. It is our flagship program. We currently service 1st - 6th grade. Please contact Principal of the Lower School, Barry White, if you'd like more details about this program. We service just about 65 students at this school. For more information about this school please click here.

Past Programs

Midwest Chess Academy has either had a hand in establishing or assisting with the following schools over the years:

Nativity Parish School
St. Paul's Episcopal Day School

St. Michael the Archangel

Westminster Christian Academy

Lee's Summit School District
Westwood View Elementary (Shawnee Mission District)
Morse Elementary (Blue Valley District)
Quail Run Elementary (Lawrence, KS School District)
Lakewood Elementary (Blue Valley District)
Richardson Elementary (Lee's Summit School District)