Hi Logiqboarders
I hope you all had a wonderful break. It’s the last day of August here and I’m grateful for three weeks by the sea. Sunshine, swimming, fresh food and friends. Cyprus was wonderful. A time to rest and make family memories. Did I work? Ofcourse I did, but I loved every second!
Reuniting with Chess friends 🌊 🇨🇾
It was a pleasure to see the wonderful Maria- Anna Stefanidi, chess player and director of the Shah Mat Masters Academy in Cyprus. Maria-Anna is a dynamic teacher, promoting both competitive chess and chess in education. She has also been a LogiqBoard fan from day one. Using it with her younger students and now sharing the platform as a Fide trainer on the Preparation of Teachers Course.
We shared an iced coffee by the sea and a few days later I got to see her in action at her academy. A beautiful setting for chess and STEM. Chess friendships are little gems and Maria-Anna is one of those connections to treasure.
That week, Maria-Anna was also flying out to The Smart Moves Summit, where our very own Rita Atkins was presenting.
The Smart Moves Summit 🇺🇸
The Smart Moves Summit was a global education conference showing how chess can sharpen the mind, spark creativity and support cognitive growth. Researchers, educators, chess federations, social media figures and EdTech companies came together to discuss chess in education.
Smart Move Summit highlights
Alongside the conference was the chess championship where children from around the world came to compete and connect. There were tourist days out and a range of exciting activities for the young chess players. Well done to the organisers and of course the students. Marianna’s Cypriot team were also amazing.👏
Rita and John unite once more ♛♚
Our Rita Atkins and friend John Foley, director of ChessPlus Limited presented some excellent masterclasses. The focus was strategy games and maths through chess. LogiqBoard was there as the teaching tool in action and also on display, leading the way as an EdTech platform.
Making LogiqBoard even better for our users
As always, we’re grateful for the wonderful feedback from our users. We’re adding to our video collection, bringing you ‘how to‘ videos that guide you through the many features we have. Look out for new teacher resources and videos this term.
LogiqBoard webinar coming up!
If you’d like to find out more about what LogiqBoard has to offer, join Rita on the 20th September for a free webinar:
LogiqBoard Webinar https://share.google/kLws3Hg8ofVgi2Tb7
The ECU 102 course: Teaching Mathematics through Chess
Rita isnt the only one who gets to work with John Foley. This Autumn, (date to be added this week) John and I will be leading the latest teacher course on the fabulous ECU website. A two day course that will leave you bursting with ideas and activities ready for your class.
When I first decided to step outside the classroom into the chess world this was the dream, to show how powerful teaching maths is through the theme of chess. I’m finally making the dream come true!
Masterclasses at the London Mindsports Centre 🇬🇧
The second event is equally special. On October 12th and 13th The London Mindsport Centre will host Every Move Counts, Master classes in Chess in Education.
Out target audience includes chess tutors but also teachers from mainstream schools without a background in chess.
We want to show teachers how powerful chess can be whether its part of the curriculum or not, an intervention, lunch or afterschool club.
The day will be inspiring, informative, affordable and exciting! You can come for one day or two. As you return to school this week I’d love teachers in England to mention it. Who’s up for a little teacher training and socialising?! 🍹♟️
For tickets click:
LogiqBoard Squares and an evening with Jennifer Shahade 🟧◼️🟧
Talking of fun, my final share is a wonderful night at London’s Clermont hotel. My favourite chess queen Jennifer Shahade returned to the UK this month for an event organised by the Yas Queen! Chess Club and Poker Stars. 👏
I watched my first 960 simul. Jennifer played 20 players simultaneously. In a 960 simul the pieces (except the pawns) start on randomised positions. The aim is to create a fairer playing field making it more exciting and less predictable.
There was an inspiring Q and A talk with Jennifer, chess, card games, drinks and LogiqBoard puzzles.
I put togther a set of fun problem solving puzzles and also a set of puzzles from Jennifer’s fabulous blog and book Play Like a Champion.
If you’d like to add puzzle squares to your event, get in touch with us at logiqboard.com
Add QR codes or pamphlets and get guests mingling and problemsolving. 👄 🤔 💭
Chess Queens, by the way is my all time favourite book. An empowering book telling stories of women in chess, past and present, who followed their own path. A valuable book for the secondary classroom.
Good luck for the new academic year 🙂
That’s all for now. Looking forward to seeing my maths and chess students and the term ahead…🔥
Homework today is a puzzle from Play Like A Champion, Chess Tactics from the Greats, by Jennifer Shahade
Black to mate in two, click the link to solve on logiqboard.com :
https://logiqboard.com/boards/clone/SMxT7PDXJL
Hari x
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