Trevor Zankl, 7 (left), makes a move during chess at Gulf Stream School in his first-grade class as Hunter Presson, 6 (center), peers over to watch his move. Libby Volgyes/The Coastal Star
By Libby Volgyes
Juliana Papera eyes her opponent’s moves with the calculating experience of a chess player far beyond her years.
But she has the politeness of a 7-year-old who knows her manners.
“You’re so good at this, Reece,” she compliments her opponent.
The game plays out as she watches carefully from the floor, where they play with 4-inch pieces of indestructible plastic.
“But you’re probably not thinking about what my move is,” she cautions him.
The game proceeds at Gulf Stream School, piece after piece taken with the uncontained glee of first-graders on a Friday.
“All you need is to take my king. But that’s impossible!” she says.
Gulf Stream School has been teaching chess the past three years. Among the first-graders learning one recent morning, six have chessboards at home and one has a private chess tutor.
“Certainly they use a lot of their chess knowledge when they’re solving their math problems,” said Nicole Hoffman, the first-grade homeroom teacher. “It’s the highlight of their week. They adore chess.”
Jake Julien, 7, who has a tutor, likes how the queen can move in any direction and also likes the “en passant” move. He knows exactly who has the most points at any given time and enjoys playing chess with his parents, “but usually beat(s) them.”Bruce Perrotta of Wellington is the chess instructor who comes to the school to work with the students each week. He learned the game when he was 9 or 10 and travels to teach at different schools throughout South Florida. He also teaches dance and is retired from semi-pro football.
“The game itself, the rules are more complicated than your average kids’ board game, but you take them in bites,” he said. “You teach them concepts in bite-size pieces. As they become comfortable with that, you begin adding on. For example, take kindergartners. The first concept is moving, who gets to move first. Then you experience the pieces and how they move.”
Down the hall, the kindergartners study chess every week for 20 minutes.
“They’re just so eager to learn, and they remember so much,” kindergarten teacher Deb Handler said. “They’re such sponges, and they want to learn it all.”
“Chess promotes the idea of logical thinking, of planning, of understanding, of giving in order to get,” Perrotta said. “Of coordinating a team, of overcoming obstacles. It’s basically built around a simulation of conflict in life, so the idea is on understanding how to approach conflict and gain confidence in solving problems to create success.”
Karen Awaida, 5, reminds a classmate how the different pieces move.
“Only that one can jump because horses can jump,” she says, pointing to the knight.
Karen plays with her brother Stefan, 8, who competed last year in a chess competition — winning three and losing two matches. Stefan plays on his iPad a few times a week as well as with his sister.
“I take it hard on her, just to give her a lesson,” Stefan said. But the lessons seem to be working, as she surely and deftly maneuvers the pieces around the board.
That is, until the lesson’s over.
Then it’s time for snacks and recess.
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