2001-03-21 - 11:59 p.m.

Chess Class II

Had my second chess class yesterday at the elementary school. It went about as well as the first one, which is to say that it didn't go all that well, but it wasn't a disaster.

I talked to the woman who is running the after-school program and she said that Todd mother might be coming to help get him to pay attention. She didn't show up. In fact, after the class I had to lead Todd to the cafeteria to wait with the other kids.

It's really frustrating. I don't know if I'm having trouble because I'm doing it wrong, or I'm just sabotaging it with my own insecurities. They all seem to be smart kids, even Todd.

I passed out the software to the kids, and as it turns out all their families have computers. In fact, one of the kids already had the program. He wanted to take the disc home to have a double, but wound up leaving it behind. I think that I'll give it to Lily - she seems to be taking an interest in learning to play chess.

I can't help but wondering if I'm taking this all too seriously. Isn't my goal to simply have the kids enjoy playing chess? Maybe actually teaching them something is beyond me. I had a conversation with the guy who gave me the disks, a kindly, supportive fellow. He gave me some pointers and said that in a six week class you couldn't expect to teach them much of anything. In fact, the lesson plan he gave me was for a whole semester, not just a month.

Still I am coming to dread Tuesdays, and I've still got three more classes.