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Our Methods and Classes

Education - Not “Enrichment”

We focus on understanding and the quality of work. The concepts we teach are, unlike a focus on only chess tactics, thinking, logic, and organizational skills that are transferable to other topics. Preferences for depth of work. We focus not just on “how” but “why” and a deeper understanding.

Students will master the topics at a given level before progressing to the next level. Class and lesson pricing is done by a monthly subscription. See Subscriptions.

Generally, classes require a minimum of four students to be a “go” however, we do have methods to allow a class to move forward.

Location: Classes are held at the Caveman Chess Center, 222 S. Prospect, Floor R, Park Ridge, IL 60068

Lessons

FREE Initial Meeting

Our first meeting is a combination free lesson and an  evaluation.  This meeting will last between one and two hours, and there is no cost to the potential student. The outcome of this meeting will be a letter/email to the student (or parent) in which we:

  • Accept or reject the applicant student

  • Note some general observations

  • Establish initial objectives for the first few lessons

  • Outline the initial pricing for lessons.

Should Consider Classes?

We keep group lessons as individualized as possible.  We accomplish this by allowing players who have similar learning needs to form a group.  We keep the groups small so that there is still significant interaction between each student and the instructor.  Even so, there is some loss of individualized attention, but there can also be significant cost savings for the student.  Lesson costs are not simply divisible by the number of students since there is still individual diagnostic and preparation time, and certain difficulties in simultaneously working with multiple students who each learn differently.

Group lessons can also possibly be beneficial because of the interaction between the students in the group. Sometimes students can "feed off each other" and progress more rapidly -- we often see this in chess camps or working with chess teams.

Sometimes students in a group may need to address particular issues separately.  If so, we will notify the student of that, separately.

The primary reasons FOR group lessons are cost savings per student and mutual student involvement.

The primary reason AGAINST group lessons is some loss of individualized instruction.

Classes - Another Alternative

Another alternative to individualized lessons is classes. Classes are larger groups—typically 6 - 20—that cover a specific topic for multiple weeks in a row. The format is less individualized but takes advantage of larger groups and the ability to repeatedly use materials to decrease individual costs. For more information on classes, see this Classes page.

Scheduling and Preparation

Scheduling

We generally do not to travel for lessons. If travel is necessary, lesson pricing will include an additional fee for travel time.  Lessons are typically held at our chess studio, in uptown Park Ridge, IL, within easy location from major expressways, and a two block walk from the Metra NW train line.

Student Preparation

One of the greatest teachers said: "“No! Try not! Do. Or do not. There is no try.” — Yoda"

Students will need to work at chess. Organized material, structure, context, reasons can make that much more understandable and much more fun! But to be successful, a student must be working more than the teacher. The student must change their way of thinking. Sometimes they have things to unlearn.

So there will be assignments, there will be homework. There are steps to simplify this, but it is still always necessary.

Instructor Preparation

Our lesson pricing includes time for instructor preparation. Preparation time can include things like diagnostics of what concepts to focus on next with respect to a player, researching the appropriate games or examples to teach the concept, and producing student materials.