Information
¦ New
workbooks
¦ The steps on CD
¦ Certificates
¦ Background
¦ Frequently asked questions
New workbooks
For many trainers the number of exercises in the ordinary workbooks
is enough, but not for everyone. For many years there has been asked
for 'more'.
Therefore, next to the existing workbooks the Extra workbooks and the
Plus workbooks will be published. The students will be able to do more
exercises on almost the same level and consequently remain busy with
the same step for a longer period. It is important that the difficulty
level does not go up too quickly. The problem of proceeding (too) quickly
to the next step, that a lot of children are not yet ready for, can be
prevented in this way.
Is it useful to solve many exercises?
In her column on Chesscafe Susan Polgar gives the following suggestion
how the beginner should play better chess.
One of the first things I suggest you to do is study middlegame tactics
and endgame techniques. There are many tactical puzzle books that you
can learn from. I would say you can start with 10-20 puzzles daily. These
puzzles can be checkmate in 1 or 2 or tactics that involve pins, forks,
discovered attacks, etc. As you get better and more efficient, you can
increase to maybe 30-40 puzzles daily. If you have time, the more puzzles
you solve, the better you will become.
Plus workbook
This book contains:
New subjects
Subjects which have been given too little attention in the 'ordinary'
books due to the lack of space
Broadening of the important subjects
Subjects from a previous step on a higher level
There will come for sure Plus workbooks for all steps. Only one is published
so far (in Dutch)
Extra workbooks
A workbook with just one reminder and further merely exercises. In the
first half there are only exercises on the same subjects as in the
'steps'. They are not only useful as an extra practice but also as
a repetition.
In the second part all exercises are of the mixed type. The subject of
the exercises is not indicated therefore they resemble positions from
a real chess game. In the original step book there are too few exercises
of this kind due to the lack of space.
It is sure that extra books for all steps will appear. Step 3, 4 and
5 extra have already been published (in Dutch).
For the trainer satisfied with the present situation nothing has to
change. He may continue giving lessons with the manual and the ordinary
workbook. For those who want more the extra workbooks will come with
more exercises of the same kind and the plus books for additional subjects.
The Steps on CD
Do you want to learn individually or are you looking for more lessons
and exercises?
With the Tasc Chess CD you can be busy for many years.
On the CD you will find the first 5 steps with lessons and exercises.
(totally more than 2600 puzzles - different ones than in the books).
The course is in 4 languages: English, German, French and Dutch.
You
can order the CD, by sending an e-mail.
Certificates
Each step can be completed with an exam. Students who score sufficiently
get a certificate appropriate to each step.
It is advisable when preparing for the examination to let the children
make a test examination first, and if necessary a second time in case
of doubt. However, try to prevent that they do test examinations many
times. It will put a severe strain on their enthusiasm, and it emphasizes
the examination and the certificate too much.
The English version will appear in May 2004.
Rupert van der Linden has designed a colourful certificate.
The piece on the statue will change for each step. As a foretaste, you
can see here the German version.
Background
The Steps method of Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden has already been
existing for 16 years.
In the eighties Cor van Wijgerden made many stencils with exercises for
the Dutch youth and women top players (he was at that time the national
trainer of the Royal Dutch Chess Federation). The demand for this kind
of exercises on a lower level was getting bigger and bigger which gave
the start to the plan of developing exercises for different levels. Another
experienced trainer Rob Brunia was ready to help.
The profound knowledge of chess technical and didactic aspects of both
authors resulted in a solid teaching method that fits the development
of a child.
In 1987 the first manual and (loose-leaf) stencils appeared. In 1990
the manual Step 5 was published and the teaching method was approximately
ready. Since then many adjustments and improvements have been introduced
(unfortunately without Rob Brunia who in 1991 has to cease his cooperation
because of other activities).
An (incomplete) view of some big and small changes since 1991:
The loose-leaf stencils are replaced by workbooks.
The workbooks are thicker and adjusted. The too difficult and incorrect
exercises have been simplified, changed or replaced.
Various new topics have been added to the manuals. The original lessons
have been extended with instruction examples.
New in the manuals are summaries, search strategies, lists of concepts.
In 1999 appeared Step 6, in 2003 two stepping stones (Step 1 for young
children up to 8 years).
The extra and plus books have been added.
The books are illustrated by Rupert van der Linden.
Frequently asked questions
· How long
shall I be busy teaching step one?
As long as possible. The ability to solve the exercises and getting the
certificate not always correspond to the playing skills. Only then
when the student can use the material in his games regularly, the following
step can be introduced. It is no use to teach Step 2 to children who
in their own games fail to catch the unprotected pieces of their opponents.
In the manual step 1 you can read the following: The basic material
seems to be simple and some trainers manage to complete step 1 within
3 months. That is not the best approach. Essential chess skills such
as giving mate require a long learning period. It is better to devote
at least a year to the first step to master the basic skills very well
(there are always exceptions). The lost time can be easily recovered
later.
· When will the English version be ready.
All the manuals and workbooks (1 up till 5) will appear this year. The
Plus and Extra books will appear if there is enough demand.
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