Step 1

Step 1
In the first step all the rules of the chess game are introduced. Furthermore, much attention is paid to developing of the basic skills, necessary to play chess.
Comparing with other books for beginners the step-by-step method introduces an unique sequence of the teaching material. Learning how to mate is postponed as long as possible. This sounds astonishing and even incredible but up till now, practice has shown that this approach works perfectly. Children learn to play chess very well, for sure if they get enough time in between to play and practice.
The 'first step' consists of a manual for the trainer and a workbook for the students. There are special books available for children from 6 till about 9 years old: the forerunner.

Manual for chess trainers Step 1

The manual is a great support for the trainer, even if he is an experienced one. Ready made lessons, hints how to use the workbooks, how to give assistance, and so on. Almost everything is to be found there.
Contents:

Introductions about:

The chess development of a child
organisation
motivation
teaching
sequence of teaching material
asking questions
giving assistance
the workbooks
games

The first step is divided in 15 lessons.
1: Board and pieces
2: Moves of the pieces
3: Attacking and capturing
4: The pawn
5: Defending
6: Check and + getting out of check
7: Mate
8: Mate
9: Castling
10: Profitable exchange
11: Twofold attack
12: Draw
13: Mating with the queen
14: Taking 'en passant'
15: The notation

Manual for chess trainers
1st edition 2004
128 pages

Workbook Step 1

In addition to the exercises there are reminders in the workbook. These are short recapitulations of the lessons in the manual for the pupils.
There are 13 reminders.

The board
Moves of the pieces
Attacking and capturing
The pawn
Defending
Check and getting out of check
Mate
Castling
Exchange and profitable exchange
Twofold attack
Draw
The pawn (2)
The notation

On the remaining 42 pages there are always 12 positions a page. That means a total number of 42x12-18 (the drawings) = 486 positions

The issues of the exercises are the same as in the manual.

Workbook Step 1
1st edition 2003
56 pages
with drawings

Opstapje 1 and 2

Workbook Step 1 is often used with very young children. It is possible but not ideal. It is not surprising since the step-by-step method was developed in 1987 for children from the age of 9 on.
The tendency is that children learn to play chess younger and younger. For children at the age of 6 approximately, two special workbooks appeared where the exercises are adapted to this age group. Naturally, the contents of these workbooks overlap partially the 'usual' Step 1. Part one of Opstapje (Forerunner? Stepping stone?) corresponds to lesson 1 up till 6 in the manual, part two begins with mate. (See Manual for chess trainers
What are the differences with the usual workbook Step 1?

Larger diagrams
6 diagrams a page
Almost no text
No reminders
Easy exercises
Different kind of puzzles
Notation not necessary
Some topics are split
Eddy Sibbing as co-author

Instructors (frequently parents as well) have to rely on the Manual of the first step. In the new addition a chapter has been added on teaching chess to very young children. Furthermore, it contains information how to deal with each page of the workbook and what are the expected difficulties

The answers of both workbooks can be downloaded (if necessary!). They have not been included in the manual.

1e druk 2003
56 pagina's
met tekeningen