For teachers and coaches
Today you are my coach
15 minutes · all levels · pair work
What the children learnthe child is the coach. They let the other child think first, ask questions, and help only when it is needed.
What you needeach child chooses an exercise they solved correctly on the first attempt. A and B take exercises from different chapters. Work is done in the coach’s workbook; the other child keeps theirs closed. One card with the three questions per pair (The three questions). From Level 3, one board per pair and one slip of paper per child.
How it goes
- Say: “A good coach lets the other person think first. They ask the three questions and help only when it is needed.”1 minute
- Both look at their exercise and the solution and think of a hint. Then they cover the solution.2 minutes
- A is the coach. B thinks for one minute. A asks the three questions: “What do you see? Which move are you trying? What can the opponent do?” Only if B cannot go on does A give the hint. At the end B explains the solution in their own words.5 minutes
- Swap roles: now B is the coach.5 minutes
- Each child explains to their partner why the solution they have just found works – without looking in the workbook.2 minutes
Level 1 and 2
showing and asking is enough. Writing is not needed.
From Level 3
small positions only. The child who solves the exercise writes the move and the reason on a slip of paper. At the end of each round they set up the position from the coach’s workbook, and the coach compares. Then they play the move and the opponent’s reply.
Tip
if the child already knows the exercise, that is revision – that is fine too. The coach role does not replace your checking.
Odd numbers
in the group of three, A coaches B in the first round, and C coaches A in the second. The free child listens and checks. Next time the roles change.
In a large class
pay special attention to unsure pairs. Listen more carefully to the children on the Listening list (see Organisation).