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The Days
Before FOGO: June, 2005 2004-2005 was our district’s last year on a
year-round calendar. It was my first year in the district (and my first
experience year-round), and I found myself with only four weeks of school after
being off-track for a month. With all standardized testing completed and all
grades computed, it seemed a ripe moment to introduce the game of Go to
students. I was relatively new to the game myself but thought I’d teach students
the simpler capture game based on elements of Go. The response was
incredible. Since that time I have received several grants to increase and
improve equipment, made connections with players and teachers around the
world, watched some of my students compete with players online and now have a
roster of over 80 Go players at Fair Oaks Elementary and a handful more at
three other schools in town. Over the next few weeks I will add installments
to the beginnings, growth, development, and future of FOGO. |
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Students were immediately taken by this game. My
first classroom sets were made up of photocopies of 9x9 boards and my own
personal sets of stones divided into mini sets that were contained in science
beakers and Starbucks cups. |
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A great diversity of game
matches took place. Kids who did not often interact with one another in class
would be frequently found paired in a game. Changing opponents from game to
game was the natural course students took without assistance. |
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Kids even chose to come in
during lunch time because of their enthusiasm for the game. This was a
foreshadowing of this year’s recess and lunch game play. It’s often the case
now that you have to step over bodies to move across our classroom during
breaks. |
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Within just a few days it
was clear that students bought into the game etiquette. I strongly emphasized
that ever loss is an opportunity to learn. With very little reinforcement
students would begin their games with a greeting and end the game with a word
of thanks from both parties. |
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Some students were very
serious during those last few weeks of school. Certain individuals became
known for their prowess on the Go board and many requests were made for
“teaching games” from certain players. |
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Our first official
tournament was a 9x9 capture tournament in June of 2005. Students placed
their names on post-it notes that they then placed on an elimination chart.
Winners would then move their name to the next tier. This system has been used
since and worked well for several Grades 4-6 lunchtime tournaments last year.
As students came in shifts (different grades have different eating
schedules), they’d just add their name to the open places on the charts. Each
chart had a color and finalists played the winners of different colored
charts. First FOGO prize was a 9x9 set that I made from a piece of plywood. |
