Learning Through Chess

Hi fellow chess players, 

This is my first post to the "chess.com" blog.  I would mostly be interested in any comments or insights about improving my classroom teaching.  I am an elementary school teacher who likes to use creative ways to get students thinking critically.  I have used many games and puzzles and activities, including chess, to accomplish this.  As fellow teachers, parents, or simply as fellow life learners, please share with me any insights that contain something that motivated or helped you learn something involving critical thinking, be it chess, Math, or reading complex material.  

mark