Franklin Elementary School Bridge Class

Meeting Challenges and Reaping Rewards

Bridge is a complex game. That’s part of the reason it is considered the best card game ever created, but it’s also part of the reason that it is not an easy game to teach to beginners.

At Franklin Elementary, lead teacher Shirley Foreman and her team of assistant teachers have been overcoming those challenges and a few others posed by the youth of the students, who are all in the fourth, fifth, or sixth grade. One challenge is that after-school bridge classes compete with other activities—science fairs, field trips, and other clubs.

Yet this past year, a record-breaking 23 students registered for bridge class, and an average of 17 students attended each session. Ms. Foreman attributes the success of the class partly to support from the Franklin teacher the SiVY volunteers work with, Kristi Billings. Ms. Billings promotes each class, and Ms. Foreman believes that makes a difference in registration. She also believes that the great snacks the volunteers provide are a factor.

Many of this year’s students were returning from previous years, but the class also included beginners who have no background in bridge. Teachers must develop lesson plans suitable for both new and returning students.

It has also been important to recruit and retain enough assistant teachers to provide an adult at each table. It can be difficult for students in this age range to remain focused on the game, and beginners need guidance for every hand. Ms. Foreman believes that involving the teachers in the development of teaching plans has been critical to keeping them engaged with the classes and excited about the program.

The main thing that keeps the teachers engaged, though, is the pleasure they feel when they see the students having fun and enjoying bridge, winning tricks and making contracts. The students have a visible sense of accomplishment, and the teachers are excited when they see that the students “get it.” Ms. Foreman hopes the Franklin teachers may be training a few future world champions, but she is sure that she is preparing a lot of young people to enjoy a lifetime of pleasure from bridge.

If you would like to start a bridge class or a bridge club at a school near you, you can contact Margot Livenspargar (margotlive@gmail.com) or Cheryl Haines (cherhaines@gmail.com). The SiVY website (siliconvalleyyouthbridge.org) provides guidance and teaching materials to help you get started. It is always useful to have a personal contact at the school where you hope to teach, but it may be effective simply to call the main office at the school and ask to be directed to the appropriate administrator or teacher who oversees after-school activities.

The challenges of teaching bridge in schools are real. But the rewards are just as great!