Both Players Recording
Players settle into the routine of recording every game, with a short micro-lesson to open and plenty of play. The teacher begins circulating to observe individual understanding.
Introduce one small, real chess convention that raises the quality of play: think first, then move.
Here is a habit that serious players use, called touch-move. Once you touch a piece with the intent to move it, you move that piece. It sounds strict, but it teaches something valuable: think first, decide, then touch. Let us try playing with that habit today. Look, plan, then move.
Introduce touch-move as a practice to try, not a punishment. For beginners you can soften it to "once you let go of a piece, the move is done." The goal is deliberate, thoughtful moving, which also makes notation easier because moves stop being rushed.
Players play and record full games, both players writing both moves. This is now the standard way every game is played for the rest of the program.
Teacher focus (Weeks 6-12)
Starting this week and running through Week 12, make it your goal to play a game, or part of one, against each student at least once. Playing a learner one-on-one is the fastest way to see exactly what they understand and where the gaps are. Keep a simple note for each: Do they move every piece correctly? Do they keep their king safe? Can they record the game? You are building a picture of each player before the tournament.
Collected scoresheets are gold. They tell you who is playing legal games, who is recording accurately, and who needs help. A quick glance at a stack of scoresheets after class is your best assessment tool, and it is completely natural, not a test.