Teaching methods

My name is Eric Sutton, and I teach kids Pokémon and Magic.
I was an avid Magic: The Gathering player in my youth (and into my older "youth" today), and my son has taken up trading card games, especially Pokémon TCG, just as enthusiastically. The result: I'm out there teaching other kids how to play.

Although these games enforce strong reading, math, and logic skills, kids do not need to know how to read, know math, or be skilled problem solvers in order to start playing these games. They need an attentive adult who quickly explains their options and allows them to make their own mistakes. At first, the games can also be kept simple without involving the cards with the most complicated rules. Kindergarteners universally understand "this card is bigger than that one, so this one wins," and they have an uncanny ability to remember arbitrary facts. Dramatizing or acting out card effects is also helpful and fun. With the right amount of attention, these games can be efficiently learned by kids starting at age 4.

I also serve as Managing Patent Counsel and Inventor at Oracle, Adjunct Professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, the author of Software Patents: A Practical Perspective textbook, a Guest Lecturer at Stanford, advisory patent counsel for Design Tech High School students, Assistant Tee-ball and Soccer Coach, and a board member at Open Gate Preschool.

My name is Stelle DeBry and I enjoy teaching card games.
I have loved and played Pokémon since 1997 and want to do my part in passing that passion on to future generations. My own daughter, 13 this year, has been playing Pokémon since she was 6.

To me games like Pokémon are incredibly important especially today, when kids are constantly surrounded by technology. Not only is it even more critical for people to unplug for a few and spend time face to face, but games like Pokémon help teach critical lessons on how to win or lose gracefully.

I also work at a local toy store so if you spot me feel free to say hello!