For decades games have been used as a tool for teachers to help students of all age groups learn. Teachers use games in their classrooms because it can make studying more enjoyable. Students seem to be more engaged and motivated to participate in class when games are involved. Furthermore, it is said that it helps students in their cognitive development instead of them simply memorizing material. There are different types of games teachers use, and for different reasons, to help their students. For example, history teachers like using role-playing while math teachers like using Jeopardy style games. Students prefer hands-on learning, which is one of the many reasons that games in classrooms aren’t going away. The crossword puzzle is a game that has been in the classroom for decades and is used to help students across many disciplines. Fun For Students The reason that crossword puzzles are a great learning tool is simply because students enjoy doing them more when compared to other teaching methods; it’s not daunting. A teacher’s biggest challenge is engaging students and motivating them to want to learn. A strict teacher can ensure that the classroom is quiet and listening to the lecture, but a good teacher makes sure that they will retain the information. Crossword puzzles require thought, whereas most conventional teaching methods require retention on the students’ part. If you combine the two, then you have a great alternative way of teaching, which students prefer. Crossword puzzles aren’t fundamentally better than conventional teaching methods, but they appeal to the students, which is what matters. From Elementary to University The crossword puzzle may seem to be a juvenile game, but university teachers use it as well. Solving a crossword puzzle involves useful skills that will be used throughout one’s education: critical thinking, vocabulary, and spelling. These are some of the most basic and important things you learn through schooling. In elementary, students learn the fundamentals of educational values, which is why crossword puzzles are a great teaching tool. They are associated with recreation, which is less intimidating for children beginning their schooling experience. In universities, crossword puzzles aren’t used for learning as much as they are for practicing for exams. It is a great studying tool because, if properly made, it promotes critical thinking, correct terminology, and properly understanding the clues given. Making Crossword Puzzles Is Easy At first glance, a teacher might think that making a crossword puzzle is difficult, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are several online tools that will help teachers create a crossword for their students. Teachers can easily incorporate vocabulary words studied in class or themes covered on the next exam. There are very few limitations on using crossword puzzles as a learning tool. Another added benefit of using crossword puzzles as an education tool, is that they’re completely free. Teachers can download class-related puzzles from directories online or they can create their own curriculum-based ones using free online tools. Teachers often make conscious efforts to keep classroom requirements such as textbooks and novels to a minimum, so they use crossword puzzles as an alternative to certain texts. Second Language Teaching For decades, crosswords have been used to teach students a second language. However, when teaching a second language, teachers generally use a modified version of the crossword puzzle. In this version the clues are not written, they are illustrated. This way, the student has to identify the object, remember its name, and know how to spell it. Moreover, if the student has difficulty, he or she can use a bilingual dictionary for help. Another way teachers use crosswords for second languages is by asking students to complete the puzzle using a specific verb tense. In this case, the list of clues is verbs with some indication as to what tense is required. Students can use a verb book to assist them, if they’re having difficulties. Encouraging Group Work Crossword puzzles can sometimes be very difficult to complete, especially in post-secondary schooling. A challenging crossword puzzle can be a great way of promoting teamwork among classmates. A method teachers often use is putting their students in small groups and handing out only one crossword per group. Some teachers even offer incentives for completing the puzzle, such as added points on the next crossword quiz. By doing this, students are motivated to complete the crossword and will work together as a team to do so. Countless studies have proven that working in a group has several cognitive advantages for students, and that students generally learn the material, instead of simply retaining it long enough to pass an exam. If it’s the beginning of the school year or semester, crosswords are a great way of introducing students to each other, which makes everyone feel more comfortable, including the teacher. Teachers and students alike benefit from a friendly classroom environment where everyone participates and help each other. Among other methods, this can be achieved by using crossword puzzles. Limitations A crossword puzzle can be used for many things in the classroom, but it can’t be used in every setting or discipline. In elementary, the crossword puzzle is at its most versatile, since the material isn’t complex, but at higher levels of education the limitations become apparent. Teaching the basics of a subject with a crossword isn’t difficult, however, getting into its intricacies proves to be challenging. English courses are a good example of this. It’s possible to use crosswords to teach simple verbs, but very hard to teach Shakespeare’s brilliance. Math is a course where using crosswords is virtually impossible. For example, it isn’t practical to teach students how to derive the limit of a function using a crossword puzzle. Crossword puzzles should not be used in every classroom, but teachers should incorporate them when and where it makes sense because of all its added benefits. ,