Week_3_Donia Mwassi

Target audience: 3th grade

Tool I used: Crossword Puzzle Maker http://worksheets.theteacherscorner.net/make-your-own/crossword/


First of all, crossword solving involves several useful skills including vocabulary, reasoning, spelling, and word attack skills.  To solve any crossword puzzle, a person must be able to identify and understand the terms being used.  I found this tool very attractive for students that have to study vocabulary sets It's a great one which improves and enhances vocabulary skills in a very interactive and fun way! I think often involves acquiring new vocabulary or terminology.  It can also involve making differentiations between similar words or phrases.  Correctly deciphering a crossword also requires exact spelling, which for students may mean practicing dictionary skills.  Other important skills required for completing these puzzles include making inferences, evaluating choices, and drawing conclusions. Another benefit of using crossword puzzles in the classroom is that they are associated with recreation, and can be less intimidating for students as review tools.  Students who might normally balk at practice tests, flashcards, or review sessions with the teacher find puzzle solving to be much less threatening and more like game play.  Puzzle solving is a much more active type of learning, and will engage students with the material more than passive types of review techniques do. Crossword puzzles also have the advantage of appealing to different learning styles.  Visual learners often have strong puzzle-solving skills, and feel great satisfaction when they complete one. Finally, crossword puzzles have the benefit of being customizable to study content.