Make Room for a Crossword Corner
1Every month, the students in Room 12 put together the Maple Street Messenger, our school newspaper. It has class news, lunch menus, and a sports page. I think the Messenger should add one more thing: a crossword puzzle made by students. A crossword corner would help readers learn new words, get more students reading the paper, and give puzzle makers a chance to share their work.
2To begin with, crossword puzzles help readers learn new words. Each clue gives a hint, such as "a baby cat," and the solver has to think of a word that fits the boxes, like "kitten." When a solver gets stuck, letters from the answers that cross it can help fill in the missing word. Our puzzles could use words from science and social studies, so solving them would also be a fun way to review.
3In addition, a puzzle would get more students to pick up the paper. Last month, our class asked students in every grade what they read in the Messenger. Most said they only look at the lunch menu, but many said they would read a puzzle page. A crossword is something you can solve with a friend at recess or with your family at home.
4Finally, a crossword corner would give puzzle makers a place to shine. Making a crossword is harder than it looks. The words have to cross in just the right places, and every clue must be fair to the solver. Some students at our school already make puzzles for fun in their notebooks and trade them with friends at lunch. If the Messenger printed one each month, these students could share their work with the whole school.
5In conclusion, my favorite puzzles are word searches, because they are quicker to finish. The Messenger should also start a comic strip. Thank you for reading.