Cryptology for kids

Cryptology is not just for winning wars anymore. That’s what Becky Spitzack, a K3 Literacy Tutor at Roosevelt Elementary School, is showing Faribault kids. She uses “ciphers”, or a coded message, to help children learn.

While Becky’s uncle was a World War II cryptographer and decoded Nazi messages, Becky today weaves ciphers into“cryptograms” and distributes them at her local Farmers Market. Typically, she uses “substitution ciphers, where each letter is replaced by a different letter” to craft puzzles with a portion of encrypted text. 

There are myriad learning benefits for children, says Becky. First, cryptograms reinforce titles, authors or passages of literature that children have already read. Second, cryptograms help children notice that there are patterns in words and connected text. This is important in math learning as well, since “solving puzzles refine their problem solving skills.” Additionally, Becky says for some people, “cryptograms promote brain health by improving focus, relaxation, memory and flexibility.”

If you find yourself in Faribault before the winter, make a stop at the Farmers Market to pick up some of Becky’s cryptograms at the Reading Corps booth. She targets them to both adult levels and upper elementary and older. If you miss out on her handmade puzzles, you can find resources on the Internet to make your own.