Sudoku

Written By Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

Sudoku, a logic-based number puzzle, was created by Howard Garns, an American architect, and freelance puzzle constructor. Garns, who had a knack for designing puzzles, first published his number game under the title "Number Place" in 1979 in the magazine "Dell Pencil Puzzles and Word Games." The goal was to create a puzzle that was both engaging and educational, requiring logical thinking and concentration without relying on language or specific subject knowledge, making it universally accessible.

The puzzle gained international fame in the mid-1980s when it was introduced in Japan by Nikoli, a puzzle publishing company, and renamed "Sudoku," which means "single number" in Japanese. Since then, Sudoku has grown immensely in popularity, attracting millions of enthusiasts worldwide. It has been featured in countless newspapers, books, and apps, earning multiple accolades for its contribution to cognitive development and entertainment. Sudoku's simplicity combined with its potential for complex problem-solving has made it a staple in education, particularly in homeschooling environments.

Differentiation: What Makes Sudoku Special

Sudoku stands out in its category for several reasons. Unlike many educational games that may require specific subject knowledge, Sudoku solely relies on logical reasoning. This makes it suitable for a wide range of age groups and educational backgrounds. Its grid-based structure fosters pattern recognition and strategic thinking, skills that are valuable across various disciplines. Furthermore, Sudoku puzzles range in difficulty from very easy to extremely challenging, allowing it to cater to beginners and advanced solvers alike. This scalability in difficulty ensures that learners remain engaged and continually challenged as their skills improve.

How to Get Started

Getting started with Sudoku in a homeschooling context is straightforward. Numerous resources are available both online and offline. Parents can find free Sudoku puzzles on websites, download apps, or purchase Sudoku books that range in difficulty. For a structured approach, parents can integrate Sudoku sessions into their daily or weekly homeschooling schedules. Starting with simpler puzzles allows children to grasp the basic rules and gradually move to more complex grids.

How It Works: Using Sudoku as a Homeschooling Program

To integrate Sudoku effectively into homeschooling, follow these steps:

  1. Introduction to Sudoku: Begin by explaining the rules of Sudoku. Each puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid divided into nine 3x3 subgrids. The objective is to fill the grid with numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column, and subgrid contains each number only once.

  2. Select the Right Puzzles: Start with easier puzzles to build confidence. Use printed puzzles or digital versions available on various apps and websites.

  3. Daily Practice: Incorporate Sudoku into the daily routine. Set aside 15-30 minutes each day for puzzle-solving. This can be a quiet time activity or a warm-up exercise before diving into other subjects.

  4. Parent-Led to Independent Learning: Initially, parents can solve puzzles alongside their children, guiding them through the logical steps. As children become more comfortable, encourage them to solve puzzles independently.

  5. Progress Tracking: Keep track of the puzzles completed and the time taken to solve them. This helps in assessing improvement and adjusting the difficulty level accordingly.

  6. Challenge and Competition: Introduce timed challenges or friendly competitions to make the learning process more exciting.

Educational Concepts Taught

Sudoku teaches various educational concepts, including:

  • Logical Reasoning: Enhances the ability to think critically and solve problems logically.

  • Concentration and Patience: Develops focus and perseverance.

  • Pattern Recognition: Improves the ability to identify and understand patterns.

  • Strategic Planning: Encourages planning several steps ahead.

  • Basic Math Skills: Reinforces number recognition and basic arithmetic.

What’s Good About It (What Users Love)

Users appreciate Sudoku for its simplicity and effectiveness in enhancing cognitive skills. Parents and educators value its versatility and accessibility, as it can be played anywhere without special equipment. Many homeschooling parents have noted improvements in their children's problem-solving abilities and concentration levels after regular Sudoku practice. The incremental difficulty levels ensure continuous engagement and challenge, preventing boredom and encouraging perseverance.

What Could Be Improved (Flaws but Not Dealbreakers)

While Sudoku is highly beneficial, some children might find it repetitive or challenging at higher difficulty levels. To address this, it's important to vary the types of puzzles and occasionally integrate other logic-based games to maintain interest. Additionally, some children may need more guidance initially, which could require parents to invest more time in the beginning stages.

Advice from Parents on How to Get the Most Out of It

Parents recommend starting with simpler puzzles to build confidence and gradually increasing the difficulty. Consistency is key; incorporating Sudoku into the daily routine helps build a habit. It's also beneficial to solve puzzles together initially, providing support and encouragement. Creating a relaxed and fun environment around Sudoku sessions can make the activity more enjoyable. Some parents also suggest using Sudoku as a break between more intensive subjects to provide a mental refresh.

Overall Educational Value Score = 72

Positive Scores

  1. Uniqueness (7/10)

    • Sudoku offers a unique approach to logical thinking and problem-solving without relying on subject-specific knowledge, making it stand out from many traditional educational tools.

  2. Engagement (8/10)

    • Parents noted that children find Sudoku puzzles enjoyable and challenging, keeping them engaged for extended periods.

  3. Accuracy (10/10)

    • As a logic-based puzzle, Sudoku maintains high accuracy and reliability in its structure and solutions.

  4. User-Friendliness (9/10)

    • Sudoku puzzles are simple to understand and accessible, with many online platforms and books offering user-friendly interfaces and instructions.

  5. Pedagogy (8/10)

    • Sudoku effectively teaches logical reasoning, pattern recognition, and strategic planning, catering well to different developmental stages.

  6. Homeschooling (8/10)

    • Reviews from homeschooling parents indicate that Sudoku is a valuable addition to their curriculum, providing a stimulating activity that reinforces cognitive skills.

  7. Learning Focus (7/10)

    • The focus on deep, quality learning through logical problem-solving rather than rote memorization is a significant advantage.

  8. Personalization (6/10)

    • While Sudoku puzzles themselves cannot be customized, the wide range of difficulty levels allows parents to select appropriate challenges for their children.

  9. Special Needs (6/10)

    • Sudoku can be beneficial for children with special needs such as autism and ADHD, helping improve concentration and problem-solving skills.

  10. Value (10/10)

    • With many free resources available online and low-cost puzzle books, Sudoku offers excellent educational value.

Total Positive Score: 79/100

Negative Scores

  1. Boredom (3/10)

    • Some children might find Sudoku repetitive or frustrating, especially if they struggle with logical thinking.

  2. Addictive Components (2/10)

    • While generally positive, the engaging nature of Sudoku could lead to children spending excessive time on it at the expense of other activities.

  3. Violence (0/10)

    • Sudoku contains no violent content.

  4. Unhealthy Competition (2/10)

    • Competitive elements are minimal, but some platforms might include leaderboards that could lead to unhealthy competition.

  5. Excessive Prioritization of School Standards (0/10)

    • Sudoku does not focus on school standards, emphasizing logical reasoning instead.

Total Negative Score: 7/50

Who It’s an Ideal Fit For

Sudoku is ideal for children who enjoy puzzles and games that challenge their logical thinking. It's particularly suited for homeschooling families looking to incorporate cognitive skill development into their curriculum. It can be used for children of various age groups due to the availability of puzzles with different difficulty levels.

Who It’s Probably Not a Fit For

Sudoku may not be the best fit for children who get easily frustrated with puzzles or who do not enjoy solitary activities. It might also be less appealing to very young children who are not yet comfortable with numbers or abstract thinking.

Grades

Sudoku can be used across a wide range of grades, from elementary to high school. For younger children, simpler 4x4 or 6x6 grids can be introduced, gradually progressing to the standard 9x9 grids.

Cost

Sudoku puzzles can be accessed for free online, while books and apps may range from $5 to $20. Some advanced apps or subscription services might cost between $10 and $50 per year, offering a variety of features and puzzle types.

Ways to Get It

Sudoku puzzles can be accessed through various channels:

  • Online Websites: Numerous websites offer free Sudoku puzzles.

  • Apps: Many free and paid apps are available on mobile platforms.

  • Books: Sudoku books are available for purchase online and in bookstores.

  • Printable Puzzles: Websites offer printable Sudoku puzzles for offline use.

Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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