Every morning, high school math teacher Mr. Coleman kicks off his class not with a routine lecture, but with a unique mental challenge: the cryptic crossword. Students huddle together as they exchange ideas to crack the mind-blowing wordplay. 

Mr. Coleman initially found enjoyment in simple brain challenges. “I had a year-long streak with some friends doing the New York Times crossword puzzle,” he said. “I didn’t find cryptic crossword puzzles or cryptic, as I recall, until much later.”

At first glance, cryptic crossword clues look abstract, sometimes philosophical, and always meaningless. However, a seasoned veteran will know that a clue involves three parts in most cases: the literal, the indicator, and the fodder. The literal is just that — a synonym and definition of the answer. The indicator shows us what we have to do, while the fodder is the text one must manipulate to answer the question. 

This unorthodox puzzle-solving method caught the attention of Mr. Coleman, who quickly grew fascinated by its mental challenge and creativity. “I really appreciate the wordplay and the aha! moments that solving a cryptic crossword clue gives,” Mr. Coleman said.

Mr. Coleman’s enthusiasm quickly spread among students as he introduced this challenge as a class-starter. “I’ve always done little class openers, trying to find new things that will just get kids engaged as they are sitting down for class,” Mr. Coleman said. “So I thought, hey, maybe I’ll try and teach them how to do the cryptic crossword clues.” 

To make the challenge more approachable, Mr. Coleman utilizes the Minute Cryptic website, which delivers one clue at a time in a Wordle-like format with optional hints. 

Beyond cognitive training, he also finds a deeper purpose behind the platform. “They have a subscription-based service that gets you access to the previous puzzles,” he said. “They donate the proceeds of their funds to Alzheimer’s research, and I think that’s a great cause worth sharing.”

Junior Yujun Piao, a dedicated solver of the clues, expressed contentment with the daily brain-teaser. “It’s a good way to start a math class, because it kind of gets your logic going. … and it’s a good brain warmup,” he said. “You can’t just be lecturing the whole time. It’s a good way to make your brain rest [before class].” 

The spark of curiosity spread rapidly. Inspired, Mr. Coleman and a group of students formed the Cryptic Enthusiasts, an informal gathering that specializes in deciphering these inscrutable clues. “I just love having to decipher the different components of a cryptic,” said Junior Jayden Hayward, an avid solver. “It’s so intriguing to me that every single word, punctuation mark, or number means something and takes a part in helping to find the answer.”

The craze has grown beyond mere rituals, as students now gather to tackle other logic puzzles together. “The community that Mr. Coleman’s building is really important,” Piao said. “You get to build relationships, rapport, and connections.”

For some, the crossword represents more than just a game  — it’s part of their routine. “I try to look at one at least every few days to get my thoughts flowing before school,” Hayward said. 

Mr. Coleman reflected on the deeper meaning behind the trend. “I think the best thing about the cryptic crossword… is they teach you that it’s okay not to know the answer to something”, he said. “You have to be okay with the uncertainty. You get to sit with an answer and think about it. And it’s just one little question. But sometimes [the clues] can just be on your mind all day.”

The daily cryptic serves as a way to de-stress at the start of class while keeping minds sharp. Mr. Coleman summed it up best: “I’m really enjoying this cryptic wave, and we’re going to ride it as long as we can.”