The Daily Fix™
A two-to-five-minute morning puzzle your whole class solves together. The Fixes have locked themselves out, and the door only opens when they line up in the right order. Logic clues, number clues and a heart lock that rewards careful thinking.
- 1new puzzle every day at midnight, the same for every class
- 3levels: K–2, Grades 3–5 and Grades 6–8
- 2–5minutes, perfect for morning entry or a transition
- 0student accounts, sign-ups or data
How it works
- Meet today’s Fixes. Three to six Fixes wait in the hallway, each wearing a number.
- Read the clues together. Some are about the Fixes (“Sunny stands right behind Roxy”), some are about their numbers (“1st + 2nd = 11”).
- Build the line. Students reason it out loud while you tap or drag each Fix into a spot. The 1st spot is beside the door.
- Try the door. Each lit heart on the lock means one Fix is in the right spot. Use the hearts and the clues to fix the line.
- Unlock it. The door swings open, the numbers become the day’s door code and the class keeps its streak going.
Three levels, three kinds of thinking
K–2
Three or four Fixes. Clues about first, last and “right behind”, plus bigger and smaller, odd and even. Hearts show exactly which Fixes are in the right spot.
“The biggest number is in the 1st spot.”
Grades 3–5
Five Fixes. Sums, differences, odd and even, and position logic. The lock shows how many Fixes are right, not which ones, so every try is evidence.
“2nd + 4th = 11”
Grades 6–8
Six Fixes numbered 2 to 12. Products, multiples, three-number sums and “exactly two Fixes between” logic. Six tries to crack the code.
“3rd × 5th = 32”
Why teachers make it a daily routine
- Real reasoning, out loud. Students have to justify a move with a clue before anyone touches the screen.
- Number sense in disguise. Listing every pair that makes 11, or every factor pair of 32, is the whole game.
- A calm start. It gives the room one shared focus while late arrivals settle. It pairs well with Mystery Build and Weather Day.
- Built-in talk prompts. A “Turn & talk” question updates after every try.
- Something to look forward to. A class streak counts school days in a row, and a bonus puzzle unlocks once today’s is solved.
Questions teachers ask
- Is it really the same puzzle for every class?
- Yes. Every class at the same level gets the same puzzle each day, so you can compare tries with the class next door.
- Do students need devices or accounts?
- No. It runs on one teacher screen or projector. The streak and stars stay in that browser.
- What if we finish early or want more?
- After today’s puzzle, a Bonus puzzle button gives a fresh one at the same level. Bonus puzzles don’t change the streak.
- What happens if the class runs out of tries?
- The door opens anyway and shows the right line, so the class can talk about which clue would have cracked it. A new lock arrives at midnight.
- Can I share our result?
- Yes. “Copy result” gives a spoiler-free line (tries and stars, no answer) to post or send to another class.
Pairs well with
- The Good Morning Fix™ K–3 morning meeting: calendar, counting the days of school, weather and circle.
- The Multiplication Fix™ Whole-class fact practice when the clues show which facts are shaky.
- Quick Check A four-level check for understanding after the puzzle.
Start tomorrow morning
Put thefixesprogram.com/run/daily-fix/ on the board before the bell. Read clue 1 aloud and ask “Which Fix can we place for sure?” That’s it.
The Daily Fix™ at a glance
- Who it’s for
- Classroom teachers, K–8 (levels for K–2, Grades 3–5 and 6–8)
- What you do
- Project today’s puzzle. The class lines up the clues and cracks the door code together. A new puzzle every school day.
- Cost
- Free. No accounts, no logins, no student data.
- What you need
- No prep. One teacher screen or projector. No student devices.