Routine 1: a five-minute warm-up
Choose one mechanic tied to the current topic: number bonds before addition, place value before two-digit work, or rhymes before a phonological-awareness activity. Follow with one question: ‘What strategy made that easier?’
Routine 2: a rotation station
One station can use a browser game, another manipulatives or cards, and another small-group teacher instruction. The digital activity then becomes part of a wider learning sequence rather than the only learning channel.
Routine 3: use errors for discussion
Avoid projecting a public class leaderboard as a measure of ability. Instead, discuss a common error anonymously: why a comparison sign was reversed, how to check a fraction, or where a maze strategy reached a dead end.
Choosing the right game
Start with the instructional goal, then select the game. For phonological awareness choose rhymes or initial sounds; for place value choose tens/ones; for executive function choose sequences and rule-following. Avoid activities where the main skill is simply tapping faster.
