Tier 1 Interventions Podcast By Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer cover art

Tier 1 Interventions

Tier 1 Interventions

By: Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer
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 Math intervention, writing intervention, neurobiology, and cognitive-based learning - Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer are sharing how to incorporate them into your classroom. Jonily is a secondary math teacher and instructional coach for math K-12. Cheri is an occupational therapist specializing in neurology-based treatment across the lifespan and a Strategy-based Interventionist. Jonily secretly calls Cheri her Lesson Plan Whisperer because Cheri is always in her head, reminding her of the foundations of development before academics begin. They met in 2018 and have been talking ever since. Together, they have discovered the Miracle Math Classroom. This classroom embeds all math standards from Kindergarten to twelfth grade, plus neuro-based interventions that improve proficiency and boost student engagement. Both gifted and learning support students thrive using the interventions they share, plus all students in between. Using cognitive enhancing techniques strategically placed in the lesson plan, students learn more and enjoy school more, and fewer students get removed from critical instruction for Tier Three Interventions. Jonily has discovered how to teach all Kindergarten through algebra math standards using twelve, that’s right, twelve Reference Tasks. They include the Pizza Problem, 120-Chart, Paper Folding, Making Rectangles, Quick Dots, Locker Problem, Jesse and Kay, Geoboard, Candy Problem, Paint Problem, Staircase, and the Function Machine. Cheri uses Body-Brain Anchors to ignite the flame inside everyone’s brain for learning. Whether a person is five or 90, her strategy-based interventions will ignite that flame. These Brain-Body Anchors include the Handstand Flip, Interlaced Bilateral Integration, and the Body Sentence Alphabet. Together, they connect the puzzle behind math instruction and instructional delivery alongside these cognitive-enhancing activities to maximize math education for all students. Join us live on the third Saturday of the month, sans July, for the math behind the Reference Task. Every live event is approximately 2.5 contact hours. The first 30-ish minutes become this podcast. To hear the entire training, join our membership program. Please note: we will not record on holiday weekends. Join our mailing list for updates on dates. To join us live, register at Tier1interventions.com. The 2.5-hour sessions include the PowerPoint slides, additional audio files of Jonily teaching the Reference Task, resources from Cheri, and much more. A subscription to these 2.5-hour Workshops is $97/month or $947/year. Membership includes: *Approximately 27.5 hours of direct training per year *Audio files of Jonily's Hear Me Teach segments - complete *PowerPoint Slides to grab and use in your Magic Math Classroom *Resources from Jonily and Cheri for you and your students *A copy of Math DYSconnected when released. Or, you can listen to the first segment on your favorite podcast app for free; no membership is required. No matter how you listen, you will come away with golden nuggets that will transform your classroom. Reach out to Jonily: jonily@mindsonmath.com Reach out to Cheri: info@cheridotterer.com Tier1Interventions.com2024 Minds on Math, LLC and Dotterer Educational Consulting Language Learning Mathematics Science
Episodes
  • Stop Teaching Multiplication the Old Way—Try This Strategy

    Stop Teaching Multiplication the Old Way—Try This Strategy
    Jun 3 2025
    “3 Math Rules That Never Expire” series, Jonily Zupancic unpacks the timeless power of “Multiplication is Rectangle.” Discover how this one concept—taught with visual models, grid paper, and even scissors—transforms understanding from 1st grade to high school algebra. You’ll hear how multiplication connects to skip counting, area, and even factoring binomials like (x+2)(x+3)(x+2)(x+3)(x+2)(x+3). Whether you're teaching 7×8 or 27×18, you'll learn how to make math visual, conceptual, and unforgettable.🎧 Tune in for: • Why expired math rules fail students • How to teach multiplication through arrays and connector boxes • When and how to introduce fractional and algebraic rectangles • A preview of Cycle A in the "Rules That Never Expire" strategyDownload Cycle A here: https://disabilitylabs.com/43857/files/683e3aae9b9a6_1748908718_intro-multiplication-cycles-notes.pdfNOTE: You must log into DisabilityLabs.com to gain access.While you are there, join out 3d community. https://disabilitylabs.com/community/3d-learning-lounge-1***************************************************************************BOOKSMaking Mathineers on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Mathineers-Transformational-Experiences-Conceptual-ebook/dp/B08NFCZ64KHandwriting Brain Body DISconnect Digital Version: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/hwbbd On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Handwriting-Brain-Body-DisConnect-techniques-ebook/dp/B07N1XB1G7Both books are also available in paperback and hardcover versions. All versions are available wherever books are sold.Math DYSconnected - To be released in 2024.***************************************************************************TIME CODES00:00 - Introduction to the Series01:30 - Why Some Math Rules Don’t Transfer02:45 - Multiplication is Rectangle: The Timeless Rule04:00 - Using the Dimension Chart for 7×806:00 - Finding the Connector Block (The “Array Number”)08:30 - Scaling to Two-Digit Multiplication (27×18)11:30 - Teaching 8 × ½ Using Grid Paper and Scissors13:30 - Exploring Fractions and Decimals with Rectangles16:00 - Visualizing Algebra: (x+2)(x+3)17:09 - Why Multiplication is Rectangle Never Expires***************************************************************************SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to the Audio version of the podcast here on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tier-1-interventions/id1729403599?uo=4SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/72Wmq8ddduGz4eUMK7LVIyAMAZON MUSIC/AUDIBLE: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/89f67d1a-98b5-4592-a53c-8f4acb3d8029This podcast is created from excerpts from the Tier 1 Interventions Workshop. To hear the full math intervention, subscribe to watch the event live monthly on the 3rd Saturday during the school year.***************************************************************************MISSIONMinds on Math, LLC: To provide engaging, high-quality professional development and instructional coaching for teachers to improve student achievement and understanding of mathematics.Dotterer Educational Consulting, a Therapy Services, LLC company: To provide professional development to improve writing skills through efficient lesson planning for regular education classrooms.***************************************************************************FREE RESOURCEShttps://www.eventbrite.com/o/jonily-zupancic-8523599443https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cheri-dotterer-classroom-coach-18603393525***************************************************************************Other ways to connect with Jonily and CheriFB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tier1interventionsIG: https://www.instagram.com/cheridotterer/ https://www.instagram.com/jonilyzupancic/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheridotterer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonily-zupancic-29aa7a54/X: https://twitter.com/CheriDotterer https://twitter.com/mindsonmathTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheridotterer https://www.tiktok.com/@mindsonmath***************************************************************************QUESTIONWhat is your biggest struggle in your classroom right now? Include grade level and your role. Share in the comments or email us at:Cheri@cheridotterer.comJonily@mindsonmath.com***************************************************************************HASHTAGS#jonily #cheri #Tier1Interventions #GeoboardMath #MathStrategies #OTinSchools #MathIntervention #Dyscalculia #NeuroscienceInEducation
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    17 mins
  • What If Math and Writing Struggles Are Actually the Same Problem?

    What If Math and Writing Struggles Are Actually the Same Problem?
    May 27 2025
    What happens when an occupational therapist and a math coach collide? In this segment, Cheri Dotterer introduces her long-time collaborator, Jonily Zupancic, a math coach and former teacher who brings deep insight into why math instruction often misses the mark for students with learning differences. Together, they explore the interconnectedness of reading, writing, and math—and how Tier 1 strategies can realign instruction to support all learners.Listeners will walk away with powerful insight into how educational silos (ELA vs. math) can be bridged using cognitive science, collaborative co-teaching, and practical classroom strategies. If you’ve ever wondered how dysgraphia and dyscalculia really show up in your students—and what to do about it—this segment is your wake-up call.👉 Subscribe and share this with a fellow educator who needs a boost of inspiration!🔗 Find the complete Quick Dots Purple X training module: https://disabilitylabs.com***************************************************************************BOOKSMaking Mathineers on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Mathineers-Transformational-Experiences-Conceptual-ebook/dp/B08NFCZ64KHandwriting Brain Body DISconnect Digital Version: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/hwbbd On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Handwriting-Brain-Body-DisConnect-techniques-ebook/dp/B07N1XB1G7Both books are also available in paperback and hardcover versions. All versions are available wherever books are sold.Math DYSconnected - To be released in 2024.***************************************************************************TIME CODES00:00 – Recap from Cheri: From dysgraphia to math challenges00:10 – Personal reflection: Realizing the reading-writing disconnect00:35 – The discovery: Even non-readers benefit from writing strategies00:45 – Enter Jonily Zupancic: Math teacher turned coach01:10 – How Cheri and Jonily’s worlds “collided” 4–5 years ago01:30 – The “aha” moment: Linking writing challenges to math performance01:55 – Why standard math teaching strategies fall short02:20 – The power of co-designing interventions across subjects02:45 – Introducing a new way of thinking about math as a language***************************************************************************SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to the Audio version of the podcast here on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tier-1-interventions/id1729403599?uo=4SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/72Wmq8ddduGz4eUMK7LVIyAMAZON MUSIC/AUDIBLE: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/89f67d1a-98b5-4592-a53c-8f4acb3d8029This podcast is created from excerpts from the Tier 1 Interventions Workshop. To hear the full math intervention, subscribe to watch the event live monthly on the 3rd Saturday during the school year.***************************************************************************MISSIONMinds on Math, LLC: To provide engaging, high-quality professional development and instructional coaching for teachers to improve student achievement and understanding of mathematics.Dotterer Educational Consulting, a Therapy Services, LLC company: To provide professional development to improve writing skills through efficient lesson planning for regular education classrooms.***************************************************************************FREE RESOURCEShttps://www.eventbrite.com/o/jonily-zupancic-8523599443https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cheri-dotterer-classroom-coach-18603393525***************************************************************************Other ways to connect with Jonily and CheriFB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tier1interventionsIG: https://www.instagram.com/cheridotterer/ https://www.instagram.com/jonilyzupancic/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheridotterer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonily-zupancic-29aa7a54/X: https://twitter.com/CheriDotterer https://twitter.com/mindsonmathTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheridotterer https://www.tiktok.com/@mindsonmath***************************************************************************QUESTIONWhat is your biggest struggle in your classroom right now? Include grade level and your role. Share in the comments or email us at:Cheri@cheridotterer.comJonily@mindsonmath.com***************************************************************************HASHTAGS#jonily #cheri #Tier1Interventions #GeoboardMath #MathStrategies #OTinSchools #MathIntervention #Dyscalculia #NeuroscienceInEducation
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    10 mins
  • Why Some Kids Can Read but Still Can’t Write

    Why Some Kids Can Read but Still Can’t Write
    May 20 2025
    In this powerful kickoff to the Math DysConnected Week, occupational therapist and learning interventionist Cheri Dotterer shares the deeply personal and professional journey that led her to become a national voice in the world of dysgraphia and math interventions. With over 30 years of experience in both adult rehab and school-based therapy, Cheri reflects on how seemingly disconnected learning challenges like dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and gifted reading profiles intersect in the classroom—and in life. This episode sets the stage for unpacking practical, Tier 1 classroom strategies that bridge cognitive science and math instruction.Listeners will be introduced to the neuroscience of writing challenges, the identity struggles tied to learning disabilities, and the power of exposure-first teaching strategies that support all learners—whether they can read, write, or neither. A must-listen for teachers, OTs, and intervention specialists seeking to understand the “why” behind common classroom struggles.👉 Subscribe and share this with a fellow educator who needs a boost of inspiration!🔗 Find the complete Quick Dots Purple X training module: https://disabilitylabs.com***************************************************************************BOOKSMaking Mathineers on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Mathineers-Transformational-Experiences-Conceptual-ebook/dp/B08NFCZ64KHandwriting Brain Body DISconnect Digital Version: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/hwbbd On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Handwriting-Brain-Body-DisConnect-techniques-ebook/dp/B07N1XB1G7Both books are also available in paperback and hardcover versions. All versions are available wherever books are sold.Math DYSconnected - To be released in 2024.***************************************************************************TIME CODES00:00 – Meet Cheri Dotterer: 30 years as an OT, from rehab to school-based therapy00:33 – How dysgraphia became her passion through personal reflection01:00 – The mismatch: Kids who can read but can't write01:30 – Realizing she shared the same struggles as her students02:10 – Why kids who can’t read still benefit from writing interventions02:45 – The origin of the question: “Why can’t kids write?”03:30 – The turning point moment in her therapy career04:00 – Connecting reading, writing, and math as brain-based patterns04:45 – Introduction to the concept of “Math DysConnected”05:15 – The importance of pattern recognition and exposure before mastery***************************************************************************SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to the Audio version of the podcast here on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tier-1-interventions/id1729403599?uo=4SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/72Wmq8ddduGz4eUMK7LVIyAMAZON MUSIC/AUDIBLE: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/89f67d1a-98b5-4592-a53c-8f4acb3d8029This podcast is created from excerpts from the Tier 1 Interventions Workshop. To hear the full math intervention, subscribe to watch the event live monthly on the 3rd Saturday during the school year.***************************************************************************MISSIONMinds on Math, LLC: To provide engaging, high-quality professional development and instructional coaching for teachers to improve student achievement and understanding of mathematics.Dotterer Educational Consulting, a Therapy Services, LLC company: To provide professional development to improve writing skills through efficient lesson planning for regular education classrooms.***************************************************************************FREE RESOURCEShttps://www.eventbrite.com/o/jonily-zupancic-8523599443https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cheri-dotterer-classroom-coach-18603393525***************************************************************************Other ways to connect with Jonily and CheriFB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tier1interventionsIG: https://www.instagram.com/cheridotterer/ https://www.instagram.com/jonilyzupancic/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheridotterer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonily-zupancic-29aa7a54/X: https://twitter.com/CheriDotterer https://twitter.com/mindsonmathTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheridotterer https://www.tiktok.com/@mindsonmath***************************************************************************QUESTIONWhat is your biggest struggle in your classroom right now? Include grade level and your role. Share in the comments or email us at:Cheri@cheridotterer.comJonily@mindsonmath.com***************************************************************************HASHTAGS#jonily #cheri #Tier1Interventions #GeoboardMath #MathStrategies #OTinSchools #MathIntervention #Dyscalculia #NeuroscienceInEducation
    Show more Show less
    31 mins
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