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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
  • Transform Your Tier 1 Math Classroom

    Transform Your Tier 1 Math Classroom
    Jan 6 2026
    Math achievement is not a Tier 2 or Tier 3 problem — it’s a Tier 1 structure problem.In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, Cheri Dotterer and Jonily unpack what it truly means to transform a Tier 1 math classroom. Drawing from real classroom results in high school Algebra 1, this conversation explains why traditional pacing guides, textbooks, and scope-and-sequence models fail most students — and what to do instead.You’ll learn:Why math achievement collapses when Tier 1 instruction is misaligned with how the brain learnsHow the Novel Model restructures math instruction for deeper understanding and retentionWhy exposure matters more than mastery early in the yearHow to teach more math in less time without increasing pressureWhy Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions cannot fix a Tier 1 design problemHow chunking, structure, and story transform number sense and confidenceThis episode is essential viewing for: ✔ Math teachers (K–12) ✔ Instructional coaches ✔ Administrators & curriculum directors ✔ Special educators & interventionists ✔ Occupational therapists supporting math learningIf you’re ready to stop blaming students — and start fixing structure — this episode lays out the roadmap.🔗 Get involved with Tier 1 Interventions coaching: Check the link in the show notes to join live sessions or access the full year of professional learning. Join one Mastery Math Method Workshop for just $47.https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching👇 Comment below: Where do you see kids getting stuck most often in math?⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Mission Accomplished: Why This Conversation Matters01:00 – Teaching Algebra 1 Again: Real Classroom Context02:00 – What “Mission Accomplished” Actually Means03:00 – The Real Math Crisis (It’s Not About Math)04:15 – Cognitive Ability, Percentiles, and Placement Reality06:30 – Why Average Students Are Failing Under Traditional Models08:00 – The Structure Problem in Math Education09:30 – Why Pacing Guides and Textbooks Are the Issue11:00 – Saying the Same Thing on Purpose: How Learning Works12:00 – Introducing the Novel Model13:15 – Teaching More Math in Less Time14:30 – Engagement, Retention, and Number Sense15:45 – Why Tier 2 and Tier 3 Can’t Fix Tier 117:00 – Tier 1 Interventions Explained18:30 – Planning in Chunks, Not Sequences20:00 – Lockers, Rectangles, and Pizzas: A Core Chunk21:30 – What Story Are You Telling in Math?22:45 – Designing the School Year Like a Novel24:00 – Exposure vs Mastery: The First 15 Days25:30 – How Any Teacher Can Implement This Now26:45 – Coaching Opportunities and Next Steps🎯 Ready to Change Math Outcomes in 10 Days?👉 Join our FREE Masterclass for school leaders, teachers, and OTs: https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar🎧 Prefer to Listen On the Go?SpotifyApple PodcastsAmazon/Audible🔗 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundle 📧 Disability Labs Community: https://disabilitylabs.com/community/3d-learning-lounge-1🎙️ Credits: Host: Cheri Dotterer Co-Host: Jonily Zupancic Production: Disability Labs Podcast Network🧠 Resources Mentioned:Mastery Math Method Level One (Lifetime Access): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundleMastery Math Method Live sessions (Annual Subscription): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching⚠️ Disclaimer: The content shared in this video is for educational purposes only and does not replace your district’s policies or individualized education plans. Always consult with your instructional team before implementing new strategies.KeywordsTier 1 math instruction, math achievement, math intervention, Algebra 1 instruction, brain-based math, math pacing guide, math scope and sequence, Novel Model, Mastery Math Method, math structure, K-12 math, math education reform, Tier 1 interventions, number sense, math retention
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    27 mins
  • The System IS Broken

    The System IS Broken
    Dec 30 2025
    The problem with math is NOT your child.If your student feels confused, overwhelmed, or frustrated with math—even when they’re trying—the issue is not effort, motivation, or ability. The system is broken.In this episode of Tier One Interventions, we unpack why so many kids struggle with math despite years of instruction, intervention, and support. From number lines and disconnected procedures to well-intended interventions that miss foundational understanding, we examine how traditional math instruction often works against the brain.You’ll learn:Why kids struggle with math even when they’re intelligent and capableHow math is often taught in disconnected pieces instead of meaningful patternsWhy math intervention and IEP support frequently fail to produce lasting resultsHow early instructional choices impact confidence, retention, and reasoningWhat brain-aligned, connected math instruction actually looks likeThis conversation is for parents, teachers, therapists, and homeschool educators who are tired of blaming kids—and are ready to understand what’s really going wrong.Because when we stop asking “What’s wrong with the child?” and start asking “What’s wrong with the system?” Everything changes.👇 Comment below: Where do you see kids getting stuck most often in math?👉 Want to see the full instructional progression step-by-step? Join one Mastery Math Method Workshop for just $47.https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching⏱️ Chapters00:00 – The problem is NOT the kids01:18 – What we’re seeing in classrooms everywhere03:42 – Why kids feel confused even when they’re trying06:15 – The hidden flaw in how math is taught09:08 – Number lines, procedures, and disconnected learning12:34 – Why intervention doesn’t fix the real issue15:50 – What kids actually need to understand math19:22 – The cost of a broken system22:40 – A better way forward26:05 – Closing: what changes when we stop blaming kids🎯 Ready to Change Math Outcomes in 10 Days?👉 Join our FREE Masterclass for school leaders, teachers, and OTs: https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar🎧 Prefer to Listen On the Go?SpotifyApple PodcastsAmazon/Audible🔗 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundle 📧 Disability Labs Community: https://disabilitylabs.com/community/3d-learning-lounge-1🎙️ Credits: Host: Cheri Dotterer Co-Host: Jonily Zupancic Production: Disability Labs Podcast Network🧠 Resources Mentioned:Mastery Math Method Level One (Lifetime Access): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundleMastery Math Method Level Two (Annual Subscription): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching⚠️ Disclaimer: The content shared in this video is for educational purposes only and does not replace your district’s policies or individualized education plans. Always consult with your instructional team before implementing new strategies.Keywordsnumber lines mathmath number linemath interventionmath strategies for struggling studentsneurodivergent learners mathADHD math strategiesdysgraphia mathconceptual math teachingmath teaching mistakeswhy students struggle with mathmath tools explainedelementary math instructionmath sense makingbar models math120 chart mathmath for homeschoolersspecial education mathmath pedagogymastery mathtier 1 interventions
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    24 mins
  • Why Number Lines Break Kids (And How to Fix Them)

    Why Number Lines Break Kids (And How to Fix Them)
    Dec 23 2025
    What’s wrong with number lines in math instruction? They’re among the most widely used tools in classrooms and among the most damaging when introduced too early.In this episode of Tier One Interventions, we put number lines on trial.Number lines are highly abstract representations of quantity, yet many students are expected to use them before they have built the concrete, visual foundations required to understand them. This often leads to confusion, guessing, shutdown, and long-term gaps in math understanding, especially for neurodivergent learners, students with ADHD, dysgraphia, or working-memory challenges.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why number lines are more abstract than teachers realizeWhy students freeze on number line problemsHow number lines can break math understanding instead of building itThe missing instructional steps between concrete and abstract mathWhy tools like the 120 chart, arrays, rectangles, bar models, and paper strips must come before number linesHow improper sequencing affects fact fluency, fractions, and algebraWhat to do when number lines appear on testsThis conversation is essential for:Elementary teachersSpecial education teachersMath interventionistsHomeschool parentsParents of neurodivergent learnersAnyone teaching math conceptuallyIf your students understand math one day and lose it the next, the problem may not be the student — it may be the tool.👉 Want to see the full instructional progression step-by-step? Join one Mastery Math Method Workshop for just $47.https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Why Math Isn’t Sticking01:08 – What “Teaching Math Backwards” Really Means02:40 – Why A’s Don’t Equal Mastery04:12 – Answer-Getting vs Mathematical Thinking06:05 – The Power of Structure in Math08:10 – Rectangles, Arrays, and Visual Models10:02 – Diamond Problems Explained12:25 – Early Algebra Starts Sooner Than You Think14:40 – Why Exposure Beats Memorization17:05 – Teaching for Reasoning and Sense-Making19:10 – What Tier 1 Math Interventions Should Look Like21:30 – How to Fix Math Instruction Moving Forward23:45 – Next Steps: Learn the Mastery Math Method🎯 Ready to Change Math Outcomes in 10 Days?👉 Join our FREE Masterclass for school leaders, teachers, and OTs: https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar🎧 Prefer to Listen On the Go?SpotifyApple PodcastsAmazon/Audible🔗 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundle 📧 Disability Labs Community: https://disabilitylabs.com/community/3d-learning-lounge-1🎙️ Credits: Host: Cheri Dotterer Co-Host: Jonily Zupancic Production: Disability Labs Podcast Network🧠 Resources Mentioned:Mastery Math Method Level One (Lifetime Access): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundleMastery Math Method Level Two (Annual Subscription): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching⚠️ Disclaimer: The content shared in this video is for educational purposes only and does not replace your district’s policies or individualized education plans. Always consult with your instructional team before implementing new strategies.Keywordsnumber lines mathmath number linemath interventionmath strategies for struggling studentsneurodivergent learners mathADHD math strategiesdysgraphia mathconceptual math teachingmath teaching mistakeswhy students struggle with mathmath tools explainedelementary math instructionmath sense makingbar models math120 chart mathmath for homeschoolersspecial education mathmath pedagogymastery mathtier 1 interventions
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
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