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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
  • The Teaching Mistake That Kills Student Independence

    The Teaching Mistake That Kills Student Independence
    Mar 24 2026
    In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore a common classroom mistake that quietly destroys student independence: stepping in too quickly to fix the problem.During a real classroom activity where students were measuring height and collecting data, an unexpected moment revealed how easily adults can interrupt productive struggle. Instead of allowing students to explore, make mistakes, and think through the process, the task was taken over—removing the learning opportunity.Students build mathematical thinking through experience, experimentation, and problem solving. When we rescue them too quickly, we unintentionally teach them to wait for the answer instead of discovering it.In this session we discuss: • Why productive struggle is essential for learning • How rescuing students limits independence • What controlled chaos looks like in a classroom • Why elementary students often handle independence better than older students • How teachers can support thinking without taking overThis video is Session 3 of a 10-part October Workshop series exploring better ways to teach mathematics and support student thinking.If you work with students in math classrooms, intervention programs, or special education services, this series will help you rethink how learning actually happens.👍 Subscribe to Tier 1 Interventions for more strategies that improve math learning and student success.🔗 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.Contact jonily@mindsonmath.com👇 Comment below: Where do you see kids getting stuck most often in math?⏱ Timestamps0:25 Review: When Teachers Should Tell vs Let Students Discover1:00 Fact Fluency vs Conceptual Learning1:40 Mini Lesson Example: Inches, Feet, and Yards2:20 Why Telling Does Not Equal Learning3:00 Preparing Students for the Measurement Activity3:45 Designing a “Controlled Chaos” Lesson4:30 The Classroom Teacher Leaves for a Meeting5:00 Students Begin Measuring Height5:40 When Productive Struggle Begins6:10 The Substitute Steps In6:50 The Moment Learning Was Interrupted7:30 Why Rescuing Students Hurts Learning8:15 How Schools Accidentally Teach Dependence9:00 Why Students Stop Persevering9:40 Classroom Discussion About Independence10:30 Elementary vs Middle School Independence11:30 What Controlled Chaos Should Look Like12:30 Why Students Need Space to Think13:30 Reflection on the Classroom Experience14:20 Invitation to the Monthly Masterclass🎯 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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    15 mins
  • Why Students Need to Struggle Before Learning Math

    Why Students Need to Struggle Before Learning Math
    Mar 17 2026
    In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore one of the most misunderstood ideas in teaching: students often need to experience the struggle before the lesson in order for real learning to occur.Too often, teachers step in too quickly to rescue students from mistakes. But when students are allowed to explore, experiment, and even get things wrong, they begin to build deeper understanding of numbers, measurement, and mathematical relationships.In this session, we walk through a real classroom example where students collect data, measure, and begin to make sense of mathematical ideas through experience before direct instruction.This approach helps students develop: • stronger number sense • deeper conceptual understanding • independence in problem solving • lasting math fluencyYou’ll also hear about the four stages of effective lesson design, including the often-missing step of pre-planning before instruction begins.This video is Session 2 of a 10-part series from our October Workshop focused on improving math instruction and helping students think more deeply about mathematics.If you work with students in math classrooms, intervention programs, or special education services, this series will give you practical strategies to improve learning and engagement.👍 Subscribe to Tier 1 Interventions for more strategies that improve math learning and student success.🔗 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.Contact jonily@mindsonmath.com👇 Comment below: Where do you see kids getting stuck most often in math?⏱ Timestamps0:20 Review: Lockers, Rectangles, Pizzas Framework0:50 The Two Data Points Activity1:20 The “Five Pound” Story2:00 Understanding Weight and Comparison2:40 Difference as Distance on a Number Line3:20 A Lesson That Changed Direction4:05 The Importance of Pre-Planning4:40 The Four Stages of Teaching5:40 Why Most Teachers Skip Pre-Planning6:15 Masterclass Overview and Teaching Structure7:05 Returning to the Classroom Lesson8:00 Introducing the Scale and Measurement Activity8:50 Why Students Must Experience Before Instruction9:40 Letting Students Struggle With the Task10:25 Why We Often Save Students Too Quickly11:10 Mini-Lesson After Experience12:00 Reading the Scale and Number Patterns13:00 Measuring With Meter Sticks14:00 Confirming Facts vs Discovery Learning15:00 When Teachers Should Tell Students the Answer16:00 How Fact Fluency Fits Into Conceptual Learning16:30 Workshop Invitation and Closing🎯 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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    17 mins
  • Why Students Forget Math — And 3 Problems That Fix It

    Why Students Forget Math — And 3 Problems That Fix It
    Mar 10 2026
    Why do so many students forget math concepts just weeks after learning them? In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore three powerful math problems that help build real fluency and long-term understanding.Instead of relying on memorization or repetitive worksheets, these problems help students connect ideas, recognize patterns, and strengthen mathematical thinking. When students experience math through meaningful tasks, they retain what they learn and apply it more confidently.This video is Session 1 of a 10-part series exploring instructional strategies that improve math fluency, student independence, and deeper conceptual understanding.In this session, we discuss: • Why students often forget math after instruction • The difference between memorization and fluency • Three math problems that strengthen mathematical thinking • How these tasks help students retain concepts over timeThese ideas come from real classroom experience and are designed to support teachers, interventionists, and specialists in helping students truly understand mathematics—not just complete assignments.📚 Session 1 of 10 in the Math Fluency SeriesIf you work with students who struggle to retain math concepts, this series will help you rethink how fluency is built in the classroom.👍 Subscribe to Tier 1 Interventions for more strategies that improve math learning and student success.🔗 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.Contact jonily@mindsonmath.com👇 Comment below: Where do you see kids getting stuck most often in math?⏱ Timestamps0:28 About This Series: October Workshop Excerpts0:45 The Three Concepts That Build Math Fluency1:00 Lesson Structure for Today’s Session1:35 The Classroom Story Begins2:20 Observing Teaching in Action3:00 The CES Framework: Culture • Essentials • Seasons4:10 Why Traditional Math Instruction Often Fails5:00 What to Avoid: Telling Too Much Too Soon6:20 How to Create Better Math Learning Environments7:05 Classroom Observation Story8:10 Teaching Math Across Grade Levels9:05 Real Classroom Activity: Measuring Height and Weight10:10 Why Bar Graphs May Limit Learning11:00 A Better Approach: Two-Variable Graphs12:05 Preparing Students for Secondary Mathematics13:05 Patterns and Relationships in Data14:10 Why Early Math Experiences Matter🎯 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
    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
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