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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
  • Stop Teaching the Textbook

    Stop Teaching the Textbook
    Nov 4 2025

    What if your students begged to keep doing math?


    In this Level 2 session of the Mastery Math Method, Cheri Dotterer and Jonily Zupancic show you how to break free from the textbook and make math feel like a game again.


    You’ll see how:

    • A simple Locker Problem can teach double-digit multiplication
    • Reference tasks connect creativity to fourth-grade standards
    • Interleaving and spaced practice help every student retain what they learn
    • And why giving yourself permission to ditch the worksheet changes everything

    🎓 Join the next Mastery Math Method Masterclass → disabilitylabs.com/calendar


    ✨ Takeaway: Learning isn’t about control — it’s about connection, curiosity, and courage to make a mess before mastery.


    💬 Drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments—start the conversation and build the movement because every student deserves to feel like a mathematician.

    🔔 Subscribe for more Tier 1 math interventions, strategies, and training.
     📅 Join the next Masterclass → https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar

    💬 COMMENT BELOW: What’s YOUR take on starting with division?


    ⏱️ Chapters

    00:00 Welcome – Level 2 Mastery Math Method

    00:40 From Locker Problem to Double-Digit Multiplication

    01:35 Why Reference Tasks Change Everything

    03:10 Skip-Counting → Multiplying → Connecting Standards

    04:20 Interleaving and Spaced Practice in Real Classrooms

    06:05 Teacher Reactions – Level Up Mindset

    07:10 Students Love Thinking Math

    08:15 From Overwhelmed to Empowered

    09:00 How to Join the Mastery Math Masterclass

    11:00 Closing – For Such a Time as This


    🎯 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?

    Spotify
    Apple Podcasts
    Amazon/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-bundle
    Mastery 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.


    🏷️ Hashtags


    #MathIsMessy #Tier1Interventions #MasteryMathMethod #BrainBasedLearning #REWIREMethod #OTinSchools #TeacherMindset
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • You Can't Rush Math Art

    You Can't Rush Math Art
    Oct 28 2025

    Math is messy — and that’s precisely how mastery begins.

    In this Tier 1 Interventions episode, Cheri Dotterer and Jonily Zupancic challenge the myth that math (and writing) should be neat, orderly, and always “on the line.” From the Locker Problem to real-world classroom stories, they model how productive chaos and productive struggle help students think critically, notice patterns, and build an accurate understanding of numbers.

    🧠 Inside this episode:
    • Why “messy math” is essential for deep learning
    • How to turn student drafts into tools for reflection
    • The OT perspective on movement and memory
    • The three types of bilateral integration and how they re-engage the brain
    • What “You can’t rush math art” really means for teachers

    ✨ Takeaway: Learning isn’t about control — it’s about connection, curiosity, and courage to make a mess before mastery.

    💬 Drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments—start the conversation and build the movement because every student deserves to feel like a mathematician.

    🔔 Subscribe for more Tier 1 math interventions, strategies, and training.
     📅 Join the next Masterclass → https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar

    💬 COMMENT BELOW: What’s YOUR take on starting with division?


    ⏱️ Chapters

    00:00 – Welcome to Tier 1 Interventions

    00:40 – What Makes Mastery Math Different

    01:15 – Why Math Must Be Messy

    02:30 – The Type-A Teacher Trap

    03:45 – Draft-1 Thinking: Messy Before Mastery

    05:20 – Framing the Chaos: Learning From Mistakes

    07:00 – What Do You Notice? Pattern Spotting in Action

    09:30 – The OT’s Secret: Move to Remember

    11:50 – Three Types of Bilateral Integration Explained

    13:40 – When Planning Gets in the Way of Learning

    15:10 – The Locker 11 Revelation

    17:15 – “If I Say It, They Hear It — If They Say It, They Learn It”

    19:20 – Turning Observation Into Ownership

    21:00 – The 12 Song: Rhythm Meets Math Fluency

    23:40 – “You Can’t Rush Math Art” — Lessons From Toy Story

    25:30 – When Students Finally See the Pattern

    26:30 – Wrap-Up: Messy Learning Creates Mastery


    🎯 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?

    Spotify
    Apple Podcasts
    Amazon/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-bundle
    Mastery 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.


    🏷️ Hashtags


    #MathIsMessy #Tier1Interventions #MasteryMathMethod #BrainBasedLearning #REWIREMethod #OTinSchools #TeacherMindset
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Why Exposure Matters More Than Mastery

    Why Exposure Matters More Than Mastery
    Oct 15 2025

    In this live Tier 1 Interventions session, Cheri Dotterer and Jonily Zupancic take you inside a Level 2 Mastery Math Method class as they explore the classic Locker Problem — one of the “Dirty Dozen” reference tasks students revisit year after year.

    Jonily demonstrates how these timeless math tasks deepen logic, number sense, and symbolic understanding, while Cheri highlights how process time and conceptual exposure create space for authentic learning.

    Discover why exposure before mastery can transform math instruction, how to nurture student vulnerability, and what happens when teachers stop rushing to confirm or deny answers.

    🎧 Perfect for math educators, OTs, and interventionists ready to “uplevel” their practice and create classrooms where curiosity thrives.

    💬 Drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments—start the conversation and build the movement because every student deserves to feel like a mathematician.

    🔔 Subscribe for more Tier 1 math interventions, strategies, and training.
     📅 Join the next Masterclass → https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar

    💬 COMMENT BELOW: What’s YOUR take on starting with division?


    ⏱️ Chapters

    00:00 – Welcome with Cheri & Jonily

    01:00 – Level 2: Connecting the Dirty Dozen math tasks

    03:00 – The Locker Problem explained

    04:30 – Exposure vs. Mastery in learning

    06:00 – Four categories of mathematical thinking (Number • Symbol • Shape • Logic)

    07:30 – Moving from acting out to symbolic notation

    11:00 – “What do you see? What do you notice?” discussion prompts

    14:00 – Teaching through the crickets: embracing silence and vulnerability

    16:00 – Building soft skills through math experiences

    17:30 – Why students need more process time

    18:30 – The sitcom trap of math instruction

    19:30 – Letting the brain linger: the power of unconfirmed questions

    20:30 – Reclaiming curiosity and authentic learning

    21:00 – Next episode teaser: Pixar and the Power of Story in Math


    🎯 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?

    Spotify
    Apple Podcasts
    Amazon/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-bundle
    Mastery 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.


    🏷️ Hashtags

    #Tier1Interventions #MathIntervention #MasteryMathMethod #TeachingStrategies #SpecialEducation #MTSS #NeurodiverseLearning #Jonily #Cheri


    #MathEducation #TeacherLife #MasteryMath #Dysgraphia #Tier1Interventions #MathCoaching
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
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