Delve into the power of visuals in enhancing math instruction. Join us as we explore how visuals can revolutionize how students perceive and understand mathematics, particularly those with learning disabilities. We discuss the importance of number sense, the role of focus triggers like dots, and the application of the Concrete Representational Abstract (CRA) approach. Discover practical strategies and insights to create an inclusive and engaging math learning environment for all students.

This video podcast is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, meaning we’ll receive a small commission if you buy something.
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RESOURCES/COURSES MENTIONED
Tier 1 Interventions Workshops https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/tier-1-interventions-workshops
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BOOKS
Making Mathineers on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Mathineers-Transformational-Experiences-Conceptual-ebook/dp/B08NFCZ64K
Handwriting Brain Body DISconnect Digital Version: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/hwbbd
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Handwriting-Brain-Body-DisConnect-techniques-ebook/dp/B07N1XB1G7
Both books are also available in paperback and hardcover versions. All versions are available wherever books are sold.
Math DYSconnected - To be released in 2024.
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TIME CODES
00:00 - Introduction
01:28 - The Power of Visuals in Math
05:15 - Number Sense and Its Importance
08:45 - Dots as Focus Triggers
13:30 - The CRA Approach
17:00 - Visuals in Secondary Math
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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=4
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/72Wmq8ddduGz4eUMK7LVIy
AMAZON MUSIC/AUDIBLE: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/89f67d1a-98b5-4592-a53c-8f4acb3d8029
This 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.
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MISSION
Minds 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.
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WORK WITH US:
Join Tier 1 Workshops. Complete episodes with bonuses are included in the course. New episodes are added after the live events. https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/tier-1-interventions-workshops
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FREE RESOURCES
7 Fixes for Broken Number Sense Download your free copy at the bottom of the page. https://mindsonmath.com/
DIY Handwriting Paper. Watch this free webinar. https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/diy-handwriting-paper
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Other ways to connect with Jonily and Cheri
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tier1interventions
IG: 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/mindsonmath
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheridotterer
https://www.tiktok.com/@mindsonmath
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QUESTION
What 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.com
Jonily@mindsonmath.com
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HASHTAGS
#tier1interventions #mindonmath #jonily #cheri #dysgraphia #dyscalculia #first15days #focustriggers #IMPACTfocus

In the latest Tier 1 Interventions podcast episode, we had the pleasure of delving deep into the often overlooked but crucially important sensory strategies that can significantly enhance classroom learning. Joined by my co-host Jonily Zupancic, we explored proprioceptive input—a key element that can transform the educational experience, especially for students who struggle with memory and recall.

What is Proprioception?

Proprioception refers to the sensory input that tells us about the position of our body parts and the effort needed in movement. It’s like a hidden sense that helps the brain process how much pressure to apply, for instance, in holding a pencil or stabilizing oneself in a chair. In this episode, we discussed how proprioceptive activities, such as carrying books, using therapy balls, or even simple tasks like brushing hair or squeezing putty, can prime the body for learning.

Classroom Strategies That Work

We highlighted several practical strategies that teachers can implement right in the core classroom settings:
1. Dynamic Seating and Movement: Encouraging small movements, like pushing a cart of books or using a therapy ball as a seat, can help wake up the body’s sensory receptors, making students more receptive to learning.
2. Task-Based Activities: Incorporating activities that involve squeezing, tearing, and cutting can engage the proprioceptive sense during more sedentary tasks, helping to maintain focus and engagement.
3. Structured Physical Tasks: Simple structured tasks, such as wall push-ups or carrying a set of books to another classroom, offer joint compression that helps ground students and prepares them mentally for academic tasks.

The Impact on Learning

Proprioceptive input is essential for physical coordination and cognitive processes, particularly memory and retention. When students engage in proprioceptive activities, they are more likely to remember and recall information because their bodies and brains are fully activated and prepared for the task at hand.

Engage, Educate, Empower

The core message of our discussion is clear: by integrating sensory strategies into daily classroom activities, educators can create a more inclusive and effective learning environment. These interventions are not just beneficial for students with specific sensory needs; they enhance learning for all students, making the classroom a dynamic, engaging, and supportive space for everyone.

Join Us Live to learn how math teachers, intervention specialists, OT, and other support personnel can impact students using the same interventions, creating consistency across all environments.
Join Us Live to increase working memory for students with visual, conceptual, and multi-sensory interventions.
Join us live to spark student attention and focus through unique instructional techniques that can be expanded for all Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) levels.
Join us live to foster self-regulation and self-awareness for independent work structured by differentiated adaptive resources.
Listen to the entire workshop and get more details about Adaptive Condensed Curriculum Math Interventions and Focus Triggers.

REGISTER HERE for our next workshop. Spring 2024 dates: April 20, 2024 and May 18, 2024. 9:30 am- 12:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (NY).

Subscribe and Stay Informed

Subscribe to the Tier 1 Interventions podcast for more insights and strategies. Whether you’re a teacher or therapist looking to spice up your classroom techniques or an educational professional aiming to broaden your understanding of sensory integration, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode, co-hosts Cheri Dotterer and Jonily Zupancic explored the intricate relationship between the sensory system and learning in the classroom. Their discussion shed light on how educators can harness the power of the senses to enhance memory retention and learning among students.

The Role of the Cerebellum in Learning

Cheri Dotterer opened the conversation by highlighting the importance of the cerebellum, a part of the brain that controls many functions and is directly related to learning and memory. Understanding the cerebellum's role can help educators create more effective teaching strategies that cater to the brain's natural processes.

Sensory Systems and Their Impact on Learning

The podcast delved into the five primary sensory systems—smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch—and their impact on learning. Each sense contributes uniquely to the learning process, and understanding these contributions can help educators create a more inclusive and effective learning environment.

1. Smell: The olfactory system has a direct pathway to the brain's limbic system, which is involved in emotion and memory. This unique connection means that smells in the classroom can profoundly impact students' emotional states and their ability to retain information.
2. Taste: The gustatory system, or sense of taste, can also influence attention and memory. For example, the act of chewing gum or sucking on a mint can stimulate the brain and enhance focus during learning activities.
3. Hearing: Auditory processing is crucial for understanding verbal instructions and absorbing new information. Educators can enhance auditory learning by repeating essential information differently and ensuring the classroom environment is conducive to listening.
4. Vision: Visual aids are powerful learning tools, as they can help students make connections between abstract concepts and concrete images. When it comes to explaining complex ideas, a picture truly is worth a thousand words.
5. Touch: The tactile system plays a role in hands-on learning, where physical manipulation of objects can reinforce concepts and improve memory retention.

Creating a Sensory-Friendly Classroom

The discussion emphasized the importance of creating a sensory-friendly classroom environment that accommodates all learners. Sensory classroom environments include being mindful of potential sensory overload, providing opportunities for movement and breaks, and incorporating a variety of sensory experiences into lessons.

The Power of Multisensory Learning

The podcast concluded with a reminder of the power of multisensory learning. By engaging multiple senses simultaneously, educators can enhance students' understanding and retention of information. This approach is particularly beneficial for students with learning differences, as it provides various pathways for information processing.

Conclusion

Cheri Dotterer and Jonily Zupancic's insights in the "Tier 1 Interventions" podcast underscore the importance of considering the sensory system in educational practices. By understanding and leveraging the connections between the senses and learning, educators can create more effective and inclusive learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of all students.

Jonily.com
Cheridotterer.com

Welcome to the Tier 1 Interventions podcast, where we explore groundbreaking strategies for enhancing classroom learning and engagement. I'm your co-hosts, Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer. In this episode, we delve into the transformative impact of our unique approach to teaching mathematics, emphasizing the importance of understanding and visualizing numbers. Listen to two of our client's responses to today's teaching.

This episode was recorded live on February 17, 2024, at the Tier 1 Interventions Workshop. If you join by December 31, 2024, you can get a $80 discount on your first month's subscription. The regular price is $97/month or $947/annual.

Grab the math bonuses and lessons from the workshop version. Some handout bonuses include a standard 120-chart and several adaptive versions for students with disabilities, plus a complete package of Jonily's Hear Me Teach segments, which have not been released to the podcast. Click here for the discounted link.

Occupational therapists, you too will find this workshop beneficial in enhancing your practice. Listen for one of our clients, Teresa, an occupational therapist, who says," I hate math with a passion. But, I see where you can help me help my kids advance."

During this month's workshop, we discussed using a 120-chart to meet skip counting, one more, one less, two more, two less, ten more, ten less, fractions, decimals, percent, rate, and function math standards. Before exploring the 120-chart, Jonily explained the Numeracy Cycle.

In our last episode, Cheri explained the Flow Cycle. Check out that episode for more details on how brain function influences the Numeracy Cycle.

The Numeracy Cycle: A Four-Step Process to Mastery

Our innovative method, the Numeracy Cycle, consists of four sequential components designed to foster a deep, intuitive understanding of numbers. Let's explore each step:

1. Count: Start with rote counting, emphasizing repetition to build a foundational understanding of numbers.
2. Quantify: Next, focus on quantifying numbers, helping students grasp the value and significance of each count.
3. Compare: Encourage students to compare numbers and understand their relative sizes and values.
4. Operate: Finally, introduce operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, building on the solid foundation established in the previous steps.

By following this cycle, we ensure that students develop a robust number sense, which is crucial for success in mathematics.

The Importance of Visual Representation and Multi-Sensory Approaches

Incorporating visual and multi-sensory strategies is essential for effective learning. By adapting content to student visualization and embedding cognitive, stimulating multi-sensory approaches, we cater to diverse learning styles, ensuring all students can grasp mathematical concepts.

Rethinking Operations: Division as a Starting Point

Contrary to traditional teaching sequences, we advocate for starting with division, or as we call it in early education, "sharing." This approach allows students to develop a conceptual foundation of equal sharing applied to other operations. By prioritizing division, we lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive understanding of mathematics.

The Role of Tier 1 Interventions in Math and Beyond

Our focus extends beyond mathematics. The principles of Tier 1 Interventions apply across disciplines, emphasizing the importance of foundational skills, multi-sensory learning, and integrating academic and non-academic strategies. We aim to enhance overall teaching effectiveness and student outcomes by adopting this holistic approach.

Conclusion

In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we've explored a revolutionary approach to teaching mathematics that emphasizes the Numeracy Cycle, visual representation, and the integration of multi-sensory strategies. By rethinking traditional teaching sequences and embracing a more comprehensive approach, we can unlock our students' full potential and set them on a path to success in mathematics and beyond.

Stay tuned for more insights and strategies in upcoming Tier 1 Interventions podcast episodes.
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