PODCAST · science
Tier 1 Interventions
by Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer
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
Episodes
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Why Counting Is the Hidden Foundation of Math
What if the most advanced math ideas actually start with the simplest skill students learn first? In this final episode of the Tier One Interventions workshop series, we explore a powerful truth: counting is the foundation of mathematical thinking. From counting blocks in rectangles to…
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Math Facts Are Really Rectangle Relationships
Why do so many students struggle to remember multiplication facts? In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore a powerful idea: math facts make more sense when students understand them as rectangle relationships rather than isolated numbers to memorize. Using tasks like the locker…
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Why Good Math Teaching Doesn’t Always Look Like Teaching
What does real math instruction actually look like in a classroom? Sometimes it looks messy. Students are moving, talking, comparing strategies, and solving problems together. To an outside observer, it might look like students are off task—but in reality, deep mathematical thinking is happening....
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How to Teach Students to Ask Better Questions in Math
Many students say the same thing when they are stuck in math: "I need help." But they often cannot explain what they need help with. In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore how teachers can help students develop the ability to ask better questions, identify where they are stuck, and...
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The Math Education Shift Teachers Need
Why do students struggle with math — even when they get the answer right? In this full math professional development training, Jonily — founder of Minds on Math and host of Saturday Math — challenges one of the biggest misconceptions in math education: Solving is not learning. For decades, math...
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Why Productive Struggle Matters in Math
Why do so many students stop trying after just one mistake? In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore why mistakes are an essential part of learning mathematics—and why many classrooms unintentionally train students to quit when they encounter difficulty. Think about how humans…
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The Moment Students Stop Thinking in Math Class
Have you ever watched students suddenly stop thinking during a math lesson? In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore the moment when students shift from active problem-solving to waiting for the teacher to tell them what to do next. Many classrooms unintentionally train students to...
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Why Math Instruction Isn’t Working for Many Students
Many teachers work incredibly hard to help students succeed in math, yet students continue to struggle with independence, perseverance, and deep understanding. In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore three hidden problems in math classrooms that may be quietly limiting student…
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The Teaching Mistake That Kills Student Independence
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…
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Why Students Need to Struggle Before Learning Math
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…
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Why Students Forget Math — And 3 Problems That Fix It
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...
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Why Tier 1 Done Right Changes Everything
If you implement Tier 1 with clarity and consistency, something changes. There’s no panic before testing. No frantic last-minute review. No emotional overload in March. In this final episode of the Tier One Interventions series, we unpack what “mission accomplished” really means. You’ll hear how...
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The Tier 1 Strategy That Builds Number Sense
In this episode of Tier One Interventions, we unpack the instructional model behind Math in a Month, a 30-day structure designed to build real number sense through intentional iteration. Instead of racing through disconnected units, this Tier 1 strategy divides the semester into structured…
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How Math Should Be Taught in Seasons
Math isn’t failing because teachers aren’t working hard enough. It’s failing because it’s being taught in the wrong structure. In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we introduce a seasonal model for math instruction that replaces chapter-by-chapter pacing with intentional exposure, coherence,...
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What Story Is Math Telling
Every school district is telling a math story, whether they realize it or not. In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we unpack a critical but often overlooked question: What story is your K–12 math system actually telling students? Using the “novel model” for math instruction, this segment...
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Why Tier 1 Math Fails Before Instruction Even Begins
Most Tier 1 math conversations focus on instruction — better lessons, better strategies, better interventions. But what if the problem starts before teaching even begins? In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we unpack the real issue hiding underneath low math achievement: 👉 a structural…
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Transform Your Tier 1 Math Classroom
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...
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The System IS Broken
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...
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Why Number Lines Break Kids (And How to Fix Them)
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,...
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We're Teaching MATH Backwards
We’re teaching math backwards — and it’s one of the biggest reasons students struggle with understanding, retention, and confidence. In this Tier 1 Interventions episode, Jonily Zupancic explains why traditional math instruction focuses too heavily on answers rather than thinking and how that...
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Why As don't equal mastery
Why do students earn A’s in math… yet still struggle to pass state tests? In today’s episode of Tier 1 Interventions, Cheri Dotterer and Jonily Zupancic uncover the hidden truth behind traditional grading: grades measure compliance—NOT mastery. You’ll learn why “good students” often carry the...
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Why students Zone Out constantly
Students aren’t zoning out because they’re bored — they’re zoning out because their brains literally can’t do what we’re asking them to do. In this episode, Cheri Dotterer, MS, OTR, and math leader Jonily break down the neuroscience behind attention, dopamine, novelty, and why every classroom…
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WHY Your Math Curriculum Isn’t Working
If you’ve ever wondered why your students still don’t “get” math—even with all the new textbooks, intervention programs, small groups, apps, and training—this episode will change everything. In today’s conversation, Cheri and Jonily pull back the curtain on the brutal truth: 👉 The problem isn’t...
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Stop Teaching the Textbook
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...
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You Can't Rush Math Art
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...
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Teach Math Like a Play
What if your math lessons felt more like a story than a worksheet? In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, Cheri Dotterer and Jonily Zupancic reveal how to teach math like a play — using the power of storytelling to captivate every student. Discover how the Three-Act Math Story (Act 1 Hook • Act…
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Why Exposure Matters More Than Mastery
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…
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Moral Obligation in Math Education Why Good Teaching Isn’t Enough
In this passionate and powerful episode of Tier 1 Interventions, Cheri Dotterer and Jonily Zupancic are joined by fellow educators Kirk, Teresa, Kathy, and Natalie for a live conversation on the deeper mission behind math education. This isn't just about teaching content—it's about the moral...
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Why Division is More Foundational Than Addition
In this powerful Level 2 episode of the Mastery Math Method series, math specialist Jonily Zupancic takes us deeper into the strategy of reordering math instruction for maximum impact. She challenges conventional wisdom by declaring that division is not just a late skill, but essential, even for...
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Teach Division First?!
Why do we start math with addition when kids naturally understand sharing first? In this Level 2 Mastery Math Method training, Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer challenge the traditional math sequence by flipping the script: Start with Division. This episode dives into: Why equal sharing is...
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The Secret to Math Success for the 2025-2026 School Year
Welcome to the kickoff of our August Saturday Math! 🎉 In this episode, Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer set the stage for the 2025–2026 school year with a focus on depth in lesson planning. You’ll learn: Why shallow, “grab-and-go” teaching resources aren’t enough. The grade levels Jonily will…
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Why students struggle with math
What happens when a student knows the answer in their head but can’t get it right on paper? In this Tier 1 Interventions Masterclass clip, join Cheri Dotterer (OT, author of Handwriting Brain Body DisConnect) and Jonily Zupancic (Math Specialist, author of Making Mathineers) as they uncover the...
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Why Learning Doesn’t Stick (and How Brian Proved It Wrong)
Brian’s story isn’t just about one student—it’s about every student who has ever struggled to learn math. In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, discover how teaching the brain’s way transforms learning that sticks. Join Cheri Dotterer (OT, author of Handwriting Brain Body DisConnect) and…
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Mastery Math Method That Makes Learning Stick
Discover how Tier 1 math interventions and the Mastery Math Method help students remember lessons — and even break past the limits of the bell curve! In this masterclass clip, Cheri Dotterer (OT, author of Handwriting Brain Body DisConnect) and Jonily Zupancic (Jay-Z, Math Specialist and author…
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We're Teaching Subtraction Wrong - Try this instead!
Are we teaching subtraction all wrong? In this episode of the Tier 1 Interventions Podcast, Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer break down Math Rules That Never Expire — Subtraction is Distance. You’ll learn: ✅ Why “subtraction is distance” works from preschool through high school ✅ How to make…
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The Division Rule that EVERY Teacher Misses
💡 Every Student Deserves to Understand Division Discover how story, movement, and strategy come together to make division finally click, even for students with IEPs. This Tier 1 Interventions episode reveals how simple shifts create massive breakthroughs. 📘 What You’ll Learn in This Episode In...
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Teach math that actually sticks
Step inside a vibrant kindergarten classroom where math transforms from confusion to clarity. In this immersive Tier 1 Interventions episode, we witness the power of silly songs, skip counting, and hands-on discovery as students unlock real pattern recognition through movement, storytelling, and...
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This Paper Game Teaches Quadratics—Without Students Knowing!
In this hands-on episode, recorded live at our June Tier 1 Interventions event, Jonily shares a robust and adaptable math strategy using nothing more than a piece of paper and red and white counters. This deceptively simple game helps students across all grade levels—from first grade to...
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Why Number Sense Unlocks Everything
In this electrifying episode recorded live at our June event, Jonily Zupancic dives deep into the misunderstood world of the “science of math.” Discover the powerful contrast between reading and math instruction, why counting—not computation—is the ultimate key to number sense, and how the…
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Stop Teaching Multiplication the Old Way—Try This Strategy
“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…
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What If Math and Writing Struggles Are Actually the Same Problem?
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...
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Why Some Kids Can Read but Still Can’t Write
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…
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It’s NOT a 5x5! Why Grid Paper Trips Kids Up
Is your student really drawing a 5x5 square—or just counting boxes? In this episode of the Tier 1 Interventions Workshop, we take a deep dive into grid paper misconceptions and why so many students—even in middle school—struggle with precision, tracing, and accurate visual-motor control. You’ll...
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Why Straight Lines Aren’t Always Straightforward: S2 E30
What if your students could see math differently—literally? In this powerful chunk of our Tier 1 Interventions Geoboard Workshop, we dive deep into the concept of diagonals—how a simple shift from horizontal and vertical lines to diagonal ones transforms not only math instruction but also…
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The Geo Board Hack That Fixed Handwriting AND Math Anxiety! S2 E29
In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we delve into how a simple tool—the geo board—can yield surprising results for students who struggle with note-taking, handwriting, or traditional seated learning. Join Cheri, Jonily, and Natalie as they explore how vertical surfaces, flow state, and...
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The Secret to Better Focus, Shape Sense, and Math Fluency
What do vestibular reflexes, math standards, and rubber bands have in common? In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, Cheri and Jonily unpack the unexpected power of the Geo Board. This tool blends occupational therapy and mathematics to close academic and non-academic gaps in the Tier 1...
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Rethinking Math Education Part 4: S2 E27
Part 4 of 4 In this episode, Cheri and Jonily discuss breaking down the essential concepts in mathematics that every student should master, the power of reference tasks, and strategies to individualize learning with less prep and stress for teachers. They also explore how functional skills...
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Rethinking Math Education Part 3: S2 E26
Part 3 of 4 In this episode, Cheri and Jonily discuss breaking down the essential concepts in mathematics that every student should master, the power of reference tasks, and strategies to individualize learning with less prep and stress for teachers. They also explore how functional skills...
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Rethinking Math Education Part 2: S2 E25
Part 2 of 4 In this episode, Cheri and Jonily discuss breaking down the essential concepts in mathematics that every student should master, the power of reference tasks, and strategies to individualize learning with less prep and stress for teachers. They also explore how functional skills...
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Rethinking Math Education part 1: S2 E24
In this episode, Cheri and Jonily discuss breaking down the essential concepts in mathematics that every student should master, the power of reference tasks, and strategies to individualize learning with less prep and stress for teachers. They also explore how functional skills intersect with…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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
HOSTED BY
Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Tier 1 Interventions have?
Tier 1 Interventions currently has 88 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Tier 1 Interventions about?
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...
How often does Tier 1 Interventions release new episodes?
Tier 1 Interventions has 88 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Tier 1 Interventions?
You can listen to Tier 1 Interventions on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Tier 1 Interventions?
Tier 1 Interventions is created and hosted by Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer.
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