Tier 1 Interventions

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 2 Story • Act 3 Offer) transforms problem-solving into curiosity-driven learning. You’ll hear how te...

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...

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 responsibility to teach it well. 🔥 Hear real stories from teachers and tutors on the frontlines of a broke...

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 little ones and strugglers. You’ll learn how division-based instruction —centered on sharing, questioni...

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 neurologically intuitive for students—even toddlers How starting with division unlocks deeper understanding...

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 be partnering with this year (2, 3, 4, 8, Algebra I & II). How our certified coaches are modeling...

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 disconnect between conceptual understanding and procedural math skills—and how the Mastery Math Metho...

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 Jonily Zupancic (Math Specialist, author of Making Mathineers ) as they reveal why traditional learning do...

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 of Making Mathineers ) reveal the neuroscience-based strategies behind the Mastery Math Method.  ✅ How...

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 math stick using brain-based strategies, movement, and multi-sensory learning  ✅ Ways to introduce...

💡 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 today’s episode, Jonily Zupancic completes her hands-on demonstration of division, showing how to turn...

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 structure. Discover how quick dots, the 120 chart, and square-building with blocks ignite both laughter...

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 Algebra—grasp deep mathematical thinking, including one-to-one correspondence and quadratic patterns. You’ll hea...

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 brain's innate wiring for estimation and patterns reshapes what we call math achievement. Plus, a special seg...

“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 multiplication connects to skip counting, area, and even factoring binomials like (x+2)(x+3)(x+2)(x+3)(x+2)(x+3). W...

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 differences. Together, they explore the interconnectedness of reading, writing, and math—and how Tier 1 strateg...

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 experience in both adult rehab and school-based therapy, Cheri reflects on how seemingly disconnected learning...

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 learn: Why grid paper is often too abstract too soon How to scaffold from geoboards to dot paper before...

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 students' experiences of precision, measurement, and curiosity. Join Cheri Dotterer, Jonily Zupancic, and gue...

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 insights from occupational therapy are revolutionizing math classrooms. From "Teenage Tummy Time" to duct-t...

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 classroom. You’ll learn how the Geo Board supports shape sense, measurement, number fluency, and executive fun...

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 intersect with math learning and how to make math accessible to all students without lowering rigor. We’ve se...

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 intersect with math learning and how to make math accessible to all students without lowering rigor. We’ve se...

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 intersect with math learning and how to make math accessible to all students without lowering rigor. We’ve se...

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 math learning and how to make math accessible to all students without lowering rigor. We’ve separated this...