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Tier 1 InterventionsMath intervention, writing intervention, neurobiology, and cognitive-based learning - Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer are sharing how to incorporate them into your classroom. Author: 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 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, thats 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 everyones 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, sa Language: en Genres: Education, Language Learning, Mathematics, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Why Students Need to Struggle Before Learning Math
Episode 25
Tuesday, 17 March, 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
