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PODCAST

Tier 1 Interventions

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

science mathematics

All Episodes

25:48

Why Counting Is the Hidden Foundation of Math

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/05/12

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 identifying factors in the locker problem, students build deeper understanding when they repeatedly return to meaningful counting experiences.These reference tasks allow students to reconnect to core ideas when

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14:22

Math Facts Are Really Rectangle Relationships

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/05/05

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 problem, making rectangles, diamond problems, and dimension charts, students begin to see the structure behind multiplication. Instead of guessing or memorizing facts, they learn to recognize patterns,

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20:11

Why Good Math Teaching Doesn’t Always Look Like Teaching

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/04/28

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.In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore why powerful math instruction can be misunderstood during classroom observations and why responsive teaching often looks different from traditional

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17:18

How to Teach Students to Ask Better Questions in Math

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/04/21

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 become more independent learners.Instead of relying on whole-class lectures, this session shows how small group facilitation, mini lessons, and responsive teaching can help students learn how to

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90:00

The Math Education Shift Teachers Need

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/04/16

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 instruction has prioritized procedures, algorithms, and finishing problems. But true math achievement comes from something deeper: number sense, reasoning, and conceptual understanding.If you're a math

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19:56

Why Productive Struggle Matters in Math

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/04/14

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 naturally learn. When babies learn to walk, they fall hundreds—sometimes thousands—of times before they succeed. Yet in school, mistakes are often treated as failure instead of a necessary part of learning.In

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20:15

The Moment Students Stop Thinking in Math Class

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/04/07

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 depend on the teacher for the next step. Over time, students stop engaging in deep thinking and instead look for hints, procedures, or answers.In this session we discuss: • The moment students shift from

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15:38

Why Math Instruction Isn’t Working for Many Students

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/03/31

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 learning.Through real classroom examples and discussion, we examine how well-intentioned teaching habits—both in schools and at home—can unintentionally interfere with productive struggle and long-term

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15:15

The Teaching Mistake That Kills Student Independence

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/03/24

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 easily adults can interrupt productive struggle. Instead of allowing students to explore, make mistakes, and think through the process, the task was taken over—removing the learning opportunity.Students

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17:27

Why Students Need to Struggle Before Learning Math

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/03/17

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

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16:21

Why Students Forget Math — And 3 Problems That Fix It

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/03/10

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 students connect ideas, recognize patterns, and strengthen mathematical thinking. When students experience math through meaningful tasks, they retain what they learn and apply it more

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12:36

Why Tier 1 Done Right Changes Everything

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/03/03

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 the 5-season instructional model creates stability, how finishing content early shifts the emotional climate of your classroom, and why trust in the system removes the “hurry up and huddle” mindset

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16:29

The Tier 1 Strategy That Builds Number Sense

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/02/24

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 fifths, allowing students to revisit essential concepts with increasing depth and mastery.We discuss: • Why repetition over time builds durable learning • How to define instructional essentials • Why

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18:44

How Math Should Be Taught in Seasons

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/02/10

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, and up-leveling across the year.You’ll learn why the first 15 days of school matter more than any other time, how exposing all essential math content before December changes retention, and why

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21:00

What Story Is Math Telling

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/02/03

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 challenges traditional pacing guides, chapter-by-chapter textbooks, and the assumption that all standards matter equally. Instead, we explore how defining an ultimate goal, identifying essential chunks,

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19:44

Why Tier 1 Math Fails Before Instruction Even Begins

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/01/13

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 design problem, not an instructional one.You’ll learn:Why traditional pacing guides and scope & sequence models break downHow Tier 1 math fails when the year isn’t designed intentionallyWhy fixing

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26:39

Transform Your Tier 1 Math Classroom

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2026/01/06

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 explains why traditional pacing guides, textbooks, and scope-and-sequence models fail most students — and what to do instead.You’ll learn:Why math achievement collapses when Tier 1 instruction is

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23:36

The System IS Broken

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2025/12/30

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 despite years of instruction, intervention, and support. From number lines and disconnected procedures to well-intended interventions that miss foundational understanding, we examine how traditional

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19:50

Why Number Lines Break Kids (And How to Fix Them)

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2025/12/23

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, yet many students are expected to use them before they have built the concrete, visual foundations required to understand them. This often leads to confusion, guessing, shutdown, and long-term gaps in

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15:13

We're Teaching MATH Backwards

Tier 1 Interventions ·

2025/12/16

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 sequencing mistake creates fragile learning.When students can get correct answers but can’t explain their reasoning, transfer skills, or retain concepts, the issue isn’t effort or intelligence. It’s how

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