Tier 1 Interventions Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer

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.
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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.
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.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.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.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.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.
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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:
Count: Start with rote counting, emphasizing repetition to build a foundational understanding of numbers.Quantify: Next, focus on quantifying numbers, helping students grasp the value and significance of each count.Compare: Encourage students to compare numbers and understand their relative sizes and values.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

Welcome to our latest episode of the "Tier One Interventions" podcast, where we delve into the critical role of foundational classroom strategies in maximizing learning for all students. This episode, hosted by Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer, explores the nuances of cognitive demand and load and how understanding these concepts can revolutionize classroom engagement and effectiveness.
The Core of Tier One Interventions:
Tier One interventions are the bedrock of a robust educational framework, focusing on the general classroom environment where all students, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, receive instruction. The strength of Tier One is crucial as it sets the foundation for higher-tier interventions and ensures that every student's needs are met within an inclusive setting. Teachers can create a conducive learning atmosphere that fosters deep understanding and retention by employing instructional strategies that cater to the student's body, brain, and emotions.
Cognitive Load vs. Cognitive Demand:A pivotal distinction discussed in this episode is between cognitive load and cognitive demand. Cognitive load refers to the overwhelming influx of information that can lead to disconnection and frustration, often manifesting in negative student behaviors. In contrast, cognitive demand represents the "sweet spot" of learning, where students are engaged, focused, and motivated. Achieving this balance requires skillful facilitation incorporating visual, multisensory, and conceptual approaches, ensuring the content is accessible and stimulating for all learners.
The Flow Cycle:Cheri Dotterer introduces the concept of the flow cycle, a four-step process that includes struggle, release, flow, and recovery. This cycle is essential for productive learning, as it allows for integrating new information with existing knowledge, leading to deeper comprehension and creativity. Authentic learning and engagement occur in the flow state, where cognitive demand is optimized. Teachers can facilitate this state by providing physical exercise, hydration, and social interaction opportunities, all of which contribute to the brain's readiness to absorb and process new information.
Practical Strategies for Teachers:The episode offers practical strategies for teachers to implement to promote productive struggle and cognitive demand in their classrooms. Questions like "What do you see?" "What do you notice?" and prompts like "Tell me about..." encourage students to share their perspectives, differentiating instruction naturally. These techniques engage students and signal that their thoughts and contributions are valued, fostering a sense of belonging and motivation.
The Importance of Research-Based Strategies:Jonily Zupancic emphasizes the importance of grounding instructional strategies in research. The podcast references influential works and experts in the field, such as "Make It Stick" and Steven Kotler, to underscore the scientific basis of their teaching approaches. These strategies are supported by cognitive science and proven to enhance learning outcomes by creating an environment where students can thrive intellectually and emotionally.
In conclusion, this "Tier One Interventions" episode sheds light on the transformative power of understanding and implementing effective instructional strategies. Educators can create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment where students can achieve their full potential by focusing on cognitive demand, embracing the flow cycle, and employing research-based techniques.

In this episode of the Tier 1 Interventions Podcast, hosts Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer dive deep into the impact of Tier 1, 2, and 3 interventions on classroom learning. Their discussion sheds light on the foundational aspects of mathematics instruction and the importance of addressing the needs of students at the earliest stages of their education.
The Importance of Foundational InstructionJonily Zupancic emphasizes the critical role of foundational instruction in mathematics. She points out that a lack of prerequisite skills is a significant barrier to student success. By focusing on building a strong foundation, students can experience increased memory retention and engagement in all content areas, not just mathematics.
Streamlining Interventions for Maximum ImpactThe conversation takes an interesting turn when both hosts discuss the concept of streamlining interventions. They advocate for minimal-time interventions that can significantly improve focus, memory retention, and engagement in the classroom. By simplifying the intervention process, educators can do more in less time, ensuring that the majority of students receive the support they need within the regular classroom setting.
Rethinking the Role of Tier 1 InterventionsThe podcast highlights the need for a shift in mindset when it comes to Tier 1 interventions. Instead of relying heavily on Tier 2 and 3 interventions, which often involve pulling students out of the classroom for specialized support, the focus should be on enhancing the quality of instruction in the regular classroom. This approach not only reduces the number of students requiring higher-tier interventions but also fosters an inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive.
The Megaphone Effect and Its ImplicationsCheri Dotterer introduces the concept of the "megaphone effect," where the gap between struggling students and their peers widens over time. By addressing learning challenges in the early years of education, educators can reduce this gap and ensure that students have a solid foundation to build upon as they progress through their academic journey.
A Call to Action for Educators and AdministratorsThe podcast episode concludes with a call to action for educators and administrators to prioritize effective instructional strategies and focus on creating a supportive learning environment in the classroom. By embracing the principles of Tier 1 interventions and rethinking traditional approaches to education, we can pave the way for a brighter future for all students.
In summary, the Tier 1 Interventions Podcast provides valuable insights into the transformative power of foundational instruction and streamlined interventions. By fostering a positive learning environment and focusing on the needs of students at the earliest stages, educators can ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed in mathematics and beyond.
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In this enlightening episode of Tier One Interventions, hosts Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer embark on a thought-provoking journey into the world of education, mainly focusing on the impact of COVID-19 and the evolution of Tier One interventions. They begin by exploring the concept of tier-one intervention, emphasizing its role in creating an inclusive, accessible, yet intellectually challenging environment in mathematics and writing.
Jonily Zupancic delves deep into the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic, highlighting a crucial turning point in educational practices. She argues persuasively for a paradigm shift in classroom instruction, advocating for an approach that serves more students efficiently and effectively, reducing the need for intensive interventions at higher tiers.
Cheri Dotterer brings a unique perspective from her occupational therapy background, discussing the escalating demands on OTs pre-COVID and the profound changes in the educational landscape following the pandemic. Her insights into the shifts in legislation and its impact on education, particularly in writing and fine motor skills, provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges educators and students face.
The episode is not just about highlighting problems; it's a beacon of hope and practical solutions. The hosts discuss strategies to enhance the complexity of mathematics education while maintaining accessibility for all students. They also address the decline in explicit writing instruction, drawing parallels to mathematics education and underscoring the need for a holistic approach to learning.
Listeners are invited to join this enlightening conversation, a thought-provoking exercise in reimagining education. The episode promises to blend insightful analysis, innovative ideas, and practical strategies, making it a must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone interested in the future of education.
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