May 27, 2025 10:07 S2:E33

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 differences. Together, they explore the interconnectedness of reading, writing, and math—and how Tier 1 strategies can realign instruction to support all learners.

Listeners will walk away with powerful insight into how educational silos (ELA vs. math) can be bridged using cognitive science, collaborative co-teaching, and practical classroom strategies. If you’ve ever wondered how dysgraphia and dyscalculia really show up in your students—and what to do about it—this segment is your wake-up call.

👉 Subscribe and share this with a fellow educator who needs a boost of inspiration!

🔗 Find the complete Quick Dots Purple X training module: https://disabilitylabs.com

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BOOKS

Making Mathineers on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Mathineers-Transformational-Experiences-Conceptual-ebook/dp/B08NFCZ64K

Handwriting Brain Body DISconnect Digital Version: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/hwbbd

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Handwriting-Brain-Body-DisConnect-techniques-ebook/dp/B07N1XB1G7

Both books are also available in paperback and hardcover versions. All versions are available wherever books are sold.

Math DYSconnected - To be released in 2024.

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TIME CODES

00:00 – Recap from Cheri: From dysgraphia to math challenges

00:10 – Personal reflection: Realizing the reading-writing disconnect

00:35 – The discovery: Even non-readers benefit from writing strategies

00:45 – Enter Jonily Zupancic: Math teacher turned coach

01:10 – How Cheri and Jonily’s worlds “collided” 4–5 years ago

01:30 – The “aha” moment: Linking writing challenges to math performance

01:55 – Why standard math teaching strategies fall short

02:20 – The power of co-designing interventions across subjects

02:45 – Introducing a new way of thinking about math as a language

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SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to the Audio version of the podcast here on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tier-1-interventions/id1729403599?uo=4

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/72Wmq8ddduGz4eUMK7LVIy

AMAZON MUSIC/AUDIBLE: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/89f67d1a-98b5-4592-a53c-8f4acb3d8029

This podcast is created from excerpts from the Tier 1 Interventions Workshop. To hear the full math intervention, subscribe to watch the event live monthly on the 3rd Saturday during the school year.

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MISSION

Minds on Math, LLC: To provide engaging, high-quality professional development and instructional coaching for teachers to improve student achievement and understanding of mathematics.

Dotterer Educational Consulting, a Therapy Services, LLC company: To provide professional development to improve writing skills through efficient lesson planning for regular education classrooms.

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FREE RESOURCES

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/jonily-zupancic-8523599443

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cheri-dotterer-classroom-coach-18603393525

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Other ways to connect with Jonily and Cheri

FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tier1interventions

IG: https://www.instagram.com/cheridotterer/

https://www.instagram.com/jonilyzupancic/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheridotterer/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonily-zupancic-29aa7a54/

X: https://twitter.com/CheriDotterer