The Secret to Better Focus, Shape Sense, and Math Fluency

04/22/25 • 36 min

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 functioning, why precision versus accuracy matters, and what happens when kids struggle to switch from vertical to horizontal processing. Additionally, Cheri demonstrates the Handstand Flip—a simple movement hack that engages the whole brain and prepares students to learn.
🎯 Topics include:
Measurement as a gateway to number sense
Geo Board strategies from K to Algebra
Math standards alignment across grade levels
Non-academic interventions that change classroom behavior
These insights help ALL learners succeed
🔗 Find the full Geo Board 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
01:35 – The Geo Board as a Reference Task
03:00 – Strategic Use of Geo Boards in Tier 1 Classrooms
05:15 – Identifying Students Who Benefit Most
06:45 – Why Measurement, Money, and Time Are Struggles
08:20 – Measurement as a Tool to Build Number Sense
09:50 – Connecting Shape to Fluency and Equations
10:40 – Precision vs Accuracy in Learning
12:00 – What’s Inside the Geo Board Module?
13:00 – Math Standards Supported by Geo Board
15:10 – Math Practices: Modeling, Tools, and Repetition
17:05 – The Role of Spaced Practice
18:30 – Chunk Zero: Vertical vs Horizontal Processing
21:00 – Vestibular Reflexes and Visual Tracking
24:00 – Simple Classroom Interventions (slant boards, standing, scaffolding)
27:45 – Activating the Body: Prepping for Learning
29:30 – The Handstand Flip Exercise Demo
31:45 – Why Strength Matters for Writing and Attention
33:00 – Fall Recovery, Forearm Strength, and OT Insights
35:00 – Summary of Non-Academic Tier 1 Interventions
36:00 – Closing: Learn More at DisabilityLabs.com
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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
https://twitter.com/mindsonmath
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheridotterer
https://www.tiktok.com/@mindsonmath
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QUESTION
What is your biggest struggle in your classroom right now? Include grade level and your role. Share in the comments or email us at:
[email protected]
[email protected]
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Previous Episode

Rethinking Math Education Part 4: S2 E27

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 separated this workshop into four parts. Look for all four episodes.

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RESOURCES/COURSES MENTIONED

Tier 1 Interventions Workshops https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/tier-1-interventions-workshops

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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.

***************************************************************************

TIME CODES

00:20 – Today’s Topic: The Paint Problem

00:34 – What is Tier 1? Why it matters

01:00 – The problem with pull-out interventions

01:22 – Recap from last week: “Why?”

01:33 – The power of movement for attention and focus

02:02 – Brain science: Why spinning helps focus

02:24 – Activating the brain through controlled movement

02:36 – Traditional classroom expectations and their pitfalls

03:17 – Why directions don’t always stick

03:40 – Movement strategies to engage all learners

04:08 – Cheri’s mission: Preaching movement in education

04:11 – Guest insight: Janet’s 7th-grade strategies

04:40 – Crazy 8s and playful engagement

05:14 – Sneaky academic reinforcement through movement

05:23 – More focus triggers and crossing midline

05:38 – Kindergarten example: Using transitions intentionally

06:24 – Wiggle fingers and crossing midline for attention

06:45 – Activating the brain for the next step

07:00 – More examples of focus triggers

07:11 – Brain-body disconnects: Board-to-table transitions

07:34 – Tracking difficulties and the 120 chart

07:53 – It’s more than computation—math is cognitive

08:19 – Invitation to subscribe and share

08:47 – How Tier 1 builds coherence across the classroom

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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.

***************************************************************************

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.

***************************************************************************

FREE RESOURCES

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

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

***********************************************...

Next Episode

The Geo Board Hack That Fixed Handwriting AND Math Anxiety! S2 E29

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-taped binders turned into slant boards, this episode is full of strategies you can use tomorrow.

🔗 Find the full Geo Board 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.

***************************************************************************

TIME CODES

00:00 – The power of vertical whiteboards for struggling students

01:00 – Welcome to the Geo Board episode: OT meets math

02:00 – Building Thinking Classrooms shoutout & Peter Liljedahl

03:30 – The missing neuroscience behind vertical surface learning

04:30 – Natalie on student engagement and focus at the boards

06:00 – Wrist extension, muscle development, and vertical writing

07:00 – "Teenage Tummy Time" and reducing gravity’s impact

08:00 – OT assessments, design copying, and unstructured geo board play

09:00 – Engaging the senses: why spatial design matters

10:00 – Brain science is Natalie’s new passion

10:45 – Desk adaptations using 3-ring binders

12:00 – Binder hacks for seating and footrests

12:45 – Duct tape tips for sensory-friendly writing

13:30 – Outro: Where to find the full Geo Board course

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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.

***************************************************************************

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.

***************************************************************************

FREE RESOURCES

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

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

***************************************************************************

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/

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