Sensory – Motor – Memory Detective
Who am I
I’m Cheri Dotterer, a neurodivergent occupational therapist passionate about empowering educators and students. My journey is one of overcoming challenges and embracing the unique perspectives that come with being neurodivergent.
Writing and communication haven’t always come easily to me. Crafting sentences is a deliberate process, and I rely on tools like word processors, Grammarly, and Otter.ai to express myself efficiently. Even as a college student, it took me 25 sheets of paper and an electric typewriter with a correction ribbon to construct a two-page paper—only to receive a C due to typographical errors. My hypermobile joints require me to use an adaptive pencil for writing by hand, and vocabulary remains an ongoing challenge. Yet, these struggles have shaped my deep empathy and determination to support others.
My Purpose: Shining Light on Learning Challenges
God has blessed me with a heightened sense of empathy for students with learning disabilities—those who struggle to get their thoughts on paper. My purpose is to illuminate the reasons behind these challenges and equip educators with the tools they need to help students thrive.
As the Sensory-Motor-Memory Detective, I break down the sensory, motor, and memory systems for teachers. I help them understand why students like Suzy or Johnny might be struggling in the classroom. Through my courses and resources, I focus on addressing writing challenges using math interventions—an innovative approach that blends the best of both disciplines.
Innovative Solutions for the Classroom
Register for a free webinar called 3 Interventions to Make Your Students Shine, where I unpack three math experiences from Minds on Math Reference Tasks. I go beyond the concepts in Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms to give teachers actionable strategies that drive success.
In addition, my IMPACT Learning Framework—which stands for Inclusion, Metacognition, Perseverance, Adaptability, Confidence, and Transcendence—serves as a guide for uncovering hidden sensory and cognitive barriers to learning. This framework equips educators to better understand and support their students, creating classroom environments where everyone can succeed.
A Unique Perspective on Learning
I’ve been told time and time again that I bring a unique perspective to the nuances of reading, writing, and mathematics. By shining a light on often-overlooked areas of the brain and uncovering sensory issues that hinder educational success, I help teachers transform their classrooms into spaces of growth and possibility.
Whether you’re an educator looking for tools to help your students shine or simply curious about how to address learning challenges, I’m here to guide you every step of the way. Let’s uncover the potential in every student—together.