The 3 Rs of Classroom Management: Routines, Relationships, and Results
2026-01-08 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual via Zoom
Effective classroom management is more than a set of rules-it’s the intentional design of a learning environment where students feel safe, supported, and ready to engage. In this session, we will explore the essential components of a well-managed classroom, including proactive routines, positive behavior systems, and relationship-centered strategies that build trust and community. Participants will examine real-world scenarios, reflect on their current practices, and learn concrete techniques to enhance transitions, minimize disruptions, and maintain instructional momentum. You’ll walk away with customizable tools, sample procedures, and practical language you can implement immediately to create a classroom culture that maximizes learning time and supports student success.

Special Education Leadership Network: Coffee Table Talk
2026-01-14 15:30 - 16:30
Join us for a candid and engaging Coffee Table Talk on leadership in Special Education. We’ll kick things off with brief updates from the facilitator, followed by open, collective learning grounded in real-world challenges. Together, we’ll explore a shared problem of practice and use that as a springboard for rich discussion and collaborative problem-solving. Whether you’re a seasoned administrator or new to special education leadership, this is your chance to share experiences, ask questions, and explore collaborative solutions in a relaxed, welcoming space. So grab your favorite mug, pull up a chair, and join us for rich conversation, community, and learning.

Multilingual Learners Cohort
2026-01-15 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-03-05 15:30 - 17:00
Looking for a space to connect and grow with others who support linguistically diverse students? The Multilingual Learner Cohort is a relaxed, teacher-driven community of practice that meets quarterly over Zoom. Each session is shaped by the group, so we welcome all voices to learn, bring ideas, or even co-facilitate! Whether you’re a classroom teacher, specialist, or administrator, you’ll gain strategies, build relationships, and stay inspired throughout the year.

Authentic Classrooms: Engaging Students through Real Life Work
2026-01-20 16:00 - 17:30
Why are so many students disengaged? Might we be able to teach them to INVEST in their own learning? If so, how? Students engage and even rise to the level of “investment” when they see life relevance in their learning. Learn from some examples of authentic, life-embedded classroom activities and share out some of your own! This session is al about “making it real” as we learn!

Tenacious Teaching Cohort: Mid-Year Moves; Using Mid-Year Data to Prepare for Second Semester
2026-01-22 16:00 - 17:30
The halfway point of the school year is a powerful moment to pause, reflect, and refocus. In this session, educators will learn how to analyze formative and benchmark assessment data to identify student learning needs and make strategic instructional adjustments. Participants will explore practical methods for grouping students, targeting skill gaps, and planning responsive lessons that build on student progress. Whether you’re working toward growth goals or preparing for spring assessments, this session will help you turn data into action for a strong second half of the year.

Literacy and Dyslexia Cohort
2026-01-28 16:00 - 17:30
Cohort members will share experiences about what is working with their students in the areas of literacy and dyslexia. The specific topics will be updated after feedback is received from the 1st cohort meeting (check for topics after September 30).

Using Deep Data to Plan and Deliver Effective Intervention
2026-01-29 16:00 - 17:30
Assessment and accountability data tell us a lot more than how well our school performs. Assessment and accountability data, including performance indices and item analyses, provide a roadmap for services at the heart of our mission — educating students! Learn how to use data indicators to target schoolwide needs, meet specific student learning needs, and deliver effective, tiered intervention programs. We have the data. Let’s use it!

Leadership Cohort: Dealing with Difficult Parents
2026-02-03 15:30 - 17:00
How does a school leader deal with parents who cannot be reached or who are not responsive to the needs of their child’s schooling? Come prepared to discuss your most difficult interactions with parents, what has worked for you, and what research and best practices might guide us. BCHF’s Leadership Cohort is an accepting, conversational space where leaders discuss information, share ideas and best practices, and overall support each other in the pursuit of great leadership and great schools!

Falling Forward: Turning Failure into Momentum
2026-02-05 16:00 - 17:30
Mistakes aren’t obstacles-when leveraged well, they are catalysts for deep learning. This session explores how educators can create conditions where students view errors as valuable data rather than failures. We’ll discuss the psychology behind mistake-making, including growth mindset principles, brain science, and the role of productive struggle. Through interactive examples and discussion, participants will learn how to model reflective thinking, design tasks that encourage risk-taking, and implement feedback systems that guide students toward improvement. By the end of this session, you’ll have a set of strategies to help students analyze their missteps, revise their thinking, and build resilience and confidence in their learning journey.

Purposeful Questioning in Mathematics: Promoting Reasoning, Not Recall
2026-02-10 15:30 - 17:00
Every question in math class signals what we value-speed or thinking, recall or reasoning. This session helps educators craft and adjust questions that uncover student thinking and deepen mathematical understanding. Participants will use student work and video cases to examine patterns in their questioning, plan for purposeful prompts, and reflect on how questions can support access and rigor. Leaders will consider how to support this shift during observations and feedback.

Teach Like a Champion
2026-02-12 15:30 - 16:30
This is the first collaborative session for the book study on Teach Like A Champion’s Guide to the Science of Reading. Anyone can attend any session! Attendees who register and attend at least three sessions will receive a copy of the book. In this initial meeting, we will introduce the book’s core arguments and dive straight into Principle 1: Attending to Attention. Research shows that sustained attention is a prerequisite for all learning. We will examine the cognitive science behind attention and memory, sharing practical, immediate strategies for improving student focus, managing digital distractions, and designing classroom environments that naturally enhance the mental stamina required for complex academic work.

Discussion Routines that Spark Deep Thinking
2026-02-17 15:30 - 17:00
Good discussions offer teachers a window into students’ thinking, but great discussions empower students to drive their learning. Move beyond “turn and talk” to craft discourse routines that are purposeful, structured, and anchored in high expectations. Participants will experience student-generated questioning techniques that deepen comprehension and ignite curiosity, then learn discussion structures that help every student 1/4 even the shy ones! 1/4 contribute meaningful ideas. These ready-to-use facilitation moves add cognitive depth to classroom talk in any content area.

Hope Hub: Formative Checks That Make Thinking Visible
2026-02-23 08:00 - 23:00
High-quality formative data can do more than tell us who “got it” and who didn’t! In this asynchronous session, educators will learn practical approaches to collecting and analyzing evidence of student reasoning to inform responsive instruction. Participants will explore approaches to classifying and grading student responses, practice interpreting misconceptions and partial understandings; and design quick but powerful checks that illuminate thinking, not just recall. By the end of the 6-week course window, participants will demonstrate their learning by submitting a short mini-project that they can put into practice immediately. Participants will receive access to materials on February 23 and submit their mini-projects on or before April 6.

Fluency and Vocabulary: How These Literacy Components Build Better Readers and Writers
2026-02-25 16:00 - 17:30
Strong readers and writers don’t just happen-they’re built through purposeful practice. In this session, we’ll explore how intentional instruction in fluency and vocabulary can transform your students into confident, capable readers who comprehend deeply and write with clarity.

Social Studies Cohort
2026-02-26 15:30 - 16:30
How can we design assessments that truly reflect the critical thinking and historical analysis we want students to master? This session shifts the focus from traditional testing to authentic and performance-based assessment methods. We will dive into tools and frameworks for designing powerful Project-Based Learning (PBL) experiences and empowering students to demonstrate their learning in creative, rigorous ways. We’ll discuss how to leverage student work to provide meaningful feedback and drive deeper conceptual understanding. Bring your ideas, and let’s make your next unit’s assessment the most engaging one yet! Our networked improvement community will be ready to tackle any implementation questions.

Write with Confidence: Mastering OST Writing in Grades 3-5
2026-03-02 16:00 - 17:00
Preparing young writers for the Ohio State Tests requires clarity, structure, and a solid understanding of what high-quality responses look like. This session provides a deep dive into the OST expectations for grades 3-5, including how the rubrics break down organization, development, conventions, and the use of textual evidence. Participants will examine sample student responses, identify common strengths and misconceptions, and explore kid-friendly language that helps younger learners internalize key writing skills. We’ll look at effective mini-lessons, graphic organizers, modeling techniques, and strategies for helping students elaborate with clarity and purpose. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use resources, scaffolded writing supports, and confidence in how to guide students through both opinion and informational writing tasks.

Debunking the Test: How to Have a Peaceful, Pleasant Testing Season!
2026-03-03 16:00 - 17:30
Spring testing season is upon us. Are we prepared? This workshop will examine the process of state and other high stakes testing in the context of teaching and learning. Revisit ideas about to set up best attitudes and best conditions for testing situations. Discuss organizational strategies. And, most importantly, prepare to discuss testing with your students to encourage a calm, positive, “best effort” mindset.

Clear, Coherent, and Comprehensive: OST Writing Success for Grades 6-12
2026-03-09 16:00 - 17:00
Secondary students face increasing demands in OST writing, from synthesizing information across multiple texts to crafting logical, evidence-based arguments. This session provides an in-depth look at what scorers are evaluating-and how to help students meet and exceed those expectations. Participants will analyze mentor texts, explore high-impact approaches for teaching argumentation and explanatory writing, and learn practical methods for improving organization, elaboration, and precision. We will also address common challenges such as weak evidence integration, unclear reasoning, and formulaic writing. You’ll gain strategies for supporting diverse learners, building writing stamina, and using feedback cycles to strengthen student work. By the end of the session, teachers will be equipped with actionable tools, model responses, and classroom routines that drive consistent writing growth.

Mathematics Cohort
2026-03-10 15:30 - 17:00
This virtual professional learning community brings together K-8 school leaders and teachers across Ohio to strengthen mathematics instruction and improve student outcomes. Meeting quarterly (9/23, 11/18, 1/13, 3/10), each session explores research-based instructional strategies, unpacks legislative updates, and examines problems of practice focused on leading and implementing effective math instruction. A central goal of the cohort is to reframe deficit-based narratives about mathematics by cultivating bold, asset-based mindsets among educators, students, and communities. Participants will be invited to apply new strategies, reflect on implementation, and refine practices, bridging leadership and instruction to foster equity and high expectations. This collaborative space supports educators in creating sustainable systems for strong mathematics teaching and learning that benefit all students.

Wired for Success: Executive Functioning in Special Education
2026-03-11 15:30 - 16:30
Executive functioning (EF) skills like planning, organization, and self-regulation are often at the root of academic and behavioral challenges for students with disabilities. This session explores how EF difficulties show up in learners with ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities, and how trauma can further impact these skills. Participants will gain practical, trauma-informed strategies to support EF development through direct instruction, co regulation, and classroom routines. Leave with tools to help students build independence, reduce shutdowns, and improve task initiation, while honoring neurodiversity and promoting student success.

Teaching Kids to Reason
2026-03-17 16:00 - 17:30
Reasoning is the cognitive process of drawing conclusions, making decisions, and solving problems. But how do we encourage our students to develop deeper reasoning and thinking skills, skills that will serve them well throughout life? Learn about the kinds of reasoning: Deductive, inductive, abductive, and analogical reasoning. Participants will learn how to incorporate reasoning skills into enjoyable lessons and learning experiences.

Teach Like a Champion 2
2026-03-18 15:30 - 16:30
This is the second session for the book study on Teach Like A Champion’s Guide to the Science of Reading. Anyone can attend any session! Attendees who register and attend at least three sessions will receive a copy of the book. In this meeting, we explore two critical engines of comprehension. First, we cover Fluency, discussing why a lack of automaticity in reading stalls comprehension at every grade level and then dive into research-based methods to build speed, accuracy, and prosody. Next, we review the Hidden Power of Background Knowledge, arguing that it is the single greatest predictor of reading success. We will share actionable strategies for building the knowledge that underpins complex thinking and makes skills-based learning possible.

Leadership Cohort: Resolving Staff Conflict
2026-03-24 15:30 - 17:00
Keeping a positive climate among school staff is one of the more daunting tasks of a school leader. But how do you build trust and cohesion among a staff who have diverse opinions, who form cliques, or who even may be in overt conflict with one another? Let’s discuss how to build staff cohesion and deal proactively with conflict. School climate has a profound impact on student learning– bring your best ideas to this discussion! The BCHF Leadership Cohort is a safe place for leader dialogue, problem-solving, and idea sharing. Don’t miss out on this important time for YOU as a leader!

Joyful Rigor: Designing Instruction That Lifts, Not Limits
2026-03-26 15:30 - 16:30
Teaching students with disabilities should be both challenging and joyful. This session explores how to design instruction that affirms students’ identities, engages their intellect, and cultivates deep learning, without sacrificing creativity or connection. Grounded in Gholdy Muhammad’s Five Pursuits (Identity, Skill, Intellect, Criticality, and Joy), participants will learn how to shift lessons from compliance driven to culturally responsive. Through practical examples and hands-on redesign activities, you’ll walk away with tools to create learning experiences that are rigorous, relevant, and rooted in joy.

Spring Board Member Training
2026-04-11 09:00 - 10:00
This training will fulfill the open meetings and public records training requirement for Board members and administrators. Attorney Adam Schira will present the basic concepts of these laws and give rich examples applicable to community schools. Time will be devoted as well for questions from Board members and administrators.

Special Education Leaders Network: Coffee Table Talk 2
2026-04-14 15:30 - 16:30

The Engagement Blueprint: Routines that Motivate Deep Learning
2026-04-21 15:30 - 17:00
Students need to find the “why” before they will invest in the “what:” in other words, they won’t buy into learning unless they see purpose and possibility. This session explores practical ways to activate students’ prior knowledge and lived experiences as entry points, setting the stage for deep thinking and sustained engagement. You’ll leave with ready-to-deploy ideas for making lessons feel meaningful from the very first minute. If you have students who struggle to invest in academic work, you won’t want to miss it!

Teach Like a Champion 3
2026-04-23 15:30 - 16:30
This is the third session for the book study on Teach Like A Champion’s Guide to the Science of Reading. Anyone can attend any session! Attendees who register and attend at least three sessions will receive a copy of the book. In this meeting, we address how students access academic language. We dive into Vocabulary Reconsidered, examining why vocabulary is the most important form of knowledge for comprehension and how to explicitly teach not just definitions, but complex syntax. We will also explore the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing, showing how intentional writing tasks function as an accelerator for deeper reading comprehension.

PBL Unlocked: Designing Learning That Sticks
2026-04-27 16:00 - 17:30
Project-Based Learning offers students the chance to engage in meaningful, authentic work-but it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin. This introductory session breaks PBL down into manageable steps, helping educators understand the essential components that make projects both academically rigorous and deeply engaging. We’ll unpack how to craft compelling driving questions, design inquiry-rich learning pathways, and plan checkpoints that guide students toward high-quality final products. Participants will explore examples across subject areas, discuss strategies for managing group work, and learn how to embed assessment throughout the project lifecycle. You’ll leave with a clear blueprint for designing your first project, complete with planning templates, classroom structures, and tips for fostering student ownership and creativity.
