Social Studies Cohort
2026-02-26 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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.

Multilingual Learners Cohort
2026-03-05 15:30 - 17:00 | Virtual via Zoom
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.

Clear, Coherent, and Comprehensive: OST Writing Success for Grades 6-12
2026-03-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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.

The Engagement Blueprint: Routines that Motivate Deep Learning
2026-04-21 15:30 - 17:00 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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 | Virtual via Zoom
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.

Social Studies Cohort: Reflecting, Refining, & Future-Proofing
2026-04-30 15:30 - 17:00 | Virtual via Zoom
How do we take the lessons learned this year and turn them into a blueprint for future success? In our final session, we’ll focus on the “reflective practitioner” model-analyzing student growth and evaluating the impact of the new strategies we’ve implemented. We’ll spend time curating our best resources and refining units for next year while the experience is still fresh. You’ll leave with a streamlined digital “toolbox” and a clear vision for your professional growth. We will conclude our year-long journey with a final networked improvement community to celebrate our wins, troubleshoot final hurdles, and solidify the professional bonds we’ve built.

Replacing "Challenging" Behavior with Meaningful Skills
2026-05-07 15:30 - 16:00 | Virtual via Zoom
Instead of just trying to eliminate challenging behaviors, what if we replaced it with something more functional? This session focuses on teaching replacement behaviors that meet the same needs, whether it’s escape, attention, or sensory input. You’ll learn how to uncover the root cause (function), identify lagging skills, and explicitly teach alternatives using visuals, modeling, and practice. We will also cover how to embed this instruction into your daily routines, without overloading your day. Ideal for educators supporting students with emotional or behavioral challenges who want long-term change, not just short-term compliance.

Leadership Cohort #7 - Board Administrative Relations
2026-05-12 15:30 - 17:00 | Virtual via Zoom
Governing Board members are important stakeholders in a community/charter school. Schools overall perform better when governing boards and leaders operate in a collaborative manner, with shared goals in mind. But is your board “on board”? Learn how to be positive and proactive in defining shared goals and delineating board-administrative roles and responsibilities. Share out your best ideas for effective board and committee meetings. The BCHF Leadership Cohort is a safe space for dialogue among school leaders, sharing out of best practices, and discussing problems and solutions. Join us for some important YOU time!

Feedback in Mathematics: Supporting Learning, Identity, and Agency
2026-05-13 15:30 - 17:00 | Virtual via Zoom
Feedback in math class should do more than correct-it should build understanding, confidence, and ownership. This session focuses on how to give feedback that affirms students as mathematical thinkers. Participants will analyze student work to practice feedback strategies that promote growth and reasoning. Leaders will also explore how to apply these principles in coaching conversations and walkthroughs to foster a culture of meaningful learning and reflection.

Teach Like a Champion 4
2026-05-14 15:30 - 16:30 | Virtual via Zoom
This is the fourth and final 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 two sessions will receive a copy of the book. In this concluding meeting, we synthesize our learning by focusing on the purpose of literacy instruction. We will explore The Power of the Book, discussing why sustained engagement with whole texts is the optimal format for building understanding and comprehension. We will then tackle Close Reading, reframing it as the intentional, final act of intellectual rigor. We will share concrete strategies for improving students’ ability to access and analyze complex texts, equipping them with the skills necessary for long-term academic and professional success.

Literacy and Dyslexia Cohort - In Person
2026-05-19 10:00 - 15:00 | BCHF Training Room, 3021 E Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH, 43231, United States
IN PERSON: This final cohort meeting will take place in the offices of BCHF to discuss the chosen book focusing on literacy and/or dyslexia. Final determination will be made based on feedback from Cohort meeting #1 on September 24.

BCHF School Leadership Summit
2026-06-08 - 2026-06-09 | Renaissance Hotel, 409 Altair Pkwy, Westerville, OH, 43082, United States
ESPECIALLY FOR LEADERS AND LEADERSHIP TEAMS – BCHF’s annual Leadership Summit is our premier, in-person professional development event of the year. Join us June 8 and 9 for a two-day experience. The Summit will be based on a problem or area of Educator Practice common to the BCHF portfolio of schools. We will explore YOUR topic(s) of interest through general sessions, activities, breakout groups, and creative collaboration. Don’t miss this once in a year opportunity for a real boost in your leadership skill and confidence! Specific Columbus-area location and theme to be announced in Spring!
