On Thursday, Nov. 5, SMP held its first Dine & Discuss event of the 2026-2027 academic year. More than 40 educators throughout the region gathered to hear Dr. Rebekah Bickford – a highly-regard child psychologist working with schools in Greater Portland – present “Functional Behavioral Frameworks: Optimizing Individual and Systems-Level Outcomes.”
Sharing research from the field in child psychology, as well as information from her own book, Dr. Bickford emphasized the importance of early intervention, clarity of expectations, and consistent reinforcement for students (and adults). Throughout the evening, Dr. Bickford encouraged educators to think about student behavior through lenses that may be different from traditional approaches. Specifically, she shared statements such as:
· “We do not have ‘behavior kids’, and we should not have ‘behavior programs’. That undermines our goal of having every student belong.”
- “When we understand the person as a unique person, behavior no longer seems out of context, exaggerated, or self-defeating.”
- “The idea of MTSS is to move away from a ‘wait to fail’ policy and provide support early.”
- “We need to tap into our own adaptability (as adults) if we are going to help our students adapt and thrive.”
- The BIG FIVE: Best Practices in Cultivating Classroom Culture
- Teach Expected Behavior
- Maximize Structure and Predictability
- Build a Continuum of Reinforcement
- Effectively Respond to Interfering Behavior
- Actively Engage Students
We will gather again on December 10, when Dr. Bickford will present “From Avoidance to Engagement: Addressing Avoidance and Building Resilience in Classrooms and Schools.”
Interested attendees can register at this link