Introduction

Saying no can be challenging, especially for students in Special Education who might be afraid of disappointing their peers or losing friendships. However, it’s essential for students to learn that it’s okay to say no if done respectfully. This blog post provides educators with an easy-to-implement activity and discussion questions, all designed to help students understand the importance of saying no the right way, without hurting anyone’s feelings.

No-Prep Activity: Role-Playing Scenarios

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It is designed to help students practice saying no respectfully, using words and tone of voice that show respect.

1. Divide students into pairs. Assign one student to be the “asker” and the other to be the “responder.”
2. Present the class with a scenario where the asker invites the responder to do something, e.g., “Hey, do you want to come to my house after school?”
3. Ask the responder to think about whether they want to say yes or no to the invitation, and then practice responding respectfully. Encourage them to use phrases like “Thank you for inviting me, but…” or “I appreciate the offer, but…”
4. After each pair has practiced their response, come together as a class to discuss the experience. What was challenging about saying no? How did the askers feel when their invitation was declined respectfully?
5. Repeat the activity with new scenarios, allowing students to switch roles and practice both asking and responding.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to say no respectfully, instead of just saying “no” without an explanation?
2. How can saying no in a respectful way help maintain friendships and avoid hurting feelings?
3. What are some phrases you can use to say no respectfully?
4. Can you think of a time when you said no to someone, and it was difficult? How did you handle it? What could you do differently next time?
5. What can you do if someone gets upset when you say no, even if you say it respectfully?

Related Skills

Teaching students to say no respectfully is just one aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other relevant skills for students to develop include:

• Active listening
• Effective communication
• Empathy and understanding others’ feelings
• Assertiveness
• Conflict resolution

Next Steps

If you’re interested in exploring more activities to help students develop their Social-Emotional Learning skills, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with valuable tools to help your students navigate the complexities of social interactions and emotional well-being.