Simple Refusal Flowchart for Staff: Calm Steps and Say This Cards, Grades K to 5

This simple refusal flowchart for K 5 staff gives every adult in the room the same calm steps for when a young student says no, with four K 5 scenes, "say this" cards, and a pocket flowchart for subs, paras, and specials teachers.

Why I made this: With young students, the adult’s body language and word choice decide most of what happens next. I wanted one page that a teacher, a para, a sub, and the art teacher could all follow, so a student hears the same calm message from everyone.

What’s included:

• A staff page

• An adult calm first page: body, voice, face, timing, and word choice

• One clear flowchart page

• 4 K 5 scenes: centers, carpet time, specials, and the recess line

• 12 "say this" cards

• Pocket flowchart cards for subs, paras, and specials

• A team notes page

• A staff practice page

How I use it: I go over the flowchart with my paras in the first week and put the pocket cards on their lanyards. The team notes page keeps everyone consistent for each student.

Skills covered:

• Staying calm with body language and voice

• Choosing words that lower the temperature

• Offering choices and small starts

• Waiting and offering breaks

• Sharing what works across adults

Who it is for: K 5 teachers, paras, subs, specials teachers, and support staff.

What you download: Simple Refusal Flowchart K 5 Staff.pdf (14 pages, US Letter, print ready) plus an editable Word version.

How this is different: Work Refusal Flowchart + Staff Script Cards is written for grades 9 to 12 and job site work refusal. This is a new K 5 flowchart with classroom scenes (centers, carpet, specials, recess line) and short adult scripts for young students.

Part of the Student Refusal Toolkit series.

Made by Jeremy D. Gooch, special education teacher and transition coordinator. Drafting and layout had AI assistance; every page was checked by me.