TeachShare Seller Spotlight: Kathy Dahdal

Kathy's Journey as an Educator

Tell us about your educator journey to where you are now.

I spent 16 years teaching English at the middle and high school levels before deciding to become an assistant principal. I wanted to broaden my influence beyond a single classroom and have the opportunity to mentor and coach a larger group of students and teachers. Over the past four years as an assistant principal, I have engaged with a diverse range of students and teachers, which has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of their unique needs. This insight has enabled me to develop tailored resources that effectively address those needs.

If you could give one piece of advice to your first-year teacher self, what would it be?

I'd tell my first-year self to trust my instincts and be patient. It's okay not to have all the answers right away—each challenge is a chance to learn. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness; it's part of growing into a better educator.

Kathy's Featured Resource: Body Language & Nonverbal Communication Lesson

About the Resource

This Body Language Lesson and PowerPoint Packet provides a dynamic and engaging way to teach high school students about the power of nonverbal communication. It includes everything you need to help students understand, interpret, and respond to body language effectively. Through interactive activities, a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation, and student-friendly worksheets, this step-by-step lesson provides essential social-emotional learning (SEL) skills that apply to both personal and academic settings.

What Students Will Learn

How positive and negative body language impact conversations, relationships, and first impressions.How to recognize facial expressions, gestures, and posture in real-life situations.Explore how body language can mean different things in different cultures and why that matters.How to practice using body language that shows confidence, respect, and understanding.Reflect on how their posture, gestures, and expressions affect the way others see and interact with them.

Perfect for Grades: Middle School, High School

Subject Area: Social Emotional Learning

What inspired you to create this resource?

This lesson was inspired by the growing need for students to develop strong nonverbal communication skills in both personal and professional settings. Many students are unaware of how their body language impacts interactions, and misinterpreting nonverbal cues can lead to misunderstandings. By teaching how to read, interpret, and respond to body language, this lesson helps students become more confident communicators, build stronger relationships, and develop empathy for others.

What's one tip for teachers using this resource effectively in their classrooms?

Make the lesson interactive by having students demonstrate body language and relate it to real-life experiences. Use the scenario activities and self-assessment to help them reflect on their own nonverbal cues and practice responding effectively.

Body Language Lesson | Social Cues | Nonverbal Communication Activities | SEL | Social Emotional Learning for Teens | Communication Skills | High School

By Queen's Educational Resources

$25.00

More Resources from Kathy

Looking for more ways to teach social-emotional skills? Check out these complementary resources:

Social Cues Scenarios | Nonverbal Cues | Body Language Situation Cards

By Queen's Educational Resources

$12.50

1. Social Cue Scenarios

The Social Cues Scenarios, Nonverbal Cues, and Body Language Scenario Task Cards and Worksheets resource offers 40 real-life scenarios designed to help middle school and high school students interpret social cues and body language. Available as both task cards and worksheets, these materials encourage students to practice making inferences and responding appropriately in various social situations. Incorporating these activities into your curriculum can enhance students' social-emotional learning and communication skills, leading to more effective interactions both inside and outside the classroom.

Social Cues and Body Language using Pictures | Nonverbal Cues Activities

By Queen's Educational Resources

$10.00

2. Body Language using Pictures

The Social Cues and Body Language using Pictures resource offers 25 worksheets designed to help middle school and high school students interpret nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language. By engaging with these activities, students can enhance their social-emotional learning and improve communication skills, leading to more effective interactions in and out of the classroom.

Kathy's Best Practices and Insights for Educators

What's your go-to teaching strategy or classroom hack that always works?

I've found that building strong relationships with students is the foundation of effective teaching. When students know you care about them as individuals, they're more motivated to engage with the material and put forth their best effort. I make it a point to greet each student by name every day, ask about their interests, and create opportunities for them to share their thoughts and experiences. This investment in relationships pays dividends in classroom management, student motivation, and overall learning outcomes.

How do you balance creativity and practicality when designing resources?

I focus on creating resources that are both engaging and purposeful. Each activity needs to have a clear learning objective while also capturing students' interest. I often start by identifying the skill or concept students need to master, then brainstorm creative ways to practice that skill that will resonate with teenagers. I also prioritize resources that are easy for teachers to implement without extensive prep time or materials, because I know how precious time is for educators.

What's one of your favorite ways to keep students engaged in learning?

I love incorporating real-world scenarios and role-playing activities into my lessons, especially when teaching social-emotional skills. When students can see the practical application of what they're learning and have opportunities to practice in a safe environment, engagement naturally increases. For example, with my body language resources, students analyze and act out different scenarios, making the learning tangible and immediately applicable to their lives.

Empowering Students Through Social-Emotional Learning

Kathy's resources provide valuable tools for teaching essential social-emotional skills that students need for success in school and beyond. By focusing on nonverbal communication, body language, and social cues, these materials help students develop greater self-awareness, build stronger relationships, and navigate social situations with confidence.

Looking for more high-quality, teacher-created resources? TeachShare is home to over 80,000 classroom-ready materials, crafted by educators to save you time, engage students, and simplify lesson planning. From interactive lessons to hands-on activities, you'll find resources designed to enhance instruction, promote critical thinking, and support student success across all subjects.