Teaching Cues in Physical Education: Verbal Instruction

Introduction to Teaching Cues

• Teaching cues are used frequently, often without conscious awareness.
• Importance: Help students remember skills effectively.
• Aim: Discuss what teaching cues are, their importance, and effective usage in P.E. lessons.

What Are Teaching Cues in P.E.?

• Definition: Short phrases that summarize a sequence of movements or instructions for drills/tasks.
• Examples:
  • "Soft hands" – Reminds students to relax hands when catching a ball.
  • "Eyes on the ball" – Ensures students maintain focus on the ball.
• Purpose: Serve as reminders to students during tasks or skill execution to achieve goals.
• Types of Cues:
  • Internal Cues: Focus on body movements (e.g., "Show everyone your chest").
  • External Cues: Focus on the outcome of the movement (e.g., "Look for the gaps").
• Research Insight: Effective in enhancing skill acquisition by directing attention, providing feedback (Wulf, 2013; Palmer et al., 2017).

When to Use Teaching Cues

• Integral to lesson instructions and reminders throughout the P.E. lesson.
• Can be spontaneous or pre-planned based on lesson focus.
• Example: "Show everyone your chest" for maintaining posture in basketball.
• Limit to 1-2 cues per lesson to avoid cognitive overload (Rosenshine, 2010).

Engaging Students with Cues

• Cues can enhance engagement and make lessons fun, especially for younger students.
• Creative cues aid memory and execution, e.g., "Get your samurai sword and slice STRAIGHT through the watermelon" for correct T-ball striking.
• Cues help students learn independently and facilitate peer support.

Evidence on the Effectiveness of Teaching Cues

• Skill Acquisition: Simplifies complex skills, accelerating learning.
• Engagement and Focus: Keeps students on task and motivated.
• Feedback and Assessment: Provides a foundation for targeted feedback, improving performance.

Creating Effective Teaching Cues

• Elicit cues through student discussion.
• Keep cues unique and creative to enhance engagement and retention.

Additional Resources

• Move Well Move Often for cue resources.
• P.E Central for a database of cues.
• Explore related articles on visual learning, minor games, and resources for teaching P.E.

References

• PDST External Cues for Fundamental Movement Skills
• Magill & Anderson: Motor Learning and Control
• Rink: Teaching Physical Education for Learning
• Siedentop & Tannehill: Developing Teaching Skills in P.E.
• Graham, Holt/Hale, Parker: Children Moving

Helpful Links

• Fundamental Movement Skills: Flash Cards + Circuit
• Coloured Cones for Teaching P.E
• Coloured Sit Spots for behaviour management
• Work-life balance
• Minor games in P.E
• Emotional Regulation Posters
• Assessments for P.E
• Invasion games
• First time teaching P.E