Examples of Cues

A cue is something a Head Start educator or staff member does or says to begin a Planned Instructional Sequence. The action cues the child to give a specific response based on the child’s learning goals or objectives. These videos show examples of how educators use cues. 

• Clip 1: Verbal Cue — “You can write ‘M’ ‘A’ for Mariam.” The educator uses a direction to cue the child to write letters. In this case, the child’s current goal is to write the first two letters of her name.
• Clip 2: Verbal Cue — “What’s his name?” The educator uses a question to cue the child to name a classmate. In this case, the child’s current goal is to identify a variety of familiar people.
• Clip 3: Verbal Cue — “Lucas, you can raise your hand.” The educator uses a statement to cue the child to raise his hand. In this case, the child’s current goal is to participate in group activities.
• Clip 4: Verbal Cue — “Which one matches?” The teacher uses a question to cue the child to find the matching puzzle piece. In this case, the child’s current goal is to match a variety of pictures.
• Clip 5: Nonverbal Cue — Ringing a bell cues the children to start transitioning to the next activity. For this activity, children independently starting and completing group transitions is the goal.
• Clip 6: Nonverbal Cue — “Myree, do you want to build a castle with me?” One child cues another by asking a question about joining her in play. In this case, the current goal of Myree (the child being asked) is to work toward joining others in play.
• Clip 7: Nonverbal Cue — “On your shoulder” The educator cues the children to imitate actions during a song. In this case, the child’s current goal is to participate in group activities.
• Clip 8: Nonverbal Cue — Educator works with child to point to each letter in his name. This cues the child to label each letter aloud. In this case, the child’s current goal is to label each letter of his name aloud.
• Clip 9: Verbal Cue — “Haejoo, put in the little animal.” The educator cues the child to identify the concept “little” by using a direction. In this case, the child’s current goal is to identify the size concepts “big” and “little.”
• Clip 10: Nonverbal Cue — Educator hands the child the tub of playdough that is difficult to open to cue the child to ask for help. In this case, the child’s current goal is to ask for help when needed.
• Clip 11: Verbal Cue — “We’re learning about what?” The educator cues children to answer aloud about their current study focus. In this case, the goal is for children to recall the current study focus.
• Clip 12: Verbal Cue — “How many cookies?” The educator uses a question to cue the child to count the number of cookies on her plate. In this case, the child’s current goal is to count with one-to-one correspondence for numbers one through 10.