A tag creates a mental picture…

“When the teachers tell you “good,” you don’t really think about it… but with the tagger, you have a mental picture of yourself in that position and then you know to go to that position the next time you do it. “

– Henry, child dancer

Many people, both children and adults, have told us that the tag sound marker is like a camera, fixing a picture in their mind of the exact correct position. They can use this picture to help them find the position again at another time.

The characteristics of an effective marker are as follows:

Precise – The tag occurs the moment the goal is met. Precision and speed are essential for work with physical skills and are unattainable with the human voice.

Clear – The sound of the tag is quick and clear and provides information without additional input from the teacher.

Consistent – The tag sounds the same each time and means only one thing, yes. The tag sounds the same regardless of the mood of the person tagging and regardless which person is tagging. The tag sound has no meaning in everyday life so that there is no need for interpretation.

Take a look at the video below in which Henry, a child dancer, tells us in his own words what it feels like to be tagged and how the tag creates a picture in his mind.

This illustrates an important characteristic of a good marker. The short, sharp sound of the tag seems particularly effective in creating this ‘mental picture’.