Parents want simple, steady steps that actually help their child read better. Teachers want a plan that families can follow at home without stress. This guide brings both worlds together. We use plain words, clear actions, and real focus. You will see how parent coaching and take-home packs work as a team. When families show up, practice at home, and keep going, reading grows. We will walk through the most important stats that matter for compliance and gains. Each stat becomes a small lever you can pull today.
1) Parent coaching session attendance rate (%)
Why this stat matters
Attendance is the first gate to progress. When parents show up to coaching, they learn simple routines that turn short home moments into reading wins. A higher attendance rate means more families hear the plan, practice the steps, and feel supported.
It also builds trust. When a coach sees a parent often, small problems are spotted early. Missed sessions, on the other hand, leave gaps. Parents guess. Children stall. That is why tracking attendance as a clear percent helps everyone focus.
A strong target is at least nine out of ten families present for each touchpoint across the first month. This early consistency sets the tone for the year.
How to move the number up
Make sessions short, friendly, and predictable. Offer two simple slots each week, one evening and one weekend morning, and keep the same times every week so busy families can form a habit. Share reminders that feel human.
A quick text the day before with the topic, the start time, and one line on the benefit helps. Add a fifteen minute drop-in after the main session for quick questions. Parents who miss can catch the key idea without shame.
Record the core demo and share a two minute replay link the same day. The replay should show the coach reading one short passage with a child and using the exact script parents will use at home.
Use an attendance sheet that updates live. Mark present, late, or absent, and add a short reason when known. Call absences in a kind way. Ask what time works better next week and offer to switch.
If a family misses twice, schedule a five minute phone huddle to reset goals and remove any blockers. Celebrate wins. Call out perfect attendance at the end of the month by name in the group, with permission.
Small praise nudges others to show up. At Debsie, our live classes include quick parent drop-ins so you can learn the routine in real time. If you want support to lock in strong attendance from day one, book a free starter session at debsie.com/courses.
A simple weekly plan
Pick two fixed session times. Send reminders twenty-four hours and two hours before. Log attendance within ten minutes of start. Share a tiny replay within one hour. Follow up once with any family that missed. Repeat this cycle for four weeks. The rate rises when the routine is steady and kind.
2) Parent coaching completion rate (% of families finishing series)
Why this stat matters
Starting is good. Finishing is better. Completion shows that families stayed the course long enough to build habits that stick. When parents complete a short series, like four to six coaching sessions, they usually master the routine, learn to fix common errors, and feel confident.
This confidence is what keeps home practice alive when life gets busy. A clear completion percent also helps leaders see where drop-offs happen. If many families vanish after session two, your content may be too dense, your homework too long, or your times not family friendly.
The goal is to move families from first session to last with a smooth path, low friction, and rising pride.
How to boost completion
Design the series like a story with a start, a middle, and an end. Session one should be a quick win. Teach one routine, such as a five-minute warm-up with sound taps and a two-minute partner read. Session two adds one new step, like error correction using a simple prompt.
Session three builds speed with short timed reads. Session four applies the routine to real books the child enjoys. Keep each session to thirty minutes or less. Every minute has a purpose.
Start with a tiny recap, demo the routine, practice together, and close with clear homework that takes no more than ten minutes per day.
Make progress visible. Give parents a small tracker card. Each day they mark minutes practiced and one feeling word from the child. At every coaching session, parents share one bright spot. The coach links the bright spot to a core habit and celebrates the completion streak.
Use a simple reward at the end, like a digital badge or a certificate with the child’s name and their new words-per-minute number. Provide flexible make-up paths. If a parent misses, offer a short one-on-one catch-up or a concise replay plus a five minute phone check. Remove guilt. Just guide them back on track.
Closing the loop
Send a final summary after the series ends. Include the starting and ending reading numbers, the home minutes logged, and the parent’s strongest habit. Invite them to the next tier, such as a monthly booster or a new reading challenge.
At Debsie, we map the coaching series to our playful self-study quests so families can keep growing without losing momentum. If you want your family to finish strong, join a free class and get your custom plan at debsie.com/courses.
3) Average number of coaching sessions attended per family
Why this stat matters
This measure shows depth, not just presence. A family may attend once, but learning sticks when they come back again and again. The average session count tells you if families are getting enough exposure to the model.
It also reveals whether your schedule and content feel doable. Aiming for an average of four to six sessions within the first eight weeks is a smart benchmark. That range gives time to learn the routine, practice it at home, return with questions, and refine.
When the average is low, parents may feel sessions are too long, too complex, or too hard to fit into a busy week.
How to raise the average
Shrink the friction. Keep sessions short, repeat the key structure, and avoid jargon. Begin each meeting with a two minute win share. Ask what went well at home, then anchor that win to a micro-skill. Show a quick live demo of the next small step, such as modeling a correction when a child guesses a word.
Practice the step with the parent for one minute. Give a simple plan for the next three days. Invite them to book their next slot on the spot before leaving the call. The rule is “plan the next touch before ending this one.” Offer a light, ongoing series so families always know the next step, like “Foundations Weeks 1–4” followed by “Fluency Weeks 5–8.”
Make coming back feel rewarding and easy. Send a short progress snapshot after every session. Include the child’s current words per minute, one sound the child mastered, and one thing the parent did well. Attach a two minute recap clip so the parent can rewatch the demo later.
Add a single call to action at the end: book your next session now. Use a calendar link that shows only two or three clear time blocks. Remove choice overload. If a family misses a week, send a kind message and a tiny assignment that keeps momentum, like a three-minute read-aloud with one correction practice.
When they return, thank them for sticking with it.
Keep it human
Ask for one small feedback point at the end of each session. What felt easy today? What felt sticky? Use that answer to shape the next session. When parents feel heard, they return.
At Debsie, teachers end with a simple line: here’s the one thing to try, here’s when we’ll meet next, and here’s what success looks like. Want a personal plan that fits your life? Grab a free session at debsie.com/courses and we’ll map your next four touchpoints.
4) Parent implementation fidelity score (home routine adherence %)
Why this stat matters
Fidelity is about doing the right steps the right way, most of the time. When parents follow the routine as taught, children get steady, repeatable practice. That practice builds brain pathways for print, sound, and meaning.
A clear fidelity score tells you how closely home time matches the coaching model. This keeps feedback focused on actions, not blame. If the score is high, gains usually follow. If it dips, you can fix the exact step that slipped, such as skipping the warm-up, rushing error correction, or reading for too long.
A practical target is eighty percent or higher adherence across a week. That means four out of five steps done, on most days.
How to raise fidelity at home
Keep the routine tiny, visible, and scripted. Use a one-page card with three boxes: warm-up sounds, partner read, and quick finish. Each box has a short script. Parents do not have to invent words; they just read the lines.
Add a two-minute demo video that shows a parent and child doing the routine in real time. The video is your model. Ask parents to place the card and the reader in the same basket so that setup takes seconds. Consistency grows when setup is simple and the script is short.
Teach one correction move and one praise move. The correction might be tap, say the sounds, blend, read the word, reread the sentence. The praise might be clear and specific, such as you looked at every letter, great job.
Fewer moves lead to steadier use. During coaching, ask parents to practice the correction with you, using a few sample words. End every session with a fidelity check where the parent rates each step yes, somewhat, or no.
Invite one change for the week ahead, not five. Show how to shorten the routine to as little as five minutes on busy days. Short and right beats long and messy.
The feedback loop
Send a small fidelity report each Friday with two notes: what the parent did well and one tip to try. Add a tiny clip, under one minute, to model the tip.
This makes the score a tool, not a judge. At Debsie, we pair fidelity cards with playful quests so parents and kids feel proud to repeat the same strong moves.
If you want a ready-made card and demo, book a free starter class at debsie.com/courses.
5) Weekly home-practice minutes logged (median)
Why this stat matters
Minutes are the fuel of growth, and the median tells the true middle of family effort. It is less skewed by one family who logs huge time. A steady median shows that most families are getting the core dose. For early readers, even forty to sixty minutes per week, split into short daily bites, can lift fluency and confidence.
When the median is low, the issue is often friction, not will. The plan may feel too long, the materials may be hard to find, or the steps may be unclear. By tracking minutes, you can spot dips early and make the plan lighter without losing power.
How to raise the weekly minutes
Aim for five short sessions per week, six to twelve minutes each. Tiny, daily practice beats one long weekend grind. Tie practice to an anchor, like after breakfast or right before bed. Use a kitchen timer so the child sees the end.
Open with a one-minute warm-up of letter sounds or word parts. Follow with a three-minute partner read where the child reads and the parent supports with the single correction move. Close with a one-minute echo read where the parent reads a lively sentence and the child repeats.
If time allows, add a fun minute, such as reading a silly card from the take-home pack. When the timer rings, stop, even if it is going well. Ending on a high note makes it easy to return tomorrow.
Reduce setup time to under thirty seconds. Place all items in one pouch: routine card, reader, pencil, sticker. Keep the pouch where you will sit. If life gets hectic, switch to a rescue plan of three minutes: one quick warm-up and one sentence read.
Log minutes in the simplest way possible. A small calendar box or a phone checkmark is enough. At the end of the week, count the total and write one feeling word from the child. Share that in coaching.
Celebrate streaks by naming the habit, not the number, such as you kept the routine after dinner all week, wonderful.
A friendly nudge
Send a Sunday message with the plan for the week and a midweek text that says two minutes counts today, try one sentence now. At Debsie, our app nudges families with tiny quests that fit real life. Want help setting your family’s weekly rhythm? Try a free class at debsie.com/courses.
6) Take-home pack distribution rate (% of students receiving)
Why this stat matters
No practice happens if materials never reach the family. Distribution rate is the first checkpoint for every take-home plan. A strong rate means most children leave with what they need to read that night. It also shows that the school or program has a smooth handoff system.
When this rate is weak, practice stops before it starts. Families guess what to do, or they use random books that do not match the child’s level. The goal is near full delivery, with a clear record of who got what and when.
This stat is simple to lift when you treat it like a logistics task, not a mystery.
How to improve distribution without stress
Design the pack so it is easy to grab, carry, and return. Use one bright folder with a handle cutout, a name label, and a checklist on the front. Inside are the routine card, two just-right passages, one fun choice text, and a tiny log.
Keep weight and pages low so the folder never feels like a burden. Set a weekly distribution day and stick to it, such as every Monday afternoon. Name a single adult or student helper to check names off a list as packs go out. Take a quick photo
of the stack with the date for your records. In class, run a two-minute walk-through where children open the pack, point to the routine card, and close it. This makes the handoff visible and normal.
If a child is absent, have a make-up bin at the front office or send the digital version to the parent that evening with a friendly note that the physical pack will come home tomorrow. Keep a small reserve of extra packs for lost or damaged folders.
Replace without fuss. The aim is continuity, not scolding. Track distribution as a percent each week and share it with staff so everyone sees the simple win of high delivery. When the number dips, check the cause: late printing, unclear roles, or a change in schedule. Fix the bottleneck, then return to the weekly rhythm.
Make it joyful
Add a small sticker on the outside each week with a theme. Children love to show the new sticker at pick-up. Joy helps with transport and care. At Debsie, our take-home kits match the exact skills taught in live sessions, so the handoff from school to home feels clean.
Want a ready-to-go pack template? Join a free session at debsie.com/courses and we will share the starter set.
7) Take-home pack utilization rate (% activities completed at home)
Why this stat matters
Getting the pack home is step one. Using it is the real win. Utilization tells you how much of the pack a family actually completes. When this rate is high, skills move from paper to brain. Children meet the same patterns many times, in short friendly doses.
Low utilization often means the pack is confusing, too long, or not fun. It can also mean busy nights. By watching this percent, you can make the pack lighter, clearer, and more joyful. A simple goal is to see most families finish the core items each week.
That usually means two passages read, one mini-game played, and the routine card followed on most days.
How to raise utilization with small tweaks
Cut the pack to the essential three. First is the one-page routine card with exact words the parent can say. Second is a two-sided sheet with a short warm-up and two short passages at the right level.
Third is one tiny choice activity that feels like play, such as a one-minute word hunt or a silly sentence card. Put a big star next to the items you consider “must do.” Everything else is optional. Use plain fonts, big lines, and large check boxes so parents can see what to do at a glance.
Add a QR code that opens a one-minute demo of the routine. Keep the video friendly and real, with a parent sitting at a kitchen table. Families copy what they see.
Make the first minute easy and fun. Start with a predictable chant, like tap, blend, read, smile. Give the child a small role, such as placing a sticker after each read. If nights are tight, show parents your two-minute rescue plan: warm-up three sounds, read one sentence together, high-five, done.
Count that as full credit. Utilization rises when you respect the chaos of real life and still offer a win. Ask parents to circle one line they loved and write one word about how it felt. Share those tiny notes in coaching. When families feel seen, they keep using the pack.
Track and celebrate
Collect a quick snapshot each week. You can ask parents to send a photo of the checklist or mark the app log. Send a thank-you text that names one thing they did well. At Debsie, our take-home quests are short on purpose, with micro-videos inside.
Want a pack your child will actually use? Book a free starter class at debsie.com/courses and we will share the template.
8) Take-home pack return/verification rate (%)
Why this stat matters
Return and verification close the loop. They tell you that the pack came back, the tasks were done, and the child got credit. A strong return rate builds a classroom rhythm: Monday out, Friday back, Monday out again.
When the loop is tight, teachers can adjust levels fast, swap texts, and celebrate effort. If many packs disappear or float for weeks, children lose momentum and teachers lose data. The goal is a clean weekly cycle with most packs back on time and checked quickly, without adding stress to families or staff.
How to lift the return rate without nagging
Make returning the pack a happy ritual. Set a drop box near the classroom door with a bright sign that says pack parking. Greet each child with a quick smile and a thank-you when they return it. Give same-day feedback.
Place a tiny stamp on the checklist that says seen, nice work, and mark the next target. Speed matters. If checking becomes a pile, you will avoid it. Create a two-minute verification routine: scan the checkboxes, glance at the minute totals, skim one retell note, and write one warm comment.
Use a simple roster to log return status. Note missing packs and send a gentle message that offers help and a replacement, not blame.
Offer a path for late returns. If a pack is missing on Friday, send the digital set right away and say your child can still read this weekend; bring the folder Monday. Keep spare folders in class so a child is never empty-handed. Return rates also improve when families feel the benefit.
Share a short weekly graph of class reading minutes and call out one joyful quote from a child. Link the return to recognition, not pressure. If a family struggles with transport, explore a backpack clip, a plastic sleeve that lives in the bag, or a digital-only week when needed. Flex keeps the habit alive.
Make it automatic
Tie returns to a weekly class game, like unlocking a new badge. At Debsie, we verify with a fast scan and send a one-line progress text to parents, which boosts pride and keeps the loop going. Want a smooth return system you can start Monday? Join a free class at debsie.com/courses and get the quick-start kit.
9) Missed-assignment rate for take-home activities (%)
Why this stat matters
Missed work is a message. It tells you something blocked practice at home. Sometimes it is time. Sometimes it is confusion. Sometimes it is stress. Watching the percent of missed tasks lets you spot patterns and fix the cause, not the symptom.
If most misses happen on Wednesdays, you can adjust the load midweek. If one group is missing more, you can offer a different format. The goal is to reduce misses without shaming families. Each small drop in this rate means more real reading happening in kitchens and living rooms.
How to reduce misses with compassion and design
Shrink the daily task to a size no family will fear. Promise that the core routine takes five to ten minutes total. Mean it. Use easy-to-follow steps with no prep. Keep materials in one pouch. Offer a two-minute rescue plan that still counts as done.
If a family misses a day, show them how to restart the next day without guilt. In coaching, ask one kind question: what got in the way? Listen and offer one tiny fix. If nights are busy, suggest mornings or car reads with a short card.
If adults feel unsure, schedule a three-minute phone demo. If the child resists, pick a fun text at an easier level for two days to rebuild momentum.
Make success visible. When the child completes any part of the task, even a single sentence, let them earn a small star. Five stars unlock a silly reading challenge on Friday. Use clear, caring messages. Instead of you missed again, try we missed you yesterday; two minutes now still helps; here is one sentence to read.
Send this at the family’s preferred time. Track misses by day and reason to guide your next tweak. Many programs cut misses by half just by making the routine shorter, the layout cleaner, and the praise more specific.
Keep hearts light
Families try hard. Honor that. At Debsie, we coach parents to aim for tiny daily wins and bounce back fast after any miss. Want help turning missed nights into fresh starts? Book a free session at debsie.com/courses and we will map a simple plan.
10) Parent self-efficacy rating (pre/post change)
Why this stat matters
When parents believe they can help, they do help. Self-efficacy is the parent’s sense of I can do this. It rises when they see their child succeed after using a simple routine. A higher rating links to steadier practice, calmer nights, and faster reading growth.
Measuring this before and after a short coaching series shows the true impact of your work. If the rating climbs, keep going. If it stalls, lighten the steps, remove jargon, and give more chances to practice the moves with a coach. Confidence is both a feeling and a skill.
How to lift parent confidence step by step
Give parents quick wins they can see with their own eyes. In the first session, teach one correction move and use it live with a child. Let the parent try it right away with a safe word list. Praise one precise action, like you had your child tap and blend before saying the word; that was perfect coaching.
Send them home with a tiny challenge that will work the first time, such as reading a three-sentence passage with two success words highlighted. Ask them to text one line after trying it. Reply with a warm note and one next micro-step. This back-and-forth builds belief.
Use clear tools. A one-page script removes guesswork. Short demo clips show tone and pace. A small progress card records words per minute, error types, and minutes practiced. Parents see change on paper, not just in feelings.
Host a three-minute “confidence check” at the start of each session. Ask what felt strong and what felt shaky. Then practice the shaky part together for two minutes. Repeat until the parent smiles and says I’ve got it.
End with a picture of success: here’s what a great five-minute home read looks like this week. Name the cues they will use and the words they will say.
Pass the pride to the child
Teach parents to share credit with the child. Say we did it together; you looked at every letter; I loved your focus. This changes the home story. At Debsie, we design coaching to make parents feel calm and capable from day one.
Want your own simple script and confidence tracker? Try a free class at debsie.com/courses.
11) Parent coaching satisfaction/NPS score
Why this stat matters
Satisfaction shows if families feel heard, helped, and hopeful. A strong score means parents would tell a friend to join. That matters because word of mouth brings more families into coaching, which builds a stronger peer group and steadier home practice.
When the score is low, parents may feel the steps are hard, the wins are slow, or the timing does not fit real life. Measuring this score after each short series tells you if the coaching experience fits the parent, not just the child.
The goal is steady delight, clear value, and zero confusion. Happy parents come back, finish the series, and keep reading routines alive long after the class ends.
How to raise satisfaction the simple way
Begin each session with a two-minute recap in plain words. Say what you will teach, why it matters, and how it will look at home tonight. Show a quick demo with a real script so parents can copy the exact tone and timing.
Keep the plan light. Promise five to ten minutes at home and deliver. Share proof of progress at the end of every session, even if tiny. It could be a faster blend, a cleaner correction, or one line read with fewer errors.
Praise the parent’s role in that win. When parents see effort turn into change, they feel proud and satisfied.
Make the sign-up and scheduling flow easy. Fewer clicks, fewer choices, and clear reminders lift the score without any new content. Offer a short make-up path for missed sessions and treat families with warmth, not shame.
Capture feedback in one friendly question: on a scale of zero to ten, how likely are you to recommend this coaching to another parent, and why? Read every answer and reply with a human note. Thank them for the praise or fix the pain point within a week.
Close each series with a small celebration and a clear next step. A certificate with the child’s name, the parent’s top habit, and one suggested goal for the next month feels personal and keeps momentum.
Turn satisfaction into action
Invite happy parents to share a one-line story you can read in the next group session. Let their voices lift others. At Debsie, we build joy into the flow with quick wins, tiny videos, and flexible slots. Want a coaching experience you will love to recommend?
Book a free session at debsie.com/courses and feel the difference in one week.
12) Parent–teacher communication frequency (contacts per month)
Why this stat matters
Reading growth speeds up when adults coordinate. Clear, regular contact keeps the home routine aligned with classroom work. Communication frequency counts the number of meaningful touches between parent and teacher each month.
These touches can be short texts, quick calls, or brief meetings. When the number is steady, problems get solved early and wins get shared right away. If weeks pass with no contact, plans drift and small issues grow.
The target is a light, predictable rhythm rather than long, rare talks. Think short notes often, not long notes sometimes.
How to build a calm communication rhythm
Adopt a simple cadence. Send one Tuesday text with the focus sound or skill for the week and one Friday snapshot with a single win and the next small goal. Keep each message under five lines and use the same format each time so parents know what to expect.
Invite a reply with one short prompt, like what felt easy this week? or where did your child get stuck? When a parent replies, respond within one school day, even if only to say I see this, here is one quick tip, and we will review in coaching.
Use a shared language across school and home. If the classroom uses tap, blend, read, the home card should use the same words.
Create a quick call option for more complex concerns. Ten minutes is plenty if you keep to one goal. Start with the parent’s view, confirm the target skill, agree on one home move, and set a check-in date. Document each touch with a tiny note: date, channel, topic, action.
This log helps you see patterns and proves to families that you listen. If the frequency dips, automate gentle nudges with templates that still feel human. Add your name, the child’s name, one specific praise point, and one sentence about the next step.
That personal touch turns a broadcast into a bond.
Keep it friendly and focused
End every message with a clear, doable action for tonight. One line is enough. At Debsie, our coaches handle the rhythm for you with weekly nudges and same-day replies. Want stress-free, steady communication that moves reading forward?
Join a free class at debsie.com/courses and we will set it up for you.
13) Time-to-first coaching session after referral (days)
Why this stat matters
Speed to start shapes everything. When a child is referred, every day without action is a day the habit is not formed. A short time-to-first session helps families catch momentum while motivation is high. It also signals care and competence.
Parents feel seen and supported right away. Long waits lead to doubt, mixed messages, and slow uptake at home. Tracking the days from referral to first coaching session shows how quickly your system turns concern into help.
The goal is to move from weeks to days, and from days to a small number of hours when possible.
How to cut the wait with smart design
Make scheduling instant. As soon as a referral is submitted, show three early slots within the next seven days. Use clear start times that match family patterns, like early evening and weekend mornings. Keep the first session short and focused on one win.
You do not need full testing to begin building the routine. Teach the core correction move, model it live, and send the family home with a tiny pack. Give one success task that will work the same night. Parents feel relief when they know exactly what to do before they close the laptop.
Prepare ready-to-go starter kits. Have digital and print versions of the routine card, levelled passages, and a quick tracker. When the session ends, the kit goes out immediately. Remove payment friction by offering a simple trial pathway or a clear, single-step checkout.
Send a warm confirmation that includes the date of session two, a one-minute demo video, and one sentence that says what success looks like this week. If a family cannot make the first slot, offer a five-minute phone welcome to teach the rescue plan so practice can start anyway.
Build a fast lane
Create a standing daily micro-slot, even five minutes long, for new families. Use it to teach the first step and set the next appointment. At Debsie, our fast-start flow gets families reading the same day they sign up.
Want your child to start this week, not next month? Book a free session at debsie.com/courses and begin tonight.
14) Home reading frequency (nights per week)
Why this stat matters
How many nights a child reads in a week is one of the strongest drivers of growth. The brain likes rhythm. When reading happens on most nights, even for a few minutes, skills stick. Fewer nights usually means slower progress and more effort the next time.
This stat is simple to track and easy to improve. A practical target is five to six nights each week. That pattern gives the child many small chances to win, and it keeps the routine normal, like brushing teeth.
When families focus on nights rather than long sessions, they see that short, steady practice beats occasional marathons.
How to raise your weekly nights now
Anchor reading to an existing habit so you never forget. Pick the same time each day, such as after dinner or right before bed, and keep the same spot with the same tools. Place the take-home folder, the routine card, and a pencil in a small pouch that stays by that spot.
Start with a tiny countdown to make it feel playful. Say we will read for six minutes; ready, set, go. Begin with a one-minute warm-up of sounds the child already knows. Move into a two or three minute partner read from the take-home passage.
Use only one correction move so the child never feels lost. Close with a joyful line, like you looked at every letter on that tricky word; high-five. Mark the calendar with a simple check. If life gets wild, do the two-minute rescue plan: one sound tap, one sentence, done.
Count it as a full night because the habit is the goal.
Keep motivation high
Celebrate streaks with small, real rewards that point to pride, not prizes. Let your child choose the first sentence tomorrow or the cozy reading spot for the weekend. Share a quick note with your coach each Friday with your total nights and one feeling word.
You will get a kind reply and one simple next step. At Debsie, our live teachers set light nightly goals and our app nudges you with tiny reminders that fit busy evenings. Want a personal plan that gets your family to five nights fast? Book a free starter class at debsie.com/courses and we will map the week for you.
15) Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM) growth (absolute gain)
Why this stat matters
WCPM is a clean way to see fluency grow. It measures how many words a child reads correctly in one minute. When WCPM climbs, it means the child is decoding faster and making fewer errors. This eases the load on the mind and frees space for understanding the story.
Tracking absolute gain shows real movement, like plus twelve words in four weeks. That kind of change is easy for parents and students to feel proud about. It turns practice into proof. Because WCPM is quick to check, you can measure it weekly and use it to fine-tune the home routine.
How to grow WCPM with short, focused practice
Choose a passage that fits the child. It should be just a little challenging, not a struggle on every line. Warm up for one minute with common word parts that appear in the passage. Start the timer and have the child read for sixty seconds.
Use your single correction move when the child stalls or guesses. Mark errors lightly without interrupting flow. When the minute ends, show the child a small success line: you read sixty-two words with five slips; last week you read fifty-three with six slips.
Celebrate something specific, like your eyes stayed on the letters, and you tapped and blended quickly. Then do a partner reread. The child reads again while you point under words that were tricky. Most children add several words on the second try, which teaches them the feeling of smooth reading.
Make numbers lift hearts
Plot WCPM on a small chart at home. Keep it simple and visual. Each time the number rises, connect it to the habit that drove the change. Say your steady five-minute reads added four words this week; nice work. If the number stalls, do not panic.
Pick an easier passage for two days to rebuild flow, then try a fresh piece. At Debsie, we provide leveled texts and quick timing sheets so you can track WCPM without stress. Want us to set your child’s first target and show you the one-minute check?
Join a free class at debsie.com/courses and we will get you started.
16) Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) percentile change
Why this stat matters
ORF percentile tells you how a child’s fluency compares to peers of the same age. A rising percentile means the child is catching up or moving ahead, not just improving at the same pace as everyone else. This matters for confidence.
Children feel the difference when reading groups change or when classroom passages no longer feel scary. Percentile also guides support levels. If a child moves from the bottom band into the middle, you can shift from heavy support to lighter boosters.
Percentile change is slow but steady when nightly practice is consistent and passages match the child’s level. It is the long view of progress.
How to nudge the percentile upward
First, stabilize the weekly routine. Aim for five to six reading nights with a clear script and friendly timing. Next, make sure the text difficulty is right. If the child is stuck below grade-level passages that are too hard, choose easier texts that allow accurate, smooth reading.
Fluency grows on success, not on struggle. Use short timings twice a week to track WCPM and accuracy, and keep a small record. Every two to three weeks, sample a slightly more complex passage to test transfer.
If accuracy stays strong and WCPM does not crash, you can gradually increase challenge.
Focus on precision. Teach the child to look through the whole word, not just the first letter. Use your set correction move every time guessing appears. Make rereads purposeful by calling out one goal before the second pass, such as keep your eyes moving or read in phrases.
Add a tiny prosody moment where the child echoes your voice on one sentence. Expression supports comprehension and often lifts speed naturally. Share the numbers with your child in kind, simple words.
Say your reading is moving from the quiet zone to the middle zone; this is what hard work looks like. Pride fuels persistence.
Keep the horizon clear
Teachers and parents should align on targets and timing. A quick note each month saying here is the percentile range, here is our next step keeps everyone calm. At Debsie, we match live coaching with leveled take-home packs so percentile shifts are steady and clear.
Want help building a ladder of texts that raises fluency without frustration? Try a free session at debsie.com/courses and we will craft it for you.
17) DIBELS/Acadience composite score improvement
Why this stat matters
The composite score pulls key skills into one clear number. It blends tasks like letter sounds, nonsense word fluency, and oral reading into a single snapshot of risk and growth. When the composite rises, it means the base of reading is getting stronger, not just one slice.
Parents and teachers can use this number to decide support levels and to celebrate real, measurable change. Because the test is brief and repeatable, it works well as a checkpoint after a short coaching cycle.
A steady climb over eight to twelve weeks usually shows that home practice and classroom work are aligned and effective.
How to drive composite growth at home
Match practice to the weakest link. If the child struggles most with sound-symbol mapping, add a one-minute daily warm-up with five target graphemes. Use a simple routine: see it, say the sound, write it once, read it in a word.
If the biggest gap is blending, run a thirty-second tap-and-blend with two or three decodable words before every read. If accuracy drops on passages, slow down and rebuild clean decoding using your single correction move.
Keep the whole home routine tight: one minute of focused warm-up, three to five minutes of supported reading, and one minute of joyful reread or echo read. Short, sharp, and specific beats long and loose.
Retest on a calm day every two to four weeks using practice-friendly measures. Record the child’s score, but also note what felt easier and what still felt sticky. Share both data and feeling with your coach. When the composite stalls, check alignment.
Are the take-home texts too hard? Is the warm-up targeting the right sounds? Is the routine happening most nights? Fix one thing at a time. Often a small shift, like lowering text difficulty for a week or tightening the correction script, restarts growth.
Keep families encouraged
Translate composite gains into plain words for your child. Say your reading muscles are stronger in sounds and blending; that is why the story felt smoother today. At Debsie, we align coaching targets with DIBELS/Acadience skills so families know exactly what to practice.
Want a custom warm-up that matches your child’s next checkpoint? Book a free class at debsie.com/courses and get a ready plan.
18) Phonemic awareness mastery rate (% tasks correct)
Why this stat matters
Phonemic awareness is the ear for speech sounds. It is hearing, pulling apart, and blending the tiny sounds in words. When this skill is strong, decoding becomes easier because the brain can map sounds to letters cleanly.
A high mastery rate on tasks like blending, segmenting, and manipulating sounds often predicts faster progress in reading. If this rate is low, children may guess from pictures or first letters.
Tracking the percent of correct responses keeps the focus on the base of the reading ladder, not only on passages. It also helps parents choose the right quick games at home.
How to lift mastery with fun, tiny drills
Keep it oral and fast. Spend one minute a day on sound play with no print. Use your fingers as sound markers. Say a word like map. Ask the child to push one finger for each sound: /m/ /a/ /p/. Then blend them back to map.
Switch roles so your child gets to be the caller for you. Add deletion once blending feels easy. Say smile without /s/ and let the child answer mile. Keep the difficulty gentle. Use short, simple words first. Praise clear listening, not speed.
After a week, move from hearing to mapping by adding one quick letter card that matches a target sound. Say the sound, place the card, and read a word with that sound. This bridge connects ear skills to print skills.
If a task is tricky, shrink it. Use two-sound words like at and up before trying blends or digraphs. Keep the tone light. Turn errors into practice moments. Say let’s try it slowly together, and tap each sound with a finger on the table.
End on a success so the child wants to return tomorrow. Track mastery as a simple percent out of ten quick items. Share the number with your coach and adjust the next week’s warm-ups accordingly.
Make it part of your rhythm
Do sound play right before your decodable read. One minute is enough. At Debsie, our take-home packs include tiny, joyful audio prompts so parents can model perfect pronunciation. Want a week of easy sound games tuned to your child?
Join a free session at debsie.com/courses and we will send you the set.
19) Nonsense word fluency/decoding accuracy gain (%)
Why this stat matters
Nonsense words strip away memory and context. They test pure decoding. If a child can read zav or mip cleanly, it means they are mapping letters to sounds and blending with control. Gains here often spill into real words and passages.
Tracking accuracy on nonsense words shows whether phonics teaching is sticking or if the child is still guessing. A rising percent means the child can tackle new words with confidence. This makes classroom reading less scary and home reading more productive.
How to grow decoding accuracy fast
Choose a tight set of patterns for the week, like short vowels with simple consonants. Build a mini-list of five to eight nonsense words using those patterns. Start with a two-step routine. First, have the child say each sound while touching under the letter.
Second, have them blend the sounds into a word. If they guess, pause and return to the first step: eyes on the letters, say the sounds, now blend. Keep your tone calm and steady. Accuracy grows on repeated success. After the list, switch to two real words that share the same pattern so transfer happens right away.
Time a one-minute decoding burst twice a week. Do not push speed until accuracy is above ninety percent. When errors persist on a specific letter or digraph, isolate it in a three-item micro-drill: see, say, and write. Then return to the list.
If the child tires, stop early and end with one easy success word. Chart accuracy as a percent and cheer each small rise. Tie the gain to the child’s action, like you looked through each letter and did not guess; that is real reading.
Connect to passages
Use the same pattern in your take-home text. Before the read, preview two words from the story that match today’s drill. After the read, revisit one tricky word and decode it again. At Debsie, our coaches select patterns that build in a careful order so each week feels doable.
Want us to pick the next pattern set for your child and give you a ready list? Book a free class at debsie.com/courses.
20) Sight-word mastery growth (words added)
Why this stat matters
Some words appear so often that fluent readers know them at a glance. Many are fully decodable, but quick recognition saves time and mental energy. Sight-word growth, counted as words added to the child’s known bank, reduces effort during passages and boosts confidence.
When a child can snap-read the most frequent words, they can focus on decoding the new or longer ones. Tracking how many new words join the “instantly known” pile each week makes progress visible and motivating.
How to build a strong sight-word bank
Teach small sets in context. Pick five high-frequency words that also appear in this week’s passage. Use a three-step routine. First, see and say the word while tracing it with a finger. Second, build it with letter tiles or quick write it, saying each sound or chunk as you write.
Third, use it in a short, fun sentence that matters to your child. Keep sessions brisk and cheerful. Review old words briefly every other day. When a word is shaky, return to print-to-speech mapping instead of guessing from shape. Many so-called sight words are decodable once the child attends to all letters.
Play tiny recognition games for one minute, like quick flash, where you show the card for one second and the child says the word, or odd one out, where the child points to the word you say among three choices.
After the mini-game, open the passage and hunt for today’s target words. Underline them and read the sentence that holds each one. This closes the loop between drill and real reading. Track growth by listing new words each week and starring the ones the child can read fast and use in a sentence.
Keep it fun and meaningful
Let your child write a silly note that uses three of the new words and place it on the fridge. Small joy keeps practice alive. At Debsie, we fold sight-word practice into our take-home packs so it never feels like extra work.
Want a custom five-word set matched to your child’s text this week? Try a free session at debsie.com/courses and we will send it tonight.
21) Reading accuracy error rate reduction (%)
Why this stat matters
Accuracy shows how cleanly a child turns print into speech. When errors drop, the brain spends less energy fixing slips and more energy understanding the story. Tracking the percent drop in errors turns guesswork into a clear path.
It also helps you spot patterns. If most slips are from skipping letters, you train eyes to track. If most slips are from guessing, you teach the same calm correction every time. A steady reduction tells you the routine at home is working and that the text level fits.
It is not about zero errors; it is about fewer slips today than last week, and fewer next week than today.
How to cut errors with one calm routine
Start every read with a short preview of two or three words that caused trouble yesterday. Tap each sound, blend, and read the full word. Now open the passage. When your child makes an error, pause kindly and use the same script each time.
Say let’s fix it, eyes on the letters, tap, blend, read. Do not add extra talk. The brain learns best from one steady cue. After the word is fixed, have your child reread the whole sentence so flow returns. Mark the slip lightly with a dot.
At the end of the minute, count dots and share the small win. Say last time we had eight slips; today we had five; that is progress. Then pick one focus for tomorrow, like look through all letters or slow down on long words.
Keep text at the right level. If more than one in ten words is missed, choose an easier passage for two days. Clean success today builds accuracy for harder text later. Add a one-minute eyes-track practice.
Use your finger to glide under words as your child reads, then fade the finger as accuracy rises. Teach a simple check-back habit. If a word did not make sense, your child stops, taps, blends, and rereads without you saying a word.
That self-correction skill keeps errors low even when you are not there.
Make the number friendly
Chart the error percent once a week. Celebrate the drop with a small note on the fridge that names the habit that helped. Keep tone warm and steady. At Debsie, we coach families to use a single, clear correction so children feel safe and sure.
Want us to set your child’s accuracy target and share the exact script? Book a free class at debsie.com/courses and get a ready plan you can use tonight.
22) Reading stamina increase (sustained minutes per session)
Why this stat matters
Stamina is how long a child can read with focus and steady effort. More minutes mean more words seen, more patterns learned, and more chances to practice smooth reading. Low stamina is common and normal at first.
It grows with gentle training, not pressure. Tracking sustained minutes shows you if the routine is building endurance.
The goal is not to double time overnight. The goal is to add small blocks of strong reading, week by week, until your child can hold attention long enough to enjoy a full page and talk about it after.
How to build stamina without tears
Use a timer and start small. Pick a base time your child can do today without strain, even if that is three minutes. Set the timer and say we will read until the bell, then stop. Keep the routine light: one minute of sound warm-up, a short passage, and a fun finish.
When the bell rings, end right away and praise one clear behavior, like you stayed with the words the whole time. Add one minute every three or four sessions, not every day. Slow increases stick. If your child struggles to finish the new time, step back by thirty seconds for two days, then try again.
Make the space calm and the body ready. Same chair, same table, same simple tools in reach. Have a fidget or bookmark for busy fingers, but keep the table uncluttered. Teach tiny reset moves. If your child frowns or drifts, pause for a quick breath and a stretch, then restart the sentence.
Use choice to keep buy-in high. Let your child pick between two passages at the same level or choose the order of warm-up and read. At the end, ask one short question that invites thinking, like what was one interesting word you read today? This turns time into meaning.
Tie stamina to joy. When you add a minute, name it in a happy way, like we unlocked the four-minute level.
Keep a simple line graph on the fridge. Each rise feels like a badge. If a day goes badly, switch to the two-minute rescue read and count it as a win. Consistency grows stamina more than single long fights.
Keep progress smooth
Review minutes with your coach each week and adjust the plan. At Debsie, we fold stamina goals into our take-home packs and live sessions so time grows naturally with skill.
Want a gentle, step-by-step stamina ladder tuned to your child? Try a free class at debsie.com/courses and we will set it up for you.
23) Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) slope change (WCPM/week)
Why this stat matters
CBM slope shows how fast your child’s fluency is rising each week. Instead of one snapshot, slope captures the trend. A steady upward line tells you that daily habits are working, texts are well matched, and corrections are clean.
A flat or bumpy line signals friction, like passages that are too hard, routines that are too long, or shaky sound skills underneath. Watching words-correct-per-minute per week makes coaching precise. You do not need big leaps. Even a small, reliable weekly gain adds up to major growth across a term.
How to improve the weekly slope with simple steps
Choose a fixed day and time for your one-minute read so conditions are consistent. Use leveled passages from the same series so difficulty is predictable. Before timing, run a sixty-second warm-up with two or three word parts that appear in the passage.
Start the minute. During the read, use the same calm correction each time guessing appears. When the minute ends, mark words correct, count errors, and note one behavior win. Do a quick partner reread of the same passage and put a check beside any word that smoothed out.
Plot the first one-minute score on a simple chart. Repeat next week with a fresh but similar-level passage.
If slope stalls, make one change at a time. Drop text difficulty for two weeks to rebuild accuracy. Shorten home sessions to seven minutes if fatigue is creeping in. Add a micro-drill on the exact error pattern shown in the timing, like short-e versus short-i.
Keep your tone encouraging and specific. Say your reading line is nudging up because you are looking through every letter and tapping before you say the word. Children connect actions to growth when you name it clearly. Share your chart with your coach so adjustments are fast and data-driven.
Keep momentum visible
Celebrate the trend, not just the number. A rising line earns a small badge at home on Fridays. At Debsie, our live teachers set weekly targets and our app graphs slope for you automatically.
Want a ready pack of leveled passages and a simple slope tracker? Book a free class at debsie.com/courses and we will set you up.
24) Below-benchmark to at/above-benchmark movement rate (% students)
Why this stat matters
This rate shows how many children move from risk to ready. It is the big-picture proof that home routines and coaching are changing lives. When more students cross the line from below benchmark to at or above, classrooms feel calmer and kids feel proud.
Families notice the shift at homework time, too. Movement rate helps leaders choose what to scale and where to focus support. It also keeps hope alive, because every move up is a story of effort turning into freedom.
How to raise movement with tight alignment
Aim for zero mystery between school and home. Use the same words for the same moves everywhere. If teachers cue tap, blend, read, the take-home card cues the same. Match text levels across settings so children see familiar patterns.
Build a gentle, universal routine that any family can run in under ten minutes: quick sound warm-up, supported minute read with one correction, joyful reread. Identify the two most common barriers in your community, such as busy nights or confusing materials, and remove them by design.
Keep packs light, scripts plain, and rescue plans ready.
Track each child’s two to three lead indicators, like nights per week, accuracy percent, and WCPM slope. When a child’s indicators are strong for three weeks, sample the next benchmark passage to check transfer.
If the child is close but not quite there, stay steady rather than jumping levels too soon. The fastest way to hit benchmark is clean practice at the right level. Share progress in friendly weekly notes so families see the path.
Celebrate crossings with a certificate that names the habit behind the success.
Scale what works
Make the winning routine the default for all. At Debsie, we package the exact steps that move students above benchmark and coach parents to run them with confidence.
Want your child on a clear path to the next benchmark? Join a free session at debsie.com/courses and get a custom plan.
25) Comprehension retell quality gain (idea units or rubric points)
Why this stat matters
Fluency opens the door; comprehension makes the walk worth it. Retell quality shows how well a child understood and remembered what they read. Counting idea units or rubric points turns fuzzy talk into clear growth.
As decoding gets smoother, children can notice who did what, where, when, and why. Tracking this gain keeps families from focusing only on speed. It reminds everyone that the goal is meaning, joy, and thinking. Even small, steady gains in retell make school reading feel lighter.
How to grow retell quality without heavy tests
Use a simple read-and-talk routine three times a week. After a short, level-appropriate passage, ask your child to tell the story back in their own words. Guide with three friendly prompts: start with the beginning, then the middle, then the end.
If the text is informational, ask what was the big idea and what were two key facts. As your child speaks, jot quick notes. Praise specific strengths, like you named the main character and the problem. Add one gentle nudge for next time, such as include where it happened.
Keep decoding support during the read so the brain has energy left for meaning. Before reading, preview two important words and one big idea. After reading, ask one why question to spark thinking. Do not turn this into a quiz.
Keep it short and warm. Graph progress with a tiny rubric of three parts: who/what, key events or facts, and connection or inference. A point in each category makes the growth visible. When retell is thin, lower text difficulty for a few days, slow the pace, and add echo reading so expression models meaning.
Make retell feel human
Invite your child to record a one-minute voice note of their retell and send it to a grandparent or your coach. Real audiences boost effort. At Debsie, we fold micro-comprehension moves into take-home packs so meaning grows alongside accuracy.
Want a simple retell rubric and prompts you can use tonight? Book a free class at debsie.com/courses and we will share our template.
26) Vocabulary acquisition growth (words learned per week)
Why this stat matters
Better words make better readers and thinkers. When children learn new words each week, they understand more of what they read and can express ideas clearly. Tracking words learned per week is a gentle way to build language without turning reading time into a grind.
You do not need long lists. A few well-chosen words, used in talk and writing, change how a child sees the world. Vocabulary growth also supports comprehension checks and makes stories more fun.
How to build word power in minutes a day
Pick three to five words per week that appear in your child’s texts or daily life. Teach each word with a quick, three-part routine. First, give a friendly meaning in plain talk. Second, connect the word to a tiny visual or a gesture.
Third, use the word in a sentence that matters to your child. Keep lessons under two minutes. Then sprinkle the word during normal talk for the rest of the week. Ask either-or questions that cue the word, like was the dragon furious or calm?
Have your child use the word in a short oral sentence at dinner. On paper, invite a one-sentence story that uses two target words together.
Play mini review games for one minute, like real or not, where you say a sentence and your child decides if the target word fits. Tie words to readings. Before the passage, preview one target word that appears in the text.
After the read, hunt for it and talk about how it was used. At week’s end, count how many words your child can explain in their own words and use in a simple sentence. That is your growth number. Keep it small and sustainable. Depth beats volume.
Keep curiosity alive
Collect favorite new words on a fridge list titled our power words. Celebrate when the list reaches ten, then twenty. At Debsie, we include tiny word cards and playful prompts inside each take-home pack so vocabulary grows naturally.
Want a custom word set that matches your child’s book this week? Try a free class at debsie.com/courses and we will send it today.
27) Attendance rate to school-based reading interventions (%)
Why this stat matters
When children attend school-based reading help often, they get many more chances to practice the same strong moves they use at home. This builds a bridge between school and kitchen table, so skills stick.
Attendance rate shows how many scheduled sessions a child actually attends. A high percent means fewer gaps, faster feedback, and smoother progress. A low percent tells you where life or logistics are getting in the way.
By watching this number each week, teachers and families can remove small barriers fast. The target is simple and kind: get to nine out of ten sessions, and celebrate every streak.
How to lift attendance with thoughtful design
Make the schedule steady and visible. Post the same days and times and keep them in the child’s planner and the family’s phone calendar. Send a short morning reminder to the classroom teacher and the parent on intervention days so everyone is ready.
Keep transitions easy. Place the intervention space near the child’s classroom if possible and assign a friendly peer or adult to escort the child for the first week. Start each session with a one-minute win the child can do right away, like reading three target words smoothly.
This creates positive pull. If the child misses, offer a same-day micro make-up of five minutes, not a long future session that feels heavy. Momentum loves small, quick fixes.
Check patterns. If absences cluster around assemblies, tests, or certain classes, shift the slot rather than fighting the pattern. If transport or health appointments are the issue, build a flexible option on one day each week.
Keep families in the loop with a calm weekly note that shows the percent attended and one bright spot from the teacher. A kind tone builds trust. At the end of a good month, give the child a small certificate naming their habit, such as you showed up and read strong in eight sessions this month.
The recognition strengthens identity and turns attendance into pride, not pressure.
Close the loop with home
Share one line from the session plan with the parent so home and school use the same words and moves. At Debsie, our live lessons mirror school routines, and our take-home packs keep the pattern alive on non-intervention days.
Want help mapping a schedule your child can actually keep? Book a free starter class at debsie.com/courses and we will craft a simple plan that fits your week.
28) Equity gap closure in fluency/comprehension (pp change by subgroup)
Why this stat matters
Equity means every child gets what they need to grow, not just the same thing as everyone else. Gap closure tracks how much the difference in fluency or comprehension between groups shrinks over time.
When this gap narrows, it shows the plan is fair and focused. It means children who faced bigger hurdles are getting the right help at the right time. This is not about labels. It is about making sure the child in front of you moves forward with strength and dignity.
A clear, steady drop in the gap, measured in percentage points, is a sign that your routines, materials, and coaching are reaching those who need them most.
How to close gaps with precision and care
Begin with access. Ensure every family receives a take-home pack that truly fits their child’s current level and language. Provide the routine card in clear, simple English and, when needed, in the family’s home language.
Use short demo videos with subtitles so parents can see and hear the steps. Next, tailor warm-ups to the child’s exact skill gap rather than handing out the same sheet to all. If a subgroup shows more guessing errors, teach a firm, kind correction script and drill letter-sound links for two minutes a day.
If another subgroup struggles with vocabulary or background knowledge, add three spoken words a week tied to home life and the week’s texts.
Protect time. Children who are behind need more high-quality minutes, not just harder worksheets. Build a daily six-to-ten-minute read at home and a steady school intervention slot. Remove friction like heavy packets, tiny fonts, or unclear instructions.
Make praise specific and frequent so effort turns into identity. Track growth for each subgroup weekly with two leading indicators, such as nights read and accuracy percent, and one outcome, like WCPM or a short retell score.
Share the trend with families in warm language and celebrate every rise. When the data shows a subgroup stalling, adjust quickly: easier texts for a week, more modeling, or a different time of day.
Build belonging
Invite family voices. Ask what helps their child focus and what gets in the way at home. Honor those answers in your plan. At Debsie, we pair expert coaching with joyful materials so every child feels seen and supported.
Want a custom family plan in your language with videos that match your routine? Try a free class at debsie.com/courses and we will set it up with care.
29) Digital resource engagement (QR/video plays per pack)
Why this stat matters
Short videos and audio prompts help parents copy the routine with the right tone and pace. When families scan the QR and watch the clip, they use the steps correctly at home. Engagement, measured as plays per pack, shows how often these supports are used.
A higher number usually means higher fidelity, smoother reads, and fewer errors. It also tells you which videos work and which need a redo. If many families never scan, the pack is either too confusing, the code is hard to find, or the video is too long.
This stat turns your digital add-ons into a powerful lever for real-world practice.
How to boost scans and plays without adding work
Make the code impossible to miss. Place one QR at the top right of the routine card and another next to the first passage. Label it with a simple line, watch this sixty-second demo. Keep videos short and kind, ideally under ninety seconds.
Show a real adult and a real child at a kitchen table. Model the one correction move, one praise move, and the exact length of the routine. Use captions and clear audio. At the end, say the action for tonight in one sentence.
If a step changes next week, record a new clip with the same look and feel so families trust the flow.
Send one helpful nudge midweek with the direct QR image attached. Say today’s video shows how to fix guessing on long words; try it before tonight’s read. Track plays by code and note which videos get more replays.
If a clip performs well, make more like it. If a clip is ignored, move it higher on the page, shorten it, or add a friendly face at the start. Invite parents to reply with one word after watching, like clear or confused.
Use those responses to improve. Some families prefer audio only, so include a tiny audio guide that fits into a school bus ride or a kitchen clean-up.
Keep tech friendly
No logins, no ads, no complex menus. Just tap, watch, read. At Debsie, every pack includes tiny QR demos that parents tell us feel like a coach in the room.
Want your own set of micro-videos matched to your child’s level? Book a free session at debsie.com/courses and we will share a ready library.
30) Long-term retention check (WCPM/comprehension maintained after 6–8 weeks)
Why this stat matters
Real learning lasts. Retention means the child keeps their fluency and understanding even after the coaching series ends or the text changes. Checking WCPM and a quick retell six to eight weeks later shows whether habits became skills.
If numbers hold or keep rising, the routine has become part of life. If they fall, you know it is time for a light booster. This check protects your hard-won gains. It also teaches families that growth is not a sprint; it is a steady walk with short rest stops and smart check-ins.
How to lock in gains for the long run
Keep the habit small and steady after the main series. Aim for four to five reading nights each week, even if only six minutes. Rotate text types so the child meets both stories and simple informational pieces.
Every two weeks, run a one-minute WCPM timing on a fresh passage at the same level, then ask for a brief retell. Track the number and one idea from the retell on a tiny card. If WCPM stays within a few words of the last coaching score and retell includes key parts, celebrate and continue.
If numbers slide for two checks in a row, return to the firm correction script, drop text difficulty for a week, and add a two-minute phonics warm-up targeting recent errors.
Plan micro-boosters. Schedule a fifteen-minute tune-up with a coach once a month for the first term after the series. In that session, review the chart, model one refinement, and adjust the home plan. Keep materials fresh by swapping passages and adding one new joyful element, like a riddle line or a short poem.
Tie reading to life. Ask your child to read a menu, a recipe step, or a game rule once a week. That real-world use keeps skills alive. Praise process more than points. Say your focus and careful sounding-out are why you kept your speed this month.
Make the check feel good
Treat the six-to-eight-week check as a celebration and a tune-up, not a test. At Debsie, we send a friendly reminder, provide the quick passage, and share the next tiny step based on the result.
Want us to set your family’s retention plan and monthly boosters? Join a free class at debsie.com/courses and we will guide you the whole way.
Conclusion
Parent coaching and take-home packs work best when they are simple, steady, and kind. The thirty stats you tracked are not just numbers. They are tiny levers you can pull every day. When attendance is strong, routines are clear, and minutes are right-sized, reading grows.
When fidelity stays high, errors fall, and joy shows up at the table, reading sticks. When slope rises and benchmarks are crossed, children feel proud and want to read more. When parents feel confident and supported, the habit lasts after the class ends. This is how small daily actions become real gains that hold for weeks and months.
Other Research Reports By Debsie:
- Screen Time vs Grades: Stat Report
- The “Too Much” Line: Screen Time Cutoffs—Stats
- TikTok, Shorts, Reels & Study Time: Impact Stats
- YouTube for Learning: Watch Time vs Test Scores—Stats
- Gaming & GPA: Roblox/Minecraft/Fortnite—By the Numbers
- Phone vs Laptop vs Tablet for Study: Device Mix Stats
- Notifications & App-Switching: Focus Loss—Stat Snapshot
- Blue Light at Night: Sleep & Next-Day Learning—Stats
- Reading on Screens vs Print: Comprehension Stats
- iPad/Tablet Math Minutes: Achievement Data Deep Dive