Code 3 · Written lessons

You now have all the key pieces in place: your word cards are ready, your 45-second flash sessions are happening three times a day, and your movement games are helping words settle into your child’s body as well as their mind.

Now comes the question every parent eventually asks:

How do I know if we’re moving in the right direction? When is it time to raise the level and introduce longer phrases? And when is it better to slow down and strengthen what is already there?

The answer lies in three simple but powerful tools you can use in less than five minutes a week.

No complicated spreadsheets. No stressful scoring systems.

Just careful observation, a little consistency, and a willingness to notice what your child is showing you.

Let’s walk through it step by step.

1. The Progress Page

Take a sheet of paper and divide it into four columns:

Week New Words Intro-

duced

Words Read Inde-

pendently

Wow Mo-

ment

What each column means

• Week Write the date or week number.

• New Words Introduced Record how many new words you presented during that week.

• Words Read Independently Note how many words your child can now read without help.

• Wow Moment Write down one small but meaningful success, such as: “Read BREAD at the café” or “Said CAT when she saw a real cat.”

Why this matters

This page gives you a clear, visual picture of progress.

A good general rhythm is for the number of independently read words to increase by about three to four words per week.

If that number stays unchanged for two weeks in a row, that is usually a sign to slow down:

• reduce new words from five to three

• increase movement games to strengthen retention

2. Traffic Light 2.0 — Now with Phrases

Let’s return to the traffic light system, but this time we add a fourth color:

blue, for short phrases.

Red Child does not recognize the word

Repeat the same word with the same card color Yellow

Child guesses correctly about 1 out of 3 times

Change rooms or add a photo next to the word

Green Child says the word imme-

diately

Move it to the Champion Words box Blue Child reads the short phrase Create a similar new phrase

For example:

• MOM SINGS can become

• DAD SINGS

How it works

As soon as two green words can be combined into a short phrase, create a blue card with that phrase.

Once you have three blue cards, your child is ready for the next step:

the mini-book.

3. The Trial Mini-Book

How do you know if your child is ready to read across multiple pages?

Here is a simple test you can prepare in about ten minutes.

How to make it

1. Fold two sheets of paper in half to create 8 pages. 2. At the top of each page, write one short blue phrase your child has already read. Example:

o Page 1: MOM SINGS o Page 2: DAD JUMPS 3. Draw a simple picture underneath to match the phrase. Stick figures are perfectly fine. 4. Staple the pages together.

Now you have your own little book.

How to test it

Sit with your child and slowly turn the pages together.

• If your child can read at least 4 out of 8 pages independently, they are ready for the next step. Celebrate with a balloon, a dance, or a joyful little ritual.

• If they can read only 1 or 2 pages, go back to single phrases for another week and try again later.

How Fast Should You Move Forward?

Here is a simple guide:

Weeks

If Green Words Are

At Least…

Introduce…

If Green Words Are

At Most…

Then…

3–4 10 2 blue phrases + 1 mini-book

5 Reduce new words to 3

After week 4 15 An 8-page mini-book

5 or fewer for several weeks

Take a 3-day break, then restart gently

This table helps you move forward with confidence, without guessing.

Three Warning Signs—and What to Do

Sometimes your child will tell you, very clearly, that the pace needs adjusting.

Child says “No words!” for 3 days in a row

Pause completely for 48 hours, then restart with just 1 word in the morning Child refuses both reading and movement games

Return to tactile cards, sitting on the couch, for no more than 1 minute Child wants to talk but not read

Use finger writing in the air: you write, your child watches

These are not failures. They are simply signals asking for a different approach.

A Real Example: Sara, Age 3½

Here is what progress looked like for Sara:

• Week 1: 5 new words introduced; she reads 2 independently

• Week 2: 5 more new words; now she reads 5 total → first blue phrase introduced

• Week 3: 4 new words; 9 green words; she reads the blue phrase and gets a 4-page mini-book

• Week 4: Sara reads the entire mini-book to Grandma, and everyone celebrates

In her notebook, the line of progress looked like this:

2 → 5 → 9 → 12

That is a beautiful pace.

Steady. Healthy. Sustainable.

When Can You Say “Mission Accomplished”?

You have reached a major milestone when your child can:

• read 20 to 25 different words without help

• recognize and read 5 to 6 short phrases

• flip through an 8-page mini-book and read at least half of the phrases independently

At that point, you can reduce flash sessions from three a day to two, and begin spending more time with real picture books.

The road is open.

And Code 3 has done its job.

SECRET 3.5

Don’t chase the number of words.

Watch the curve over time.

Even if progress feels slow, a rising curve means you are already on the right path.