The Rusty Blog

Small steps for stronger reading and math.

Practical guides for parents and tutors: what to try, what to notice, and how to choose a useful next step.

Use names, objects, and short word-building games to make letter sounds useful in real reading.

Use socks, spoons, blocks, and snacks to make counting visible and connected to real quantities.

A three-part handoff that tells a parent what happened and gives the child one realistic next step.

Short, predictable practice can fit busy evenings when the goal is specific and the stopping point is real.

Before a child uses an AI learning app, check what it does, what it stores, who controls it, and what happens when the AI is wrong.

A concrete path from counters to mental addition using the make-ten strategy.

A practical bank of reading comprehension prompts, plus guidance for choosing just one or two at a time.

A five-minute sight-word routine that combines decoding, noticing the unusual part, and using the word in context.

Put one useful idea into practice today.

Rusty offers parent-managed reading and math activities, optional voice, and grounded progress evidence. Free on the App Store.