Inside LearningRX

by Kristen Thompson

LearningRx specializes in helping students who struggle by identifying the cause of their learning difficulty, and then training those weak skills to become strong.  Strong cognitive skills = faster, easier learning.  Identifying these weak skills is the first part of our process.  Students begin by taking an assessment test while mom or dad waits in our comfortable lobby. When the assessment results are ready, I get together with the student’s parents to share the results, and they share their child’s story with me. Very often, these parents make me laugh and their child's struggles make me cry.  The best part of this whole process is getting to share the hope of change for their child.  The hope that reading can be enjoyable, that math actually makes sense, and that an ACT or SAT score is the next step to getting into that first choice college.  That hope is partly held in the hands of our Cognitive Skills Trainers, or Brain Trainers as they are often called.  Each new student is paired with a trainer to coach them through their individual LearningRx program.  These trainers are mentors, coaches, cheerleaders and sometimes even part time drill sergeants!  Here is a glimpse into one such trainer's mind as she shares what being a Brain Trainer is all about.  Bethany joined our team when we first opened LearningRx in 2007 and is now a Master Trainer and oversees all training at the center.  Her passion for our programs and for the results they create is unmatched.  Her ability to help motivate and encourage students makes a lasting impression on not only her students, but on their families, as well. 

"My name is Bethany Kiesshauer and I have worked at LearningRx for 5 years.  I graduated from Clayton State University in May of 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Integrative Studies.  I spent the next year working as an intern at a college campus ministry, and then set out to find something more long term.  When I saw an ad for LearningRx that read, "Train the Brain.  Help kids get smarter and work one on one to change someone's life", I KNEW it was for me. I love people and especially kids, and THIS job was telling me I'd get to work with both adults and children, and I'd play a major role in changing their lives for the better.  That ad couldn't have been truer.  I have had more students graduate from LearningRx now than I can count – most of these children still attend  school, but I  have also taught a  few 25+ adults, as well.  Each student has brought me more joy in my job as they finish their program. It’s so rewarding to see the changes in their lives, from their results, their parents, their teachers and most importantly from them.  There is nothing greater than that moment during a lesson when a student uses strategy and persistence to nail something that he or she has worked so hard on that normally had been so difficult.

  The smile and sheer joy that appears on their faces, gives me instant pride in them and joy in what I do.  Our students know the names of all the United States Presidents forward and backward.  I am just waiting to see which one of their names gets added to that list!"

This week, we currently have a special on a Cognitive Skills Assessment & Consultation for only $50 (regularly $199), in honor of National Puzzle Day (Jan, 29).  We are celebrating all week ~ Jan. 28 - Feb. 4.  We are hoping to build awareness about how puzzles can help to build cognitive skills:  At home, jigsaw puzzles can help build cognitive skills like visual processing, logic and reasoning, attention, and processing speed.