“The most loved, trusted, and effective brain training program in the world.”

Why Tutoring Fails for Some Learners—and What Actually Works

Why Tutoring Fails for Some Learners—and What Actually Works

If you’ve ever watched a student work longer and harder for the same (or lower) grades and results as their peers, you’ve also seen the limits of traditional tutoring.

Tutoring can be invaluable in the right moments, but for many learners, it’s like patching a leaky roof without fixing what’s underneath. At LearningRx, we focus on strengthening the foundation—the brain skills that make learning possible—so students don’t just cope with school; they catch up, then move ahead with confidence. Below, we’ll unpack the difference between tutoring and brain training, when to choose each, and why our one-on-one cognitive training model changes lives (and why our franchisees love the work they do).

Tutoring vs. Brain Training: What’s the Difference?

Tutoring is academic support. It reteaches content a student may have missed or didn’t fully grasp the first time—fractions, grammar rules, chemistry formulas—often tied to a specific class or test. When the issue is a content gap, tutoring shines. Brain training (also called cognitive training) is different. It targets the core mental skills that power learning across every subject: • Attention and focus • Processing speed • Working and long-term memory • Logic & reasoning • Auditory and visual processing (including phonemic awareness for reading)

At LearningRx, highly trained cognitive trainers work one-on-one with clients using intense, incremental exercises that feel like energetic, game-based drills. Sessions build speed, accuracy, and stamina, creating stronger neural performance—so school (and life) gets easier in general, not just in one class.

In short: Tutoring helps you through one chapter;
brain training strengthens the whole reader.

When Tutoring Is the Right Choice

Choose tutoring when the main barrier is content knowledge: • A unit was missed due to absence, a new school, or a teacher change. • A student needs a quick refresher before finals or standardized tests. • The learner understands how to learn but needs support mastering what to learn in a specific course. Tutoring is like hiring a guide for one mountain on the trail. You’ll reach that summit more efficiently.

When Brain Training Is the Better Option

Choose brain training when you see patterns that point to skill-based barriers rather than content gaps, for example:

  • Inconsistent attention: They can focus on favorite activities but “zone out” during reading or multi-step tasks.
  • Slow work/processing: Homework takes forever; instructions are hard to follow; tests aren’t finished despite knowing the material.
  • Weak working memory: Multi-step instructions are forgotten; note-taking and following directions are hard; information is difficult to retain.
  • Reading bottlenecks: Phonics never “clicked,” reading is choppy and words are guessed, or comprehension lags despite rereading.
  • Across-the-board struggle: Challenges show up in many classes,  not just one; home life is strained.

Brain Training Addresses the Root Cause of Learning Struggles

If a student’s struggles stem from weak underlying cognitive skills, tutoring alone won’t address the problem. Tutoring is not designed to strengthen the brain’s capacity to think, learn, and remember—it focuses on reteaching content. Brain training, on the other hand, targets and develops those core skills directly. If you’re looking for a program that addresses the root cause of learning challenges rather than just the symptoms, brain training can help.

How Brain Training Works—Scientifically and Practically

A randomized controlled trial found that students who completed 60 hours of LearningRx training gained an average of 21 IQ points and improved across all measured cognitive skills. This demonstrates that LearningRx programs can significantly improve cognitive skills and IQ for children and adolescents.

In practice, this means that instead of simply helping a child “get through” this year’s math homework, brain training equips them with stronger skills for every class, every subject, and every challenge that lies ahead.

Most traditional academic help focuses on a student’s knowledge bank—what they’ve already been taught and what they can recall. That’s important, but it’s only part of the picture. True learning success depends on the underlying cognitive skills that allow us to think quickly, remember accurately, process information efficiently, and apply knowledge in new situations. Without strong skills like attention, memory, and processing speed, even a well-stocked knowledge bank can be hard to access.

Brain training targets those core learning tools directly, so students can learn more efficiently and retain information longer—turning every future academic or life challenge into a more manageable task. Check out this video that explains the difference, and what happens if just one of the underlying cognitive skills is weak:

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Brain training works through structured, engaging (and fun!) exercises that challenge the brain to grow stronger. The key to its success is one-on-one training, which keeps learners engaged and ensures maximum cognitive development. This highly effective system is the foundation of LearningRx’s success—and it’s what makes our franchisees so impactful in their communities.

Here’s how it works:

  • Personalized Training Plans – Each learner gets a customized program targeting their specific needs.
  • One-on-One Coaching – Certified brain trainers provide direct, individualized attention.
  • Challenging, Engaging Exercises – Each session is designed as a true mental workout.
  • Repetition & Practice – Consistent training helps solidify new cognitive skills.
  • Step-by-Step Progression – Training starts with core skills and builds to more complex exercises.
  • Multi-Skill Development – Advanced exercises combine multiple cognitive functions at once.
  • Encouragement & Motivation – Brain trainers provide real-time feedback to keep learners engaged.

Practically, families notice a shift that feels like this:

  • Homework time shrinks—and tempers cool.
  • Reading becomes smoother and more automatic.
  • Following instructions and organizing tasks gets easier.
  • Confidence rises—because the student feels their brain working better.

“We’re coming up on 2500 graduates across my three centers and the stories of changed lives are incredible. I often think that if we weren’t here, those families—those kids—would still be struggling, because tutoring doesn’t get to the root cause. Those kids just keep struggling. So that’s what led me to LearningRx, was the life change that I could see.”

—Rich Frieder | Eagan, Savage + Woodbury, MN

Tutoring + Brain Training... Do you have to choose?

Sometimes the perfect plan includes both. Brain training strengthens the learning engine; targeted tutoring then helps the student catch up on missed content faster—now with the cognitive horsepower to sustain progress. The order matters: upgrade the engine, then fly through the highway miles.

The Bottom Line

Tutoring can be a helpful tool—but it isn’t designed to rebuild the mental “muscles” of learning. When a student’s core cognitive skills are weak, more explanations and practice won’t solve the problem. Strengthen the skills first, and everything built on top—reading, math, writing, organization—gets easier. That’s why LearningRx exists: to deliver one-on-one brain training that gets to the root cause of learning struggles, not just the symptoms.

The Ripple Effect: Client, Family, Community

The benefits of brain training don’t stop with the student. Parents often report that after brain training, their children show higher confidence, better personal responsibility, stronger social skills, and a more positive mood—changes that can improve family life, school experiences, and community relationships.

These ripple effects mean that a single student’s gains can transform the dynamics of a household and inspire others in their school and neighborhood.

For the client: Stronger cognitive skills change the daily experience of learning. Students don’t have to spend their energy compensating; they get to invest it in learning, creativity, and growth.

For the family: The after-school hours transform. Fewer battles, less micromanaging, more independence. Parents often tell us the biggest change is emotional: a child who believes “I can do this.”

For the community: When students experience success, schools benefit from more engaged learners, teachers see fewer chronic struggles, and local professionals (educators, pediatricians, therapists) gain a trusted partner to address root-cause learning challenges.

What our Franchisees Experience in their Centers

Our franchise owners consistently share three themes:

  1. Purpose you can measure.
    It’s deeply satisfying to watch a client’s test scores, reading fluency, and confidence climb—and to know your team built the skills that made it happen.
  2. A program families talk about.
    Because cognitive changes show up across subjects and at home, families tell their friends. Centers often grow through authentic word of mouth and professional referrals.
  3. A supportive, proven system.
    From training and operations to marketing and research-backed programs, franchisees aren’t reinventing the wheel—they’re rolling with momentum and support.

In other words, our franchisees don’t just run a business; they lead local hubs of transformation. Many will tell you their favorite moments aren’t on spreadsheets; they’re on graduation days when a trainer reads the letter a parent wrote about how evenings finally feel peaceful, or when a teen says, “I actually like reading now.”

If you’re drawn to work that’s both purpose-driven and proven, explore bringing LearningRx to your community. Download our Franchise Information Kit and schedule a 15-minute call to see how our model, training, and support can help you launch a center that changes lives—starting with your own.

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