Support Us Button Widget

Local 4th grader wins local + national LearningRx Presidents Day contest

Connor Dodson

(Photo: LearningRx Chattanooga)

Table of Contents

It’s a special Presidents Day for local 4th grader Connor Dodson. He’s been named the local and national winner of LearningRx’s annual Presidents Day video contest.

Ten-year-old Connor’s winning performance involved naming all 45 U.S. presidents in under 25 seconds — while playing the drums. You can watch him here. 🥁

Students first learn to say the presidents forward + backward when they begin visiting LearningRx brain training centers. The contest is a chance to display what they’ve learned uniquely and creatively.

“It quickly strengthens long-term memory, attention and other cognitive skills, and it also gives a big boost of self-confidence,” said Michelle Hecker-Davis, director of LearningRx Chattanooga. “Many of these kids have struggled in school for years, so when they can quickly learn all the presidents’ names, they feel smart and confident, often for the first time ever.”

In honor of Presidents Day and Connor’s big win, LearningRx Chattanooga is offering free 30-minute training sessions for the remainder of February.

To learn more about brain training, Connor’s achievements + the free sessions at LearningRx, read more below. ⬇️

What is LearningRx + brain training? 🧠

LearningRx is a brain training center located near Hamilton Place Mall. They’re dedicated to improving clients’ lives and cognitive skills using brain training exercises — a series of challenging (but fun) mental exercises that work on the way the brain thinks, learns, reads and remembers. Brain training can help with many skills, including memory, attention, visualization and logic, to name a few.

Clients work one-on-one with a personal brain trainer for about an hour a day, for 12 weeks or longer, depending on the program. LearningRx says this face-to-face aspect of their program takes the training experience to a new level and is a big part of what makes them unique and effective.

LearningRx clients include a range of people from children to adults, including seniors. They help people who struggle with reading, learning disabilities or traumatic brain injuries, and people on the autism spectrum, as well as people who just want to improve their cognitive function. In fact, LearningRx says it has trained the brain of 100,000+ individuals between age 5 and 94.

How did brain training help Connor?

Connor came to LearningRx when his mom, Deondra, noticed he was having difficulty during homeschooling. She said she heard about LearningRx through some friends who said they had positive results with the brain training.

“Connor was having problems with his attention and with his reading comprehension,” Deondra said. “That’s when we came and talked with Michelle at LearningRx. After she showed us everything, we thought it would really benefit him.”

Connor is still early in his training, but the Dodsons say they’ve noticed results within the first two months of work at the center.

“His math skills are improving, so math is becoming easier for him,” she said.

Connor is now beginning to train in reading comprehension. 📖

How to get a free session

In recognition of Connor’s win, LearningRx Chattanooga is giving away free 30-minute sessions now through Feb. 28, 2019. Email chattanoogaeast.tn@learningrx.net or call 423-305-1599 to inquire about a scheduling a session.

Pro-tip: Consider taking this 3-minute online quiz to see if weak cognitive skills could be making life harder than it needs to be for you, your child or someone you know.

This content was created in partnership with LearningRx.

More from NOOGAtoday
How well do you know Chattanooga, TN? We’re bringing you some fun facts about the city and its history.
Hear more about this local artist’s country-wide project rooted in the mission of investing in yourself.
We’re feeling inspired this year to try new things — join us in finding a new craft or community to be a part of in the Scenic City.
If approved, the budget amendment would invest $29.9 million into areas like paving and public safety.
A new arts festival is hitting the Scenic City, bringing crafters and creatives together for a weekend at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
The Creative Discovery Museum + The Hunter Museum of American Art are debuting their first installations of the new year.
Ready for your lunch break? Check out these 30+ lunches from Downtown to Northshore.
Share your thoughts about a potential space dedicated to performing arts like music, dance, and theater in Chattanooga.
The public radio organization has opened up its annual contest to scout local talent across the nation for its infamous + intimate concert series.
California-based lidar technology company Ouster will soon be deploying its Ouster BlueCity program at 120 intersections in the city.