The Learning Effect
The Learning Effect, founded in 2011 by former teacher Tiffany Schmidt, creates and sells standards-aligned digital and printable teaching resources for upper elementary teachers (grades 3-6) via its own website, Teachers Pay Teachers, Boom Learning, and Amazon.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersRaleigh, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Learning Effect does
The Learning Effect is a solo founder-operated educational resource business founded in 2011 by Tiffany Schmidt, a former upper elementary teacher with a degree in elementary education. The company creates and sells ready-to-use, standards-aligned digital and printable teaching resources for upper elementary teachers (grades 3-6), covering math (fractions, geometry, fact fluency, area/perimeter), science (biomes, constellations, research projects), and classroom management (planners, awards, economy systems, conference materials). Core product formats include interactive digital task cards distributed through the Boom Learning marketplace, Google Slides activities, printable PDFs, and one structured online course (the Ready, Set, Teach! Planning System, priced at $9 and hosted on ThriveCart).
The business operates on a product-led, direct-to-teacher e-commerce model with multi-channel distribution: its own storefront (shop.thelearningeffect.com), the Teachers Pay Teachers marketplace, the Boom Learning marketplace, and an Amazon shop. Transactions are processed via Stripe and PayPal. Free downloadable guides (Math Stations Made Simple, Science Research Guide, Curriculum Mapping Essentials, Back to School Forms, Student Awards, Substitute Binder Templates, Conference Playbook, Math Game Shows) function as lead magnets to build an email list. Marketing is primarily organic and content-driven via a blog covering math, science, teaching tips, technology, and classroom management, with supporting presence on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. The company is incorporated as The Learning Effect, LLC in North Carolina and operates virtually from a Cary, NC mailbox address with no disclosed employees beyond the founder.
Revenue mechanics are a mix of one-time digital product sales, a single low-priced course offering, and minor affiliate income via the Amazon Associates program. The customer base is described as "thousands of teachers," with testimonials from individual 4th-6th grade teachers. There are no disclosed funding rounds, no outside investors, no partnerships beyond platform listings, no M&A activity, and no patents. The trademark "The Learning Effect" is registered, and the business remains a bootstrapped, founder-owned micro-enterprise.
The Learning Effect firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Learning Effect
- Legal name
- The Learning Effect, LLC
- Website
- https://thelearningeffect.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Learning Effect, founded in 2011 by former teacher Tiffany Schmidt, creates and sells standards-aligned digital and printable teaching resources for upper elementary teachers (grades 3-6) via its own website, Teachers Pay Teachers, Boom Learning, and Amazon.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Learning Effect industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Teaching Resources
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro industry
- Children’s Educational & Curriculum PublishingMedia, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Children’s Publishing (Picture Books, Middle Grade, YA)Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting)Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Children’s & Young Adult Educational Trade PublishingDigital/Blended K–12 Courseware & Interactive Textbooks
Keywords
Where The Learning Effect is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Raleigh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Learning Effect business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Digital Product Sales: One-time purchase digital downloads sold directly through shop.thelearningeffect.com and through marketplace platforms (Teachers Pay Teachers, Boom Learning, Amazon). Products include math games, science projects, classroom management tools, and assessment materials for grades 3-6.
- Online Courses: The Ready, Set, Teach! Planning System course is sold through ThriveCart as a comprehensive planning course for teachers.
- Affiliate Revenue: Participates in Amazon Associates affiliate advertising program, earning fees for clicks and purchases of linked products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Ready, Set, Teach! Planning System course at $9 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Learning Effect product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Learning Effect creates and sells ready-to-use digital and printable teaching resources for upper elementary classrooms (grades 3-6), including math review games, science research projects, classroom management kits, editable teacher planners, student awards, and self-grading digital task cards. Products are sold as one-time digital downloads through the company's own website shop and via major teacher marketplaces (Teachers Pay Teachers, Boom Learning, Amazon), with an online planning course offered separately through ThriveCart.
Product overview
The Learning Effect is an educational resource company founded by former upper elementary teacher Tiffany Schmidt, operating as a platform that offers digital and printable teaching resources primarily for upper elementary teachers (grades 3-6). The product portfolio centers on ready-to-use, standards-aligned resources across math (multiplication, division, fractions, geometry, measurement, area/perimeter, math fact fluency), science (biomes, constellations, heat transfer, scientific research), and classroom management (planners, awards, behavior systems, conference materials). The company distributes through multiple channels including its primary website shop (shop.thelearningeffect.com), the Teachers Pay Teachers marketplace, the Boom Learning marketplace (for self-grading Boom Cards), and Amazon. The offerings range from individual products (game shows, research projects, Bingo games) to bundled collections (Math Fact Fluency Bundle, Science Projects Bundle) and courses (Ready, Set, Teach! Planning System). Free resources include guides like Math Stations Made Simple, Curriculum Mapping Essentials, and research tools, which serve as lead magnets for email list growth. The company also offers free printable templates for back-to-school, student awards, substitute binder organization, and parent-teacher conferences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use The Learning Effect
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Learning Effect technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
The Learning Effect partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Learning Effect competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Teachers Pay Teachers: Dominant two-sided marketplace where The Learning Effect distributes its digital resources; the broader ecosystem of TpT sellers is the most direct competitive context for TLE's offerings in grades 3–6.
- Khan Academy: Large-scale free educational content platform covering math and other subjects, including grade-appropriate practice; broader scope but overlapping teacher-facing and student-facing supplemental resource use cases.
- IXL: Subscription-based supplemental math and ELA practice platform widely used in elementary classrooms; competes for the same teacher budget that funds TLE's resource purchases.
Direct peers
- Boom Learning: Marketplace for self-grading digital task cards (Boom Cards) where The Learning Effect maintains an author storefront; directly comparable distribution model and product format for grades 3–6.
- Quizizz: Game-based formative assessment and practice platform used heavily in upper elementary; competes for engagement-driven review time with TLE's math game shows and Bingo products.
- Blooket: Game-based learning platform offering math and review activities for elementary classrooms; directly comparable interactive review game format to TLE's game show products.
- Nearpod: Interactive lesson and activity platform for K–12 with teacher-created and standards-aligned content; comparable digital supplemental resource category targeting upper elementary classrooms.
- Prodigy Education: Game-based math practice platform with a free tier and premium subscription aimed at elementary students; competes for engagement time and teacher budget on math fact fluency and review.
- SplashLearn: Adaptive game-based math and reading practice product for grades K–5; comparable supplemental, engagement-driven approach serving the same upper elementary teacher segment.
Others
- Outschool: Marketplace connecting teachers and learners for live classes and small-group sessions; adjacent to TLE's teacher-resource category, serving the same teacher audience via a different delivery model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Learning Effect social profiles
Digital presenceThe Learning Effect financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Learning Effect leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Learning Effect funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Learning Effect M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Learning Effect
What does The Learning Effect do?
The Learning Effect creates and sells ready-to-use digital and printable teaching resources for upper elementary classrooms (grades 3-6), including math review games, science research projects, classroom management kits, editable teacher planners, student awards, and self-grading digital task cards. Products are sold as one-time digital downloads through the company's own website shop and via major teacher marketplaces (Teachers Pay Teachers, Boom Learning, Amazon), with an online planning course offered separately through ThriveCart.
Is The Learning Effect a public or private company?
The Learning Effect is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Learning Effect founded?
The Learning Effect was founded in 2011.
Where is The Learning Effect based?
The Learning Effect is headquartered in Raleigh, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Learning Effect make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Digital Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are online Courses and affiliate Revenue.
Who are The Learning Effect's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Teachers Pay Teachers, Khan Academy and IXL. Direct peers are Boom Learning, Quizizz, Blooket, Nearpod, Prodigy Education and SplashLearn. Outschool is listed as an others.
Does The Learning Effect have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Learning Effect.
What industry is The Learning Effect in?
The Learning Effect's product category is K-12 Teaching Resources. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAFAF, Children’s Educational & Curriculum Publishing, with a secondary code of EDAGAIAE, Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 2731.