Research-based tutoring, built for every kind of learner.
Smarten Up partners with NYC families and clinicians to deliver structured, evidence-based academic interventions — from foundational reading to college success.
Founded by an educator, built on the science of learning.
Mara Koffmann
Owner & PresidentMara holds a dual master's degree in Childhood Education and Special Education. Before founding Smarten Up in 2011, she was a classroom teacher at the Parkside School — New York's preeminent elementary school for speech and language development — and a learning specialist and director of the elementary literacy program at the Marymount School of New York.
Smarten Up integrates child-centered games, visuals, and organizational tools into one-on-one instruction that takes the "school" out of learning. Mara also co-founded Braintrust Tutors, building curriculum and an intervention platform for high-dosage tutoring programs.
Services for every stage of learning.
From early reading intervention through college coaching, our programs are grounded in research and tailored to each student's profile.
Foundational Skills
We build solid foundations in reading, writing, and math using game-based materials and systematic, structured instruction that helps children develop a positive relationship with learning.
Academic Tutoring
One-on-one support tailored to your child's curriculum and learning profile. We bridge gaps, reinforce classroom learning, and build confidence across subjects from elementary through high school.
Executive Function Skills
We teach the how of learning. Every session builds the systems students need to manage themselves and the strategies they need to engage with challenging material independently.
- ›Organizing materials — backpack, binders, digital files, workspace
- ›Managing time & tasks — planners, calendars, breaking down projects
- ›Learning strategy instruction — active reading, note-taking, studying, self-monitoring
Test Prep
Customized prep for ISEE, SAT, and ACT grounded in strategy — not memorization. We build smarter test takers.
Smarter College
A comprehensive blend of tutoring, executive function support, and mentorship for the transition to independence.
Two paths, one goal.
Our approach varies by age and student need. Younger learners who need foundational intervention follow a formal, plan-driven path. Older students typically benefit from strategy instruction anchored to the work they're already doing in school.
Foundational Intervention for younger students
Formal Assessment
We administer structured assessments to pinpoint specific skill gaps in phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, or written expression — or we build directly from your neuropsych or educational evaluation.
Individualized Learning Plan
Assessment findings drive a written plan with explicit skill targets, a sequenced scope, and evidence-based methods (Orton-Gillingham, Hochman, SRSD, Rave-O) matched to the student's profile.
Systematic, Explicit Instruction
Sessions follow a structured scope and sequence with cumulative review, multisensory engagement, and ongoing progress monitoring so we can adjust as skills consolidate.
Strategy & Application for older students
Observational Assessment
With older students we skip the formal testing and assess on the fly — watching how they approach a text, tackle a problem set, or organize an essay. Real work reveals real learning needs.
Strategy Instruction
We teach concrete, transferable strategies for the skills that actually matter in high school and college — active reading, annotation, outlining, revision, study techniques, and test preparation.
Application to School Materials
Every strategy gets applied directly to the student's own coursework — the paper due Friday, the chapter they're reading in class, the test next week. Learning sticks when it's tied to real stakes.
A referral partner you can trust.
We work closely with neuropsychologists, therapists, and SLPs to ensure our interventions align with your evaluation findings and treatment goals.
Evaluation-Informed
Share your neuropsych or educational evaluation and we'll build an intervention plan that directly addresses the areas of concern — from phonological processing deficits to executive function challenges.
Collaborative Approach
We provide detailed session reports and are always available to discuss student progress. Many clinicians find our observations useful for tracking treatment response and informing re-evaluations.
Structured Literacy Expertise
Our tutors are trained in Orton-Gillingham and other evidence-based methods recommended by the science of reading. When you refer for reading intervention, we deliver what the research supports.
"We treat every referral as a collaboration — your evaluation shapes our plan."
Refer a student →Real results from real parents.
Smarten Up is a pleasure to work with. Mara's team of tutors are committed to the wellbeing and success of every student. As a school educator, I appreciate their reliable and constant communication about our student's progress. I appreciate how they pay special attention to individual needs, and work closely with teachers and family to ensure all needs are met.
Sophie did a fantastic job helping our daughter (who has ADHD) with her time management and executive functioning skills. I was very impressed with her ability to break down the tasks related to large projects, help our daughter remain on schedule, and make sure the final product reflected the work it should have. I highly recommend her — she is amazing!
We have had the pleasure of working with Karla for over a year. She has been assisting with Math support for our son during his entire Junior year and also helped prepare him for the Math section of the ACT. She intuitively understood where he was facing challenges and creatively offered strategies.
We chose Smarten Up to prepare our son for the ISEE because they seemed to think beyond test prep. Ben not only inspired our son to learn over 400 vocabulary words in 9 months, but to read for knowledge and enjoyment. His scores vastly improved.
Michelle has been working with my 9-year-old for the past year and has helped him become a better student. She's given him achievable strategies and built a tool kit that helps him with effective writing and sharper math skills.