Every Child Deserves
a Reading Plan

Find out where your child is on their reading journey and what
specific support they need to overcome their unique challenges.

One-on-one online reading program led by a Sharpen Certified Tutor

For elementary readers, including those struggling with reading

Free reading placement assessment and consultation

Improve an entire grade level in as little as three months

In your free 20 min. session, our reading experts will:

Provide your child with a reading placement assessment

Develop a customized plan to improve a grade level in reading

Discuss your questions about online tutoring

Sharpen has been transformational! Busy parents will appreciate the live online tutoring. My child has made noticeable progress, nearly a full grade level in just two months.”

Name Surname

Brian, Sharpen Parent
Scarborough, ME

Ever since we started Sharpen tutoring, my child’s reading skills have totally taken off! Our tutor was able to quickly assess her and has made reading just "click.”

Name Surname

Kirsten, Sharpen Parent
San Diego, CA

Meet a few of our Reading Experts

At Sharpen, we're more than just a company; we're a community of parents, educators, and researchers committed to unlocking the full potential of every child. We understand the challenges families face, and we're here to walk this path with you, offering unwavering support and expertise every step of the way.

Together, we'll inspire a love for reading and set the stage for a brighter future.

Dr. Prarthana Franklin-Luther, Ph.D.

🔬 Senior Research Scientist
👧 Parenting, Child Development & Family Research  

Dr. Prarthana Franklin-Luther is a scholar and researcher with over 20 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of parenting, child health, and developmental outcomes. She received her Ph.D. in Child and Youth Studies from Brock University and then completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at McMaster University, where she researched cognitive, behavioral, and social outcomes of preterm-born children. Dr. Franklin-Luther has presented her research findings at various conferences and has been cited in media outlets like CBC.ca. Clinically, she has worked as a psychometrist and psycho-educational evaluator for several years, applying her academic insights in a practical context.

When Dr. Franklin-Luther isn't busy transforming the world of education and children’s development, she can be spotted exploring nature trails, accompanied by her husband and their beloved dog, Layla.

Patrick Heenan

✏️ 20+ Years in Education
🎓 MS in Elem. Ed., K-6 Certified
🤝 Yale Collaboration

Patrick Heenan is a twenty-year educator. He holds an MS in Elementary Education with a K - 6 certification. Patrick is also certified in Reading Recovery, Empower Phonics / Empower Comprehension, and received training in Orton-Gillingham and Wilson. 

Patrick has twelve years of experience as a classroom teacher; having taught 1st - 4th grade. Patrick worked for five years as an Intervention Specialist within New Haven Public Schools. This grant-funded position was part of a collaboration with Yale University’s New Haven Lexinome Project. During this time he was immersed in Structured Literacy and Evidence-Based reading practices. Patrick spent his final two years in public school working as a Literacy Instructional Coach.

Patrick trained under Dr. Michael Bend in the ABeCeDarian Reading Program then joined Sharpen full-time to focus all his attention on identification and remediation of reading difficulties.

When Patrick isn't busy transforming the world of education,  you can find him at the beach with his family, or building furniture in his garage woodworking shop.

Designed by Experts. Backed by Science.

Designed by Experts.
Backed by Science.

Born out of 20 years of research at Yale, Brock, and UT Health Houston Universities, we’ve collaborated with reading experts across early education, neuroscience, educational psychology, and K-12 child development. This collective experience has allowed us to produce top-tier reading solutions firmly grounded in the science of reading.