If your child is a struggling or reluctant reader who could benefit from small group time with a seasoned teacher in a peaceful setting. Reach out!
Storybook Squirrels tends to three students per session.
No screens, no apps. Just in-person time focussing on the fundamentals with a few kitty cat breaks- if you choose.
*We may play with kitties, but not squirrels!
Gather 3 children to participate in the 5-Session Book Club style literacy experience. Parents/Caregivers are free to relax in the garden during our Book Club or have their own Book Club!
Each block offers 5 Sessions (5.5-hours) to best address the group's needs:
Day 1 (1.5 hours): Early Literacy Check In
Assess what your child knows and what they needs to work on-
-Phonemic Awareness (Letters and Sounds)
-Sounding Out and Blending
-Decoding (Reading words) and Encoding (Writing Words)
-Sight Recognition: Heart Words, High Frequency Words/Regular Words, Irregular Words, Advanced Phonics Fluency
Then, tailor the learning sessions
Day 2 (1 hour): Critical Skill (1) TBD
Day 3 (1 hour): Critical Skill (2) TBD
Day 4 (1 hour): Critical Skill (3) TBD
Day 5: (1 hour) Critical Skill (4) TBD
Each Book Club Block (5-Days) includes:
Reading Aloud, Discussing our Book, Fluency and Comprehension Checks, Activities/Games. I always try to make it engaging and enjoyable for your child. We will laugh.
Sessions can be held in our Studio space (if your child loves cats) or Cabin space (if your child does not love cats) or in the gardens (if the weather is cooperative).
Tutoring Blocks are available:
1x per week choose a Monday or Wednesday, 9:00am-3:00pm
2x per week Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00am-3:00pm
Reach out and let me know your preference.
If another day works I can make exceptions, just ask.
After your first Tutoring Block, if you feel your child is benefiting from the sessions, you may book additional blocks.
I use the UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) Curriculum which comprehensively lays out the groundwork required for fluency and I can offer some tools/activities for you to practice at home if you choose.
A side note about my Sensory Gardens:
"For children and youth, nature-based experiences help to support overall positive physical, mental, and cognitive development, thus underscoring why we need to provide them with a range of opportunities to engage with nature in ways that they find fun and enjoyable." (Bowers et al., 2021).
Floriculture Micro Farm’s Sensory Garden exists to provide an inclusive, accessible, and nurturing horticultural environment where people of all abilities can connect with nature through sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Through thoughtful garden design and immersive sensory experiences, we promote calm, healing, learning, and self-expression while fostering confidence, well-being, and joy for children, seniors, and individuals with physical or cognitive challenges. Our mission is to cultivate a peaceful space where nature supports mental, emotional, and physical wellness for the entire community.
The Sensory Garden Program aims to:
- Increase access to therapeutic green spaces for underserved populations
- Support mental health, emotional regulation, and sensory integration
- Promote confidence, independence, and social connection
- Provide nature-based educational and wellness opportunities
*This is an outdoor/garden experience and as such exposes you to nature. While we do our best to maintain a safe environment, bee stings, mosquito bites and sunburn happen.
Please take the necessary precautions you need to safely visit the farm for an agrotourism experience, we are not liable for accidents should they occur. Please notify the host of any special circumstances, allergies or requirements you may have to make your visit accessible and comfortable.
Storybook Squirrels 3:1 Literacy Book Club, K-2
We are a small flower farm located in southern York County, PA, a short and scenic drive 30 minutes north-west of Hereford, MD (our home Farmer's Market). I always advise to take the back-roads here for maximizing your relaxation for the day!
We are also about 30 minutes from York, Gettysburg and Westminster.
We are not open to the public and do not offer pick your own flowers, however we open up our quaint Garden Cabin for workshops, private events, and we have a small destination shop for grabbing our own-grown seasonal bouquets and garden-inspired gifts.
We share a driveway with our amazing neighbors so I do not publicly post our residential address. It's a repect thing, not an elusive thing!
If you are considering a workshop, hoping to host a workshop, wanting to visit the shop or picking up a pre-ordered item, I will happily text you our location, simply message me at 443-813-0229 and I'll get you here!
Hello! I have been Program Director and Lead Teacher at The Jefferson Center for Preschool Children for 16-years. I recently completed my High Impact Tutoring Credentials from Arizona State University demonstrating my ability to facilitate tutoring sessions inclusive of five critical components: equity-centered, culturally-sustaining, relationship-based, engaging, and data-driven. I have a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. I began my career as a Middle School Language Arts Teacher (6th and 8th grade) and have recently been an on-line tutor with On Your Mark Education, working with children K-2nd grade.
As you can see from my website, I also run a Sensory Garden and offer horticultural experiences for folks age 5-85! I've been growing flowers professionally since 2017 and know the benefits of time in nature.
My daughter is currently in her Sophomore year at Loyola University, Maryland. We homeschooled 9th -11th grade and loved the freedom and flexibility in education that experience afforded us!
Reach out if you have any questions.
I hold all required clearances to work with children and maintain updated CRP and First Aid certifications. Sessions are held at my home in a dedicated Studio space, in the garden. I can accommodate a more formal classroom setting, if that is preferred or a combination of both.