Homeschool Mentoring

Sunshine Mentoring

PEACE • WONDER • CONNECTION • JOY

Early childhood and home education mentoring for an intentional, joyful home

Katy

Helping Families Flourish

Hi, I'm Katy. As a credentialed, formerly tenured teacher turned full-time homeschooling mom, I have a passion for holistic education that helps children thrive and families flourish. I would love to walk alongside you and help bring peace, wonder, connection and joy to your parenting or homeschooling journey.

study of leaves

My work is inspired by

  • A holistic approach to raising children that nurtures the body, mind, heart and spirit

  • A deep respect for each child’s inner world and pace

  • Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of living education

  • The rhythmic, imaginative nature of Waldorf education

  • The freedom and flexibility of unschooling

  • The mindful intentionality of slow, gentle living

Ways I Support Families

Peace

  • Guide families in adopting a slower, simpler approach to raising children

  • Offer strategies to create a home environment that encourage calm and learning

  • Help develop age-appropriate daily and weekly rhythms

  • Provide guidance on reducing anxiety in children to promote well-being

holding a butterfly

Wonder

  • Encourage a lifestyle of curiosity and wonder that blends education with everyday life

  • Show parents ways to support imaginative, unstructured, and child-led play

  • Guide families in adopting cyclical, restorative living following the seasons

  • Help families foster a deep love of the natural world in their children

Connection

  • Guide families in living relationally in connection with the self, others, God and the natural world

  • Help develop a balanced approach to screen time and technology

  • Share thoughts on socialization, building community and nurturing meaningful friendships

  • Offer strategies to live more gently and with a smaller footprint

  • Support families in bringing spirituality into their family life and home

practicing math

Joy of Learning

  • Recommend thoughtful toys, books and academic materials

  • Support parents in selecting, adapting, and implementing curriculum that fits their child

  • Design personalized homeschooling curriculum

  • Collaborate with parents to problem-solve behavioral or academic challenges

  • Provide reading and math support

  • Support parents in raising self-driven children

“Working with Katy was an absolute dream. When I first met with her I had just pulled my son from his elementary school to homeschool. My goals were to help him love learning again and build his confidence. I was feeling really overwhelmed with all the curriculum choices and how to structure our weekly rhythms. Katy sat with me and not only encouraged me but gave me practical actionable advice to begin our homeschool journey. She has been an incredible resource for our family whether it's providing guidance on curriculum tweaks, ideas for bringing learning outdoors, what manipulatives to use, or if I just need some mom to mom encouragement. I can't recommend her enough, and I couldn't do this homeschool journey without her.”

Lindsay, mother of 4

“Katy has been a guiding light in my homeschool and parenting journey. With gentle wisdom and a thoughtful, nature-inspired curriculum, she’s helped me weave more wonder and intention into our days. Her writings and guidance have brought clarity to our family rhythm — helping me navigate uncertainty and find our flow on this evolving path of learning. Katy’s encouragement to embrace a slow, simple childhood has been the most transformative part of her guidance. It’s helped me create a home that feels peaceful and creative — full of calm mornings, unstructured imaginative play, meaningful connection, and a renewed joy for learning together. I’m so grateful for Katy’s unique voice and perspective, which continue to inspire me to lead our family with intention, heart, and strong values.”

Rachel, mother of 2

“Katy’s diverse educational knowledge and expertise, public teaching experience, motherhood and rooted lifestyle make Katy unlike anyone I’ve ever met. In my journey as a mother and homeschooler, Katy has brought such wisdom and discernment to our conversations that have given me peace and clarity. It can feel overwhelming at times with all the different directions I could go in to best support my child’s learning and growth. I’ve been able to implement strategies that are flexible, grounded, simple and aligned with our family values. They stand the test of time and trends. While our culture is inundated with so much information and techniques, Katy’s wisdom has brought calm, focus, tailored tools, rhythms and direction to fit me and my children. Her perspective has shined so much light on what really matters and how to tune out all the other noise. I have seen first hand the blessings that come from emulating Katy’s lifestyle - that less is more, simple is best, slow is key. As I live more this way I see how it truly is bringing connection, joy, wonder and peace into my heart and home. I am forever grateful for Katy and this opportunity to mother and teach with her alongside me. ”

Kristin, mother of 3

“Katy was able to help me prepare for birth as well as lay the foundation for a holistic, meaningful motherhood. Katy created a detailed registry spreadsheet for me and walked me through what’s truly essential (and what’s not) for this new season of life.
One of the most helpful resources she shared was her video on cloth diapers. I’m excited to raise my daughter with intention and meaning, and I’m deeply grateful for Katy’s guidance—both the wisdom she’s already shared and the support I know she’ll continue to offer in the future.”

Grace, new mother to 1

Let's work together!

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