Signature workshop · Emergent Curriculum
Emergent curriculum is an approach where the curriculum grows from children's real interests, questions, and play rather than from a fixed calendar of themes. Armstrong's DECAL-approved Emergent Curriculum training, led by Anna Camille Hampton, teaches the observe-interpret-plan-document loop that keeps emergent work intentional and standards-aligned. Available in person across metro Atlanta, live-online, or self-paced from $19; live sessions run 1–8 hours from $35 per teacher and count toward Georgia's annual 10 DECAL clock hours.
Emergent curriculum is an approach where the curriculum grows from children's real interests, questions, and play rather than from a fixed calendar of themes. Teachers observe closely, interpret what children are exploring, then plan responsive studies and projects.
Common in Reggio Emilia–inspired programs, it keeps learning intentional and standards-aligned while following the children's lead — play is research.
In themed planning, the teacher sets topics in advance (apples in fall, snow in winter); in emergent curriculum, topics arise from what children are actually curious about, observed in their play.
Emergent planning is responsive and documented rather than pre-scheduled — more engaging and child-led, but still intentional and tied to learning goals.
Following children's genuine interests deepens engagement, agency, and learning. But emergent isn't "anything goes": the educator's planning and documentation give it rigour, and studies still map to standards like Georgia's GELDS.
The session starts from a real classroom moment, then plans a study together — practising the observe → interpret → plan → document loop and turning a child's question into a project.
Teachers and directors moving away from rigid themed planning toward child-led, interest-driven curriculum; Reggio-curious programs. A culture-shifting topic that works well as a half-staff in-service.
In this workshop
Every session is hands-on and grounded in real classrooms — teachers leave with practice they can use the next day, not just vocabulary.
Quick answers
Short, direct answers to the questions educators and directors ask most.
Emergent curriculum is an approach where the curriculum grows from children's real interests, questions, and play rather than from a fixed calendar of themes. Teachers observe closely, interpret what children are exploring, then plan responsive studies and projects. Common in Reggio Emilia–inspired programs, it keeps learning intentional and standards-aligned while following the children's lead.
In themed planning, the teacher sets topics in advance (apples in fall, snow in winter); in emergent curriculum, topics arise from what children are actually curious about, observed in their play. Emergent planning is responsive and documented rather than pre-scheduled — more engaging and child-led, but still intentional and tied to learning goals.
No. Emergent curriculum is intentional, not unstructured. Teachers observe and interpret children's interests, then deliberately plan provocations, projects, and materials that deepen learning and meet standards like Georgia's GELDS. The children's interests set the direction; the educator's planning and documentation give it rigour — the balance Armstrong's training teaches.
Yes. Armstrong Educational Services offers an Emergent Curriculum training — DECAL-approved and led by Anna Camille Hampton — in person across metro Atlanta, live-online, or self-paced from $19. Live sessions run 1–8 hours from $35 per teacher and count toward Georgia's annual 10 DECAL clock hours.
Formats & pricing
Live in-person is anchored at $35 per teacher per hour, live-online at $25, on a 1–8 hour decay curve (a 3-hour session is about $80 per head — a strong half-staff in-service for a culture-shifting topic), with a $280 session minimum.
$35/ teacher / hour
On-site across metro Atlanta and the Carolinas, 1–8 hours. Per-teacher pricing drops as the group grows; $280 session minimum.
$25/ teacher / hour
The same live session over Zoom — about 30% below in person — 1–8 hours on the same group + multi-hour discounts.
$19/ 1 CEU hour
Take it anytime, no live session — includes a downloadable workbook and a DECAL certificate on completion. See the self-paced catalog.
Add extra time for questions
Extend a live session with a group Q&A block: +$8 per head for 30 minutes or +$15 per head for 60 minutes. Framed as group reflection for the whole team — not 1:1 coaching.
DECAL CEU certificate
Add a DECAL CEU certificate to a live session for +$5 per head (included free in the self-paced course), counting toward each educator's annual 10 Georgia clock hours.
See your exact price in about a minute
The live calculator builds a per-teacher quote from your format, length, and group size — multi-hour and group discounts applied automatically. Build your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Ready when you are
Build a per-teacher quote in about a minute, or tell Camille about your team and she'll recommend the right format and length.
