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You become a force.
An agent of change.
The one with a reputation… for making magic happen.
You fall back in love with your work.
(Other people start noticing, too.)
And children start engaging, learning & progressing… in ways that will blow your mind.
Skills the school system never gave you.
Skills the previous generation of educators didn’t need to use.
Skills you won’t pick up in another online workshop or scrolling teacher groups for ideas…
Because when you peel away all the loose parts, curriculums, documentation and more?
What our mentors taught us was for a different time… a different world.
When you’re dealing with:
Parents questioning why their child isn’t coming home with worksheets like their friends (or learning the ABCs)
Classroom transitions turning into an absolute nightmare… every single day
Wanting to explore loose parts and child-led learning… but not-so-secretly fearing it’ll turn your classroom into chaos
Working with assistants who aren’t play-based or child-led — and dealing with the headaches and extra work this creates
Feeling misunderstood or judged for the approach you want to take in your classroom (and wondering if you’re doing it right anyway)
One thing is true...
To bridge the gap between your vision for your classroom…
& the reality of working with young children in 2025 (and beyond).
It may seem insignificant. You might wonder if it will really make a difference.
And you’re probably thinking —
Can one small but intentional shift actually make it easier?
The answer is a whole-hearted yes.
Makes childrens’ eyes light up when they enter the room.
Helps children to regulate their emotions & become more resilient — appropriate for their age.
Shows children how to navigate conflict and build healthy relationships with their peers.
Creates truly magical learning experiences (whether you teach in a traditional setting, in a play-based or Reggio-style learning center… or anywhere in between).
Is never at a loss for how to plan your day, your week, or even an entire curriculum to guide your entire year.
Effortlessly communicates the wins children are having in your classroom with their parents and your supervisor.
Stops wasting time on endless prep and planning, so you can put your energy where it really matters… and more.
Children will begin responding to you differently.
And you’ll finally stop worrying whether you’re doing everything you should (or could) be doing to prepare young children for success — in learning and in life.
Less time planning (and prepping).
More time being present with children.
And, if we have anything to do with it?
You’ll also walk away with a robust early childhood credential that cements your expertise… and changes the way you work with children forever.
(More on that below!)
The Child-Led Mastery Academy is a monthly membership designed around four unique seasons, each 3 months long.
Together, they make up the heart of your work as an early childhood educator:
Each month, we’ll explore a different side of the season and how to make ONE meaningful change in your classroom that supports it.
You can join for a month, for a quarter (3 months) or for the entire year.
On the first week of the month, all members receive their monthly virtual excursion and accompanying field-guide.
Watch the excursion (maybe during a lunch break!) and get inspired. Follow along with the field-guide and discover the one meaningful change we recommend this month… and how to do it!
Share your progress, your ideas and your questions while you take action this month. Dip into the community and join us for the monthly Fireside Chat for feedback and inspiration along the way.
In the second half of the month, members in our certification receive their exclusive micro-curriculum that builds on the monthly theme. Short but mighty, this credential packs a punch!
Keep reading for all the details on what you’ll receive as a member each month. We can’t wait to share this with you!
Designed to bring real-world detail and inspiration to the monthly theme, you’ll walk away with new ideas to apply to your work, from some of the most exciting spaces in the world.
Join Sally for a documentary-style Virtual Excursion at the start of each month. Peek over her shoulder as she takes you on tours of museums, gardens, art studios, iconic centers and more from around the world — sharing ideas from different fields to spark your work, and breaking them down into meaningful actions anyone can complete with their class this month.
Virtual excursions are 20-30 minutes long… and are so much fun that you’ll want to watch it on your TV with your favorite snack.
As beautiful as a magazine but with even more substance, your monthly field guide brings more detail to the monthly theme and provides a convenient walkthrough of the meaningful change you’ll make in your classroom each month.
Rich with stories, complete with visual instructions and made simple by step-by-step guides, you’ll know exactly how to create meaningful change in your classroom — just 30 days at a time.
You'll learn:
Whether you work in a setting with lots of freedom (or are required to teach certain topics or themes) this season will help you make ANY idea more meaningful and interesting to children.
You’ll stop wondering what to teach and how best to explore it together…
You’ll stop relying on Pinterest for ideas… because you’ll become a master at uncovering the possibilities hiding in your classroom!
And: you’ll start having conversations with children that spark insight and accelerate their development — in ways that parents and your peers WILL notice!
Here’s how your next 90 days inside The Academy will unfold…
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Learn how to uncover and apply “big ideas” to build on the themes or topics you’re already exploring in your classroom.
This approach will reduce your overwhelm and show you EXACTLY how to connect important concepts in your classroom in a way that flows together — from science to literacy, and everything in between.
You’ll learn how to blend what you’re required to teach with what children are interested in… and how to help children explore concepts in exciting new ways.
Are the conversations you have with children going beyond the surface? The way we talk with children can help them explore their ideas and test out theories to supercharge their learning.
There is an art to having conversations with young children, and in March, you will learn exactly how.
This month, you’ll learn how to use the power of your words to help children become more engaged, more curious, and deepen their learning — no matter the topic, idea or concept you’re exploring.
We’ll break down the exact process to craft your child-led curriculum and create a plan for your teaching — one that makes you feel confident that you’re covering what you need to, and excited about the ideas you’ll explore with children.
You don’t have to throw away what you already have… all it takes is Permission, Process and a little Experimentation!
Use this approach to elevate what you’ve got, or build a year-long early childhood curriculum from scratch… it’s up to you!
When you join The Child-Led Mastery Academy, you can join us at the “Essentials” level or the “Certification” level, depending on your professional needs.
When you choose the “Certification” track, you’ll unlock an exclusive micro-certification curriculum that will expand your knowledge and practice for each season.
That means you’ll have access to up to four micro-certifications over the next 12 months — potent, bite-sized, and completely at your own pace!
Here’s the key info you need to know about what makes this micro-certification different:
Want to know what’s included in the Child-Led Conversations & Curriculum Micro-Certification? Check out the complete curriculum below:
SEE THE MICRO-CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM!All members receive instant & on-demand access to our signature early childhood resources, trainings and tools!
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We call them Wonder Boxes, and they’ll help you plan your lessons or even a full year of curriculum one month at a time. Say YES to no more starting from scratch!
Inside each “Wonder Box”, you’ll find:
There are over 24 boxes inside the Child-Led Mastery Academy (that’s up to 2 years of curriculum done for you!) and they’re all yours from the moment you join.
Think of this as a complete done-for-you library when you need something quick to fill a gap — packed with resources you can take to the classroom IMMEDIATELY.
Plus… newsletter templates to share with parents and your community, printable labels to help you stay organized and so much more!
All yours, instantly and on-demand as soon as you join!
Every month we gather for a virtual Fireside Chat to explore this month’s topic in more detail. Bring your questions, your experiences, your insights and more — and get ready to be inspired by what your fellow educators bring to the table!
See how an educator in Stockholm is implementing this month’s idea, or how a member from Sydney is sparking inspiration in her center. Our community is truly global. You’ll leave these monthly calls more connected, more inspired and with your most pressing professional questions answered.
Your member experience is supported by a vibrant members-only community. You’ll receive an invite to our private group as soon as you join (and we know you’ll love the ideas, conversations and support you’ll find inside).
Put simply? This is the space you’ve been searching for!
Select your preferred level to choose from monthly, quarterly and annual pricing options at checkout!
Everything in “Child-Led Mastery Essentials”
PLUS:
Already an Academy member?
Reach out to asksally@fairydustteaching.com for upgrade options and next steps on accessing the Certification track!
When you join the Child-Led Mastery Academy, your satisfaction is guaranteed (or your money back).
Our promise is simple: Join us and see for yourself.
If you don’t feel it’s for you, just let us know within 7 days of when you join and we’ll refund your investment in full.
You’re never locked into anything. You can cancel your subscription easily from your member dashboard at any time, and you won’t be billed again.
Questions? Please contact us at asksally@fairydustteaching.com
I’m Sally Haughey, the Founder of The Child-Led Mastery Academy and Wunderled Education (formerly known as Fairy Dust Teaching).
I taught young children for over 20 years, in almost every setting you could imagine: traditional school settings, in disadvantaged areas, in reggio-style play centers, and more.
Since 2010, I’ve trained, taught and mentored over 200,000 educators and parents.
I speak with educators every single day who tell me:
“I love working with children. I have a vision for what’s possible. I want to go even further with free play, loose parts, and give children more CHOICE…
If you’re reading this page and thinking about joining us, it’s because you practice (or want to!) a play-based approach to working with children.
The reality of navigating play, choice and exploration can be tricky. It’s even harder when you add in the challenges young children have with self-regulation and behavior.
But giving children more freedom doesn’t mean you have to become a doormat.
It doesn’t mean you have to settle for a chaotic classroom. (In fact, you shouldn’t.)
Help young children become active participants in their own learning journey.
Champion the rights of children and help them understand that with those rights, come responsibilities!
Teach children the skills to self-regulate and set up your lessons, your teaching space and more to support these skills.
Use exploration and play as a pathway to prepare children for success, in learning and life
Confidently develop lesson plans and curriculums that lead with play (or even use ours as a starting point if you’re short on time)
Always know what to say when someone questions your approach, because you’ll have the language and the science to explain it, and...
Become the educator who knows how to connect with and guide any child — so their innate brilliance can shine.
You want to turn your play-based practice from haphazard and messy into a plan that works with young children in 2025.
You’re curious about a play-based approach and how it could work in your classroom (without the chaos).
Children’s behavior and engagement is becoming a challenge, and you want new ways to navigate it effectively.
You want to gain access to an exclusive mini-certification that will improve your professional standing and give you the tools you need to thrive in imperfect conditions.
You love working with children but lately, the magic seems to have disappeared… and you want to get it back.
You want to be recognized for your work by your supervisors and childrens’ parents.
You want to be part of a community of educators who share your values and will support you on your professional path.
You’re ready to make ONE small but mighty change to your classroom each month, instead of doing all the things but not getting anywhere.
If you want access to fresh ideas, practical strategies that will elevate the way you teach, and to reconnect with why you do this work in the first place, the Child-Led Mastery Academy will give you all of this and more.
We want to help you create more wins, make more memories (the good kind) and experience just how powerful your work can be… without having to sacrifice your time and energy to make it happen.
If you’re ready, so are we. Let’s begin!
Select your preferred level to choose from monthly, quarterly and annual pricing options at checkout!
Everything in “Child-Led Mastery Essentials”
PLUS:
Already an Academy member?
Reach out to asksally@fairydustteaching.com for upgrade options and next steps on accessing the Certification track!
Please fill out the form below, and we’ll provide all the details you need to get started. We can’t wait to connect with you!