FREE to all elementary school teachers!

Admission, gift bags, and t-shirts will only be guaranteed to the first 200 registered teachers who arrive. ​​​

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​Teacher Inspiration & Resources Fair FAQ

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1. Who is hosting the fair?​

Creative Freedom Awards (CFA), a teacher-led organization based in Durham, NC, is hosting the Teacher Inspiration & Resources Fair (TIRF).  We are a group of educators and community members who want to celebrate and share the creative and inspiring work of public elementary school teachers in the Triangle.  Find out more about us here.  ​

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2. Who will be presenting at this Fair?  What will they be presenting?

Our first cohort of Creative Freedom Award recipients will be presenting.  These 16 public elementary school teachers from around the Triangle represent different grade levels, specialty areas, schools, and districts.  They will be presenting on a variety of topics (EC differentiation; project-based learning; classroom management; STEM; arts integration; student research, etc.) that are of immediate relevance to elementary school teachers in the Triangle.   

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3. What is the purpose and format of this fair? 

The purpose of TIRF is to celebrate and share the creative and inspiring work of elementary school teachers in the Triangle. 

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Our Creative Freedom Award recipients will each have a table in the gym where they will showcase an instructional idea of their choice using a tri-fold poster and other materials.  Fair attendees can visit each table to learn about their ideas and take away handouts. 

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Teachers who attend the fair are also encouraged to network with other teachers and share their own instructional ideas (see question #9).  We will have open spaces for teachers to eat and talk with colleagues in an informal setting.  Hopefully, this will be an opportunity for new connections and collaborative partnerships!

 

We will also have education, community, and business organizations represented at the fair.  These organizations will each have a table where they will be giving away resources and prizes to teachers.

4. Who can come to the fair?

Our target audience is public elementary school teachers in the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), but we warmly welcome all elementary school teachers regardless of location.  Classroom teachers and all specialists are encouraged to attend.  Public school, university, and education non-profit leaders are also welcome. 

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5. Why should I come?

In addition to all of the reasons listed on our event flyer, we hope you will come to support elementary school teachers in the Triangle.  This is a unique opportunity to share ideas and make new connections!

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6. Do I need to register?

Yes.  Admission, gift bags, and t-shirts will only be guaranteed to the first 200 registered teachers who arrive.  Please register above or here. 

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7. Is this really free?

Yes!  Thanks to the generous gifts of many individuals who respect and appreciate teachers, we are able to host this event at no cost to attendees.  Not only is our event free, but we are giving away teacher-created, ready-to-use instructional ideas presented by our first cohort of Creative Freedom Award recipients!  We are also giving away classroom supplies and cash for teachers and an all-expense paid trip to the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute!

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8. Do I need to stay the whole time?

We highly recommend that you stay the entire time (2:00-6:00 p.m.).  This ensures that you will have time to see all of the presentations, network with colleagues, and visit vendors giving away free resources.  In addition, the first 200 registered teachers who arrive will receive a gift bag of classroom supplies and a free-shirt.  All other prizes and giveaways will be announced at 5:45 p.m.  Finally, teachers interested in receiving CEU/renewal credits must attend all four hours of the fair (see question #11).

 

9. What prizes and gifts will be given away?

In addition to receiving free ready-to-use, teacher-created materials, we are also giving away prizes to teachers.
 

• The first 200 registered teachers to arrive will receive a gift bag of classroom supplies and a free t-shirt.

• Teachers wearing our CFA shirt during the fair will be entered in a drawing to win $100 cash.   You can sign up for a free shirt when you register for the fair.

• One teacher will win an all-expense-paid, six-day trip to the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute.  You can find out how to win when you register for the fair.​

• 5 teachers, 5 instructional ideas, 5 winners of $50 Cash.  To encourage networking, we want teachers who attend to meet five teachers they didn’t know prior to attending.  We will have a fun form for teachers to write down an instructional idea from these five teachers along with their contact information.  Teachers who show us their completed form will be entered in a drawing for $50 cash!

• All Creative Freedom Award recipients will be placed in a drawing for $100 cash.  They can also win a framed certificate for having the ‘Most Useful’, ‘Most Creative’, or ‘Most Inspiring’ idea!  These awards will be voted on by fair attendees.

• The first 200 teachers will also qualify to receive prizes donated by Carson-Dellosa; Oriental Trading; The Scrap Exchange; Free Spirit Publishing; Crayons2Calculators; Lexar; Whole Foods Market Durham; Locopops; Applebee’s; Duke Basketball, etc.!  We will also have free food and drinks for everyone thanks to Food Should Taste Good; LARABAR; Zevia; Pretzel Crisps; Harris Teeter; Bruegger’s Bagels; Chick-Fil-A; etc.! 

 

10. Will there be free parking?

Yes.  There is free parking in the front and back of Walltown Park Recreation Center.  Free parking is also available within walking distance at Northgate Mall.  If you have difficulty, CFA volunteers will be outside to assist you. 

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11. Will I be getting CEU/renewal credits?

Teachers who attend all four hours of the fair and submit a brief reflection about what they learned by August 23, 2013 to info@creativefreedomawards.org will receive a certificate of completion for five hours.  Durham Public Schools will accept these hours but teachers in other districts may need to request approval prior to the fair.  Information about renewal credits will be in the gift bags.

 

12. Can I bring my own ideas and resources to share?

Yes!  When you register for the fair, we ask you for your best idea/resource/strategy so that we can make a personalized name badge for you.  Feel free to bring (or simply discuss) your idea to TIRF!

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13. Can I take video footage and photos during the fair? 

Yes!  Please feel free to take videos and photos during TIRF.  Share what you take with us on Facebook and Twitter.  We also encourage you to update your status on Facebook and tweet (#loveteaching) during the fair!  

    

14. If I can't attend, will I still have access to the presentations?

Yes.  All of the ideas and materials presented by Creative Freedom Award recipients will be available on this website the day of the fair.

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15. Can I volunteer?

Yes, please!  We need all the help we can get on the day of the fair (August, 18, 2013).  If you are interested in working registration, doing setup/cleanup, or any other fair-related activities, please contact us at info@creativefreedomawards.org.