RAFT Blog, News, and Events

RAFT is Bay Area Parent’s Best of the Best (Again!)

September 5, 2023

RAFT is pleased to have been selected as a Bay Area Parent Magazine 2023 Best of the Best Tutoring or Education Support Program. This is the fourth consecutive year RAFT has finished at the top of the list thanks to our comprehensive in-person and online educational offerings, including STEAM Project Kits, Maker Mobile van visits, makerspace builds, tailored educator workshops and more.

From Camper to Camp Counselor: Yiesha R.’s STEAM Dream Story

May 24, 2023

For brand new campers, the first day of camp is filled with curiosity, a few stomach butterflies and a ton of anticipation for the exciting adventures to come. But what about the first day of camp for a new camp counselor? And what if that camp counselor used to be a camper herself? We caught…

RAFT STEAM Teachers of the Year 2022

May 31, 2022

Congratulations to our 2022 STEAM Teachers of the Year! RAFT’s STEAM Teacher of the Year Awards recognize outstanding pre-K-12 teachers in the Bay Area who incorporate effective hands-on learning and/or maker education into their curriculum. Each awardee demonstrates excellence in teaching in at least one of the following areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, or Math. RAFT…

Happy International Day of Education from RAFT!

January 24, 2022

Today the world celebrates International Day of Education! Not only do we recognize the contributions of teachers, the personal development of students, and the hard work of everyone in the education field, but we also take today to recognize the role of education for the world. Education can unlock every individual’s potential and pave the…

SuiteWorld17 Volunteers Prepare Hands-on STEM Learning Materials for 44,000 Students

Jun 1, 2017 | Comments Off

Exponential impact in Silicon Valley can be best demonstrated by when non-profit and for-profit organizations work together. Building on SuiteWorld17’s theme of “Next Starts Now,” Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) and Oracle + NetSuite collaborated on a volunteer activity that benefits the next generation…

May 24, 2017 |

Are You Burned Out? – What To Do Now By Myesha Mebane, Science Department Chair at Martin Luther King Jr. Junior High School It’s May and you may be experiencing “Burn Out”, what do you do now? It is too late to consider what…

STUDENT IMPACT STUDY

May 10, 2017 |

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light”] RAFT Hands-on Learning Model Promotes Achievement in Bay Area Schools Independent Research Study Shows that RAFT Hands-on Learning Activities Engage Students and Improve Academic Performance Rockman Et Al, a respected education research firm, has just concluded a study demonstrating…

CASE FOR HANDS-ON LEARNING

May 9, 2017 |

Bridging the Engagement Gap with Hands-On Teaching Overview The ongoing debate over the achievement gap in American schools has largely overlooked its underlying cause: the engagement gap. Somewhere between kindergarten and the senior year of high school, many students lose their natural love of…

Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

Mar 17, 2017 |

By Sandra Woodard, RAFT Membership & Green Room Associate St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in Ireland for over 1,000 years, but it was mostly a religious celebration of the Saint’s life and deeds. Today, many people of Irish ancestry in the U.S., and…

RAFT Prepares for New Leadership

Mar 9, 2017 | Comments Off

Grainger Marburg, CEO, Resigns SAN JOSE, CA, March 09, 2017 — The Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) Board of Directors announced that Grainger Marburg is resigning from his position as CEO effective April 14, 2017. During his tenure, he has successfully led RAFT in…