RAFT Blog, News, and Events

DreamBox Impact Series: Milpitas Unified School District

April 1, 2025

Engaging EL and SPED Learners Through Hands-On STEAM For the past two summers, RAFT has partnered with Milpitas Unified School District to bring hands-on STEAM learning to the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) summer program. This past summer, 230 fourth- through sixth-grade Special Education (SPED) and English Learner (EL) students became environmental engineers-designing water filtration…

Bringing Stories to Life: RAFT’s Intersession Program at Northwood Elementary

March 18, 2025

This winter, Northwood Elementary students in Berryessa School District embarked on a creative journey through RAFT’s three-day Intersession program. Designed to spark imagination and hands-on learning, the program engaged 66 students in grades K-5 in the art of puppet-making, storytelling, and performance, culminating in a special showcase for families. Student-made marionette puppets displayed with crafting…

DreamBox Impact Series: Oak Grove School District

February 27, 2025

Empowering Newcomers Through Hands-On STEAM Learning In Summer 2024, students at Oak Grove School District‘s Newcomer Summer Academy embarked on an innovative hands-on STEAM adventure. Through RAFT’s creative reuse materials and engaging activity kits, 75 students explored the mysteries of space while strengthening their English language skills, guided by 3 dedicated teachers. Hands-on learning is…

Sparking Curiosity through Hands-On Learning with Jeffrey and Maureen Fox

February 26, 2025

For over 30 years, RAFT has provided resources and support to local educators and students. RAFT’s commitment to hands-on learning for STEAM subjects has evolved to include activities such as STEAM Project Kits, as well as programs like our Makerspace and Maker Mobile activities, and most recently a STEAM Dream Summer Camp for students around…

It’s Okay to Make Mistakes!

Sep 28, 2015 |

By Jeanne Lazzarini, Math Master Educator/R&D Specialist, RAFT I have often shared with my students that I make mistakes, and I have learned so much because of them! Sometimes I even purposefully made a mistake in a math lesson to see if students take…

RAFT Hosts Code.org Professional Development Workshops

Sep 16, 2015 | Comments Off

RAFT teams up with Code.org to offer free workshops to assist in teaching computer science. Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) is offering free technology classes designed by Code.org, who will cover all workshop costs. The workshops will be open to everyone, though slots…

How does math relate to real life?

Sep 15, 2015 |

By Jeanne Lazzarini, Math Master Educator/R&D Specialist, RAFTHow does math relate to real life? One way is to take a look at the shape of a cloud, a mountain, a coastline, or a tree! You might be surprised to find that many patterns in…

RAFT Hires work2future Participants

Aug 31, 2015 | Comments Off

RAFT and work2future connect to focus on community support for youths seeking employment. August 31, 2015 – Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) has employed two work2future participants as retail and kit production assistants for their San Jose, California location. The work2future Foundation offers programs funded…

Using Personal Stories to Encourage Good Behavior

Aug 28, 2015 |

By Earlene Coleman, Special Education M.A. After teaching Special Education for twenty-five years, I’ve found that sharing personal stories with my students helps build positive relationships. How NOT to be around your students Now that the school year is off to a start, teachers…

RAFT Receives $15,000 Grant From StopWaste

Aug 11, 2015 | Comments Off

StopWaste supports Resource Area for Teaching in upcycling repurposed materials into inspiring hands-on learning tools August 11, 2015 – Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) has just been awarded a “Reuse Operating Grant” from StopWaste, a public agency responsible for reducing the waste stream in Alameda County.…