The week of May 2nd, educators all over the country are thanked for their efforts in teaching.

Educators enjoying their shopping day at RAFT

Educators enjoying their shopping day at RAFT

When it comes to student performance on reading and math tests, a teacher is estimated to have two to three times the impact of any other school factor, including services, facilities, and even leadership (Teachers Matter: Understanding Teachers’ Impact on Student Achievement). Teacher Appreciation week starts on May 2nd and many organizations around the world take this as an opportunity to thank the educators and teachers that have helped shape entire communities.

Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) celebrates educators all year round by providing them with ideas, inspiration, materials, training, and support to bring hands-on learning into the classroom. RAFT’s affordable hands-on education tools engage students and increase their learning comprehension.

Economists estimate that replacing a poor teacher with an average one would raise a single classroom’s lifetime earnings by about $266,000. (Big Study Links Good Teachers to Lasting Gain).

“It’s been such a pleasure to get to know our local Bay Area educators and ‘learn about all the different ways they inspire and engage their students,” says Grainger Marburg, RAFT CEO. “It’s time to recognize our hard-working teachers who have shaped so many lives for the better.”

RAFT was founded by a former teacher who observed children learning math and science concepts and noticed a pattern of greater understanding when students had a hands-on activity to deepen the learning experience. Now, RAFT has more than 100 different kits available to educators at its resource center and online store, and has provided nearly 500,000 student hands-on learning experiences.

About Resource Area for Teaching
RAFT believes the best way to spark the love of learning for the next generation of thinkers, innovators, problem-solvers, and creators, is through hands-on learning. A nonprofit organization since 1994, RAFT supports over 10,000 educators each year who teach over 835,000 students. Find out more about RAFT and how to get involved at http://www.raft.729solutions.com