July 2013
This issue of the Quarterly Newsletter features:
- How RAFT honors a diverse range of educators for exceptional hands-on teaching with our quarterly Hands-On Award and the annual Robert Brownlee Award. We hope these profiles inspire you to tell your story or nominate an exceptional science teacher!
- How RAFT is helping educators make the connections between the Common Core Standards and hands-on teaching.
- New and coming-soon highlights– RAFT online store Educator Accounts, Back to School (better than ever!), and a peek at our plan’s for this year’s annual fundraising dinner.
We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and, as always, thanks for all of your support!
At RAFT we see examples of exceptional teaching every single day. Educators from in and outside the classroom come through our doors and to the online store looking for ideas and resources that will help them convey complex concepts and get their students excited about learning. RAFT hands-on teaching resources are especially effective in conveying science and math concepts because children learn by experimenting through trial and error. When students realize they can master science, math and other topics they get excited about learning and the possibilities they envision for their future expands.
Hands-on strategies will play a pivotal role in Common Core (and, later on, Next Generation Science) instruction, which emphasizes how students find answers and solutions (critical thinking, evaluation, research, etc.) rather than simply the answer itself. Hands-on teaching builds and re-enforces this level of learning and RAFT believes it is the best way to spark the love of learning and inspire the next generation of thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, and creators.
- Refresh, Restore, Reset - During these so-called lazy days of summer, we could not be busier and more focused than we are right now getting everything ready for Back-to-School, the biggest shopping time of the year for teachers. We have been sprucing up both RAFT Bay Area locations with improved store layout and signage to give our members the best shopping experience possible. We can't wait to show off the new appearance and feel of our stores plus plenty of materials, supplies, and hands-on teaching resources. RAFT Back to School Info: RAFT Redwood City - Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27; RAFT San Jose - Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4.
Create and decorate a "critter" whose moves are powered by sunlight. Now available
