RAFT-Resource Area For Teaching

Thank God for RAFT! This location is very organized, clean and well managed. The staff working are always so helpful and patient! Having RAFT so accessible, affordable and close makes my life as a teacher muuuuuch easier!
*Came here a few weeks ago looking for 30 books to give to our students as holiday gifts. The lady in the front opened boxes looking for books, she found them and let me have first dibs. THANK YOU! They were EXACTLY what we were looking for.
I’m just so thankful to have you guys so close!

I came here with my sister who is a member (if you’re a guest, you need to go with a member). RAFT is a great place for people who work in education or parents who need/​want educational tools.
HOWEVER, it clearly states on their website that children 12 and under are NOT ALLOWED at RAFT… and yet, I saw MANY young children there today. This rule is not only posted very clearly on their website, but part of the member contract includes that children 12 and under are not allowed. Meaning, one cannot sign a contract without seeing it clearly stated on there. In other words, there is no miscommunication about this rule.
Would you like to know why members still bring their young kids to RAFT? Because they know that no one on the staff will enforce it! That is ridiculous. I was there for an hour and I saw NUMEROUS young children… I’m not talking about a mature almost-​13 year old who was quiet and helpful to her mom… I’m talking about many YOUNG children who ran around, threw merchandise, bumped into customers, yelled, and were otherwise not behaving appropriately at a place of business aimed at adults.
What’s worse is that for the San Jose location, a Unilocaler commented on the no children rule and the manager responded that «Children 12 and under are not allowed for safety reasons and to provide educators with time and space for reflection away from students as they prepare future lessons.» Oh really? How are adults supposed to have «time for reflection away from students» when you allow young children to come in even though it’s STATED on your website and in all members’ contracts that children are not allowed?
RAFT: please be consistent. Either children are ALWAYS allowed (which is fine) or never allowed. If you market yourself as an adult space where teachers can come in and enjoy a place where there are no young children allowed, then please do not be hypocritical and turn a blind eye. You intentionally pretend that you do not see those children walk in with their parents because you can’t bear the thought of turning away customers. Without customers, you won’t make money. Therefore, it’s more important to you to pretend that you don’t see parents bring in young children than to adhere to the rules stated on your website and in the contract.
If RAFT is open to all children, fine… that’s not a problem. If RAFT states that no children are allowed, fine. But don’t make rules and then not enforce it. It’s also unfair to the hundreds of members who do have children and specifically didn’t bring them because the parents are respecting your rule. If parents see that many children are let in, then they will start bringing in THEIR children because obviously the rule isn’t enforced.
Unacceptable.

I was first introduced to RAFT nearly three years ago after going to their massive warehouse sale in San Jose.
I immediately signed up for a membership, and I continue to renew it on an annual basis.
As a teacher, I spend a minimum of $ 2,500 a year on my students. When I taught second grade, I spent way more. (Yes, the IRS let’s is write off $ 250. Woohoo!!!)
RAFT is a wonderful space for teachers to buy discounted goods and use their laminating and die cut services.
RAFT is made possible by the donations of various businesses. I’ve purchased old binders from Yahoo!, notepads from Google, and gently used staplers from office supply companies.
This weekend I was able to buy two electronic 3-​hole punch machines for $ 3 each! I’ve been coveting one for years now, but never got around to buying one.
If you’re a Science or Math teacher, RAFT offers a plethora of ready made project based learning kits for students.
The staff members are volunteers, and they’ve always gone out of their way to assist me. One of them was a former 6^th grade teacher, and offered me some advice on how to teach figurative language.
RAFT, thank you for making teachers smile!