Tom Rademacher

Tom Rademacher (Mr. Rad to his students) is an English teacher in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2014 he was named Minnesota Teacher of the Year. He teaches writing and writes about teaching on his blog. His book, published by University of Minnesota Press, is called "IT WON’T BE EASY: An Exceedingly Honest (and Slightly Unprofessional) Love Letter to Teaching."

Posts By Tom Rademacher

California

I Visited a School on the Border and, Get This, the Kids Are Like Kids Everywhere

When Alicia Johal texted me directions to her school, she added, “Oh, and make sure you and your driver are watching the exits. We’re just a few miles from the border.” These are not the sort of...

Read More

Teaching

How Racism in "A Christmas Story" Relates to My Process to Unlearn Anti-Blackness

(Ed Post note: This article was published in 2019; it has been updated because the topic remains relevant, and Rademacher's points should be read this Christmas.) Just before winter break, my various...

Read More

Charter Schools

I Thought Watching Another Teacher Get Right What I Got Wrong Would Hurt. Instead, It Inspired.

A couple weeks ago, I had one of those days. After writing a whole post about how nice my room is, a post that included pictures of the soft-lighting some nice lamps gave, some students working hard,...

Read More

student achievement

Kassie Benjamin's the Kind of Math Teacher Who Sticks With You Long After You Leave Her Classroom

Here in Minneapolis, the word around town is that South High was designed by a guy who had spent his whole career designing prisons. There are thick concrete walls and rumors of windows, though I...

Read More

Diversity

The Country Is Massively Polarized But Our Classrooms Don't Have to Be

Editor's note: This post originally ran in 2018 ahead of the midterm elections that occurred during incumbent Republican President Donald Trump's term. I am heartbroken at us. I am heartbroken at...

Read More

Diversity

Before I Come to Your Classroom, Let Me Show You Mine

Hi. I’m going to spend the rest of the year traveling to classrooms all over the country and talking about the things we are doing super well, and some of the things we could be doing a whole lot...

Read More
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next