Creativity is the cornerstone of Gresham Brown’s fourth-grade classroom at Stone Academy of Communication Arts in Greenville, SC. Whether through social studies, reading, science or math, Brown always finds dramatic and exciting ways for students to learn. As a third-generation teacher, Brown developed a knack early on in his career for engaging students. His classroom is lined with crates of books, above which he hangs signs suggesting books that correlate with student favorites. Brown’s class writes and performs half-a-dozen songs a year about the books they read, which he puts on a CD for sale to benefit the school. During events such as the Poetry Café, parents and guests are invited to hear students read their work. At the end of every year, he hosts the Tin Cannes awards, with a shimmering gold coffee can trophy presented to each student with individual recognition. The class as a whole obtained recognition as the district leader for the percentage of students meeting growth goals in both reading and math.
Brown is known as a guru with technology. He mentors teachers in earlier grade levels on how to incorporate technology into the classroom. He started a podcast called “Studycast,” on which he records his lectures on major topics so that students can listen to prepare for exams. He writes a weekly class blog for students and parents with updated information about assignments, including special projects, photos and videos. Additionally, Brown serves on the school’s reading committee, functions as school liaison at district committee meetings, and volunteers at the local community after-school center known as the Frazee Dream Center.
