Gallimore Learning

The Potential of Google Plus

2011-07-14T19:52:00.003-06:00

The Potential of Google Plusby Nicholas Gallimore Google has changed the face of education. I am not merely talking about classrooms, homework, or researching for your child’s science fair project. By Google making information readily available, the human population can self-educate on any topic they wish. Combine that fact with the connectivity of smart phones along with high speed

Poet-Tree Class Writing Project

2011-04-04T23:48:00.002-06:00

Poet-Tree Class Writing ProjectA few years ago while I was teaching a poetry lesson, I thought of an interesting writing activity. I had my students write poems from different genres on outlines of their hands. I understand that this may not be such an original idea to the seasoned teacher, but at the time I felt that it was quite the epiphany.My students liked expressing themselves, but they

Our Anime Studio Project

2011-01-16T23:12:00.000-06:00

We used Anime Studio to learn the basics of animation. I want my students to be able to recreate a BrainPop film.We made our robots this week, learned about bone rigging, and created basic movement. This week was focused on learning the software.I think that my students liked working with Anime Studio 6 Debut, but it was very hard for them to learn the software. I found it really easy to use,but

Latitude and Longitude Song

2010-11-22T22:23:00.001-06:00

Lines of LatitudeSung to the tune of “Wheels on the Bus”Written by Nicholas GallimoreThe equator is theStarting PointStarting PointStarting PointThe equator is theStarting PointFor lines of latitudeLatitude lines measureNorth and SouthNorth and SouthNorth and SouthLatitude lines measureNorth and SouthAll around the worldThe Prime Meridian is theStarting PointStarting PointStarting PointThe Prime

The History of Thanksgiving from the History Channel

2010-11-22T20:49:00.000-06:00

Creating a Video Game using Promethean's Activ Inspire

2010-11-04T16:24:00.000-06:00

I am currently developing a video game using Promethean's ActivInspire software. I'm hoping to get my students involved in creating video games for reading assignments, and I think that this is a good way to begin without a lot of coding. Activ Inspire is a program for Promethean's interactive whiteboard, and I feel that it can be used for more than just hiding and revealing answers, or quizing

Data Driven Instruction and the Dynamic Group Learning Environment: Making Standardized Testing Useful in the Classroom

2010-10-23T23:53:00.001-06:00

Data Driven Instruction and the Dynamic Group Learning Environment: Making Standardized Testing Useful in the ClassroomBy Nicholas Gallimore Twenty or more students enter our classrooms every year, and we have only a few days to establish a baseline. Some of our students are repeating the grade. Some have been socially promoted due to age or previous retentions. Some are working at grade level.

Serious Gaming for Serious Engagement

2008-12-01T22:39:00.002-06:00

Here is a presentation that I have been working on for the upcoming Louisiana Computer Using Educators conference in Baton Rouge.If you have ever wanted to try something different in your classroom, why not try gaming?It has been proven to help kids learn, but you have to implement them correctly. Do not just stick the kid on the machine, and hope it will do the work for you.Here are some ideas

Podcast?

2007-09-20T19:26:00.000-06:00

This is my first Pod Cast attempt. I decided to talk a little about Ancient Egypt.I hope that you can use it, and or that it works.Click here to listen, or download.

Second Life Gives "Second Wind" to Educational Gaming

2007-06-07T06:34:00.000-06:00

Ever think that your children are wasting time with those mind numbing video games? Many studies have been conducted showing that gaming is not as detrimental as we once thought.   Second Life is an online environment completely created by it's users. If the player wants a motorcycle, then they model it, program a script for movement and sound, and if

Ways to Group Students Quickly and Effectively

2007-02-08T20:53:00.000-06:00

In the struggle to reach every student in the classroom it occasionally becomes necessary to divide them into groups, but how? Whether it's for an activity, remediation, or even a quick little game, grouping students quickly and effectively can be tricky. I have been struggling with this concept, because my kids really want to work in groups on a full time basis. However, I'm doubtful of how much

Lesson Plan Ideas and the Comprehensive Curriculum

2007-01-24T15:39:00.000-06:00

I have recently been wondering how teachers in other states handle their lesson planning. I teach in Louisiana, and we have been instructed to follow a Comprehensive Curriculum. This curriculum is developed by teachers in various districts around the state, and it dictates what we should teach. The concept is that if a student transfers from one district to another, then they will not fall behind

The Fortune Teller Foldable

2007-01-16T21:41:00.000-06:00

Do you remember those paper fortuneteller things that girls used to make when they were younger? You know the ones with the colors and the numbers written on them, and when your friend opened a certain flap it meant that she was destined to marry so and so, and have a mansion, and a "bazillion babies". Yeah, something like that. Anyway a thought occurred to me when I confiscated one of these

Black History Month

2007-01-14T19:01:00.000-06:00

Every February, Americans celebrate Black History Month. This tribute dates back to 1926 and is credited to a Harvard scholar named Carter G. Woodson. The son of former slaves, Woodson dedicated his life to ensuring that black history was accurately documented and disseminated. In an effort to bring national attention to the contributions of black Americans, Woodson organized the first

More Great Educational Games

2007-01-13T11:22:00.000-06:00

I have just doubled the educational games on the edutainment page. On this page you will find games that teach multiplication, addition, subtraction, vocabulary development, and geography skills.All of these games are free to play, and take less than ten minutes to play. So for those of us with only one computer in the classroom, we can rotate the kids on the computer fairly quickly.Try them out,

Getting your kids off of the couch.

2007-01-08T22:36:00.000-06:00

As a kid I found myself sitting in front of the television, eating TV dinners. I wasn't really motivated to get up and do anything. I mean, since I had every source of entertainment in the living room, what was the big appeal of going outside? As a result, I became a little fatty. Also, as an adult I find that I have to motivate myself to stay in shape and exercise. What are some steps that we as

Edutainment

2007-01-04T09:09:00.000-06:00

Looking to get away, and let go of the stress caused by life? Then try the newly updated Edutainment page. Here you will find games that challenge the mind, teach typing skills, math skills, patterns, and some games designed to just blow off a little steam (or fill the slow part of your day). Here are some of the games that you'll find.

Longitude & Latitude Rap

2007-01-03T20:44:00.000-06:00

How many times have you tried to teach the difference between latitude and longitude, only to leave your students with a look of utter confusion? I have something that may work. I can't guarantee that will work for every classroom. Some of your kids may just look at you like you're crazy, but they'll appreciate the fact that you obviously trying to reach them.I created a little freestyle rap, and

T Minon Janvier- A Cajun French New Year's Story

2007-01-02T21:18:00.000-06:00

Le Petit Bon Homme Janvier, the little man of January, visits on New Year's Eve to leave a gift for little Cajun children to find once they wake New Year's Day. The gifts left, usually in the form of fruit and small bits of paper wrapped candy, are sometimes hidden around the house, in stockings left from Christmas, or in the shoes that the children place outside.(The following articles by Jim

A New Look for Gallimore Learning

2006-12-29T13:39:00.000-06:00

I am in the middle of renovating gallimorelearning.com. I don't know if people actually like the orange color scheme, and I'm wondering if it is a bit too hard to read. I'm changing it to match this layout. Please preview the site and leave your comments or ideas.Here are some questions to consider:Is the site easy to navigate?What do I need more of?What are you having a hard time finding?What do

Diorama (Foldables Part 3)

2006-12-29T10:38:00.000-06:00

Dioramas in the classroom can be a wonderful teaching tool. They are very cheap and easy to make. The students only need two sheets of regular (or construction paper), scissors, and glue (or staples if you want to be really cheap; staples also work a lot quicker because you do not have to wait for the glue to dry.)When you think of a diorama you may be reminded of the old shadow boxes that you

Foldables Part 2

2006-12-17T17:45:00.000-06:00

Think about it! People learn though the use of their senses, so logically a better way to teach would be to involve as many senses as possible. In creating and using the foldable, many of the senses are involved from tactile to auditory.Foldables can be used to teach vocabulary terms, concept mapping, and as study aides. However, the list is only limited by your imagination. Here are some ways

A Drug Free Me

2006-12-15T15:56:00.000-06:00

As my students filed into the cafetorium, I heard some of them remark, "Man! I'm too old for a puppet show!" However, as they sat down and watched the actor do silly dances across the stage their "macho" attitudes started to change. They began to laugh at the silliness that they were witnessing, but all the while they were chanting along with the anti-drug rap.Once the actors called for

Happy Holidays!!! (Christmas Activities and Testing Strategies)

2006-12-10T15:56:00.000-06:00

Cheers to whatever you're celebrating this time of year! Whether it's Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Years, or just enjoying some time away from work. Enjoy every moment. I will be including some great holiday activities in this post to help ease your party planning.However, this time of year does mean one thing for most teachers. It means theyear is about halfway over. Not to be a "Grinch",

Free Teacher Stuff

2006-12-03T19:58:00.000-06:00

How many times have we fallen for this trap? It usually includes a few shareware programs, horrible trial programs, or an endless clicking of links that lead to the first page that you came from.Leave a comment listing all of your good ed-tech or teaching stuff.