Montgomery Community Media

The day of the opera, a fifth grade colleague asked his students, my former opera students, to reflect on the opera experience. After writing their reflections, they came to our classroom to read aloud what they were thinking and feeling. Lightning Strike Kids Opera Company listened attentively as members of Water Droplets Kids Opera Company […]

In order to reach the summit of the mountain, to cross the finish line, to ring the bell, we must endure setbacks. The manner in which we approach the obstacles we encounter is essential in fostering the life long skills of commitment, resilience and perseverance. My students are learning these critical lessons as they move […]

Every classroom culture is unique. If we invite parents to step inside and take a closer look, they will better understand and be able to participate actively in the learning process of their children throughout the year. I believe that when parents experience situations similar to the experiences of their children in class, they can […]

If you were to lose your eyesight, imagine what life would be like. If your friend could not see, and you were his guide, imagine that. My students responded in writing to these powerful situations. Then, they took a partner and a blindfold and participated in an experience they will never forget. With eyes covered, […]

What’s in a title that makes you want to pick up a book, see a movie or go out to the theater? Lightning Strike Kids Opera Company will tell you that the title must be catchy, engage the audience and refer in some way to the deeper meaning of the story. Through alliteration, rhyme, paradox, […]

News Release March 6, 2014 Imari Davis and Samantha Ruiz Public Relations Officers We are Lightning Strike Kids Opera Company, twenty-two third graders in Ms. McGinn’s class. We are making our own original opera. On May 7 at 2 p.m. and May 8 at 2 and 7 p.m. our opera will be performed at Stedwick […]

How can we design and construct the set and lighting for our opera without properly knowing the space we will inhabit, our stage? Set designers and electricians are busy making important decisions to bring our story to life. How many lights should be built? Where must they be placed on stage? What set pieces are […]

Every Wednesday morning the halls are abuzz with incredible energy for Opera Class. Students walk from place to place with purpose. They know they have a job and they must be prepared. From 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. we meet as a company to work in our respective job groups. Our talented and dedicated volunteers work […]

Having an authentic field experience engages students on numerous levels. It shows how the work we do in our classroom translates and is applied to the real world. The purpose for everything we do is connected to something meaningful and real for students. A trip to the train station brought to life our study of […]

From intricate opera character relationships, a story is born. Conflicts, directly transferred from our collective lives to our original characters, come to life and create a storyline sure to make us think. The process for writing our scenario begins as we determine how our primary and secondary conflicts develop and are resolved in our setting, […]