Montgomery Community Media

For years I have worked on teaching my class the art of yielding to others. The idea of facilitating a student led discussion with twenty-four students, where no one raises a hand asking permission to speak, but everyone contributes to the conversation has always intrigued me. When should I speak? When is it better to […]

The Washington National Opera graciously hosted Lightning Strike Kids Opera Company for a tour of its costume department. Upon arrival, our eyes and ears were open to the incredible sights and sounds of a working rehearsal venue. As we listened to stories about opera and the costumes that bring those stories to life, we heard […]

What is it that inspires us to put pencil to paper? A song? A poem? An experience? An emotional response to our world? So many things happen in the lives of children everyday that illicit strong feelings and powerful, personal responses. Providing the space and time necessary to share these thoughts, feelings and ideas in […]

If we want it or need it, we engage and learn it. The curriculum is often devoid of meaning unless we connect the dots and integrate the learning process to the real world. “What are we learning?” and “Why are we learning it?” should be questions kids can readily answer as they apply the skills […]

Students must clearly understand setting and how it can enhance the plot and illuminate character relationships, conflict and resolution. We revisit books we have used for multiple purposes and focus on setting as an essential element in telling the story. Citing specific text and illustrations that give clues about time and place serve to clarify […]

Linda     Katie     Elliot     Daylon     Emmah     Ashley

How do we relate to one another? How do our dominant traits and motivation affect and define our relationships with others? Through improvisation and partner discussion, company members determined the unique relationships among the five characters. Given all that we know about these beings we have created, what seems logical? Where do we see conflict? […]

Exploring the faces of reconnection has driven us deeper and deeper into the mixed emotions that occur as a result of this reunion. Metaphor allows us the perfect medium to express and explain our infinite definitions and perspectives of this powerful theme and thesis. What color is reconnection?  The students see it clearly. As they […]

Since day one, after looking in the mirror to answer the initial question, “What do I see?” we have been observing and analyzing character traits in ourselves and in the interesting characters we get to know through literature. Our first mission was to clarify the difference between personality traits and emotions. We then began generating […]

Many children, when confronted with an unfamiliar problem or challenge, dismiss it as too hard, say “I can’t do it,” or “you never taught me this.” They make no attempt to solve the problem or address the situation unless they can clearly see a path for resolution. In other words, they must know beforehand, that […]