Sunday, December 21, 2008

Taking a break for fun

As we prepare for winter break, it's nice to take a day to have some fun and enjoy being with our friends. On Thursday we spent the day creating ornaments: a candy cane reindeer, a mitten - wreath - or tree, a paper clip angel, we made cards and snowflakes, then we read a book called Stranger in the Woods and created a snowman out of a sock! We revealed our Secret Santa identity to everyone's surprise, and we danced to a DJ as we dipped treats into the chocolate fountain. Everyone in our class was happy and everyone behaved. We work so hard that it's important for us to take some time and enjoy ourselves and our friends. My only regret is that we forgot a camera!
Happy Holidays to all from the M&M's!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

December Holidays

What a perfect time of the year to learn about the many cultures represented in our classroom. Yesterday we enjoyed latkes, jelly doughnuts, candy dreidles, and lighting a menorah. We read books about Hannukkah and listened as Rachel, Sarah, Sande, and Tyler shared some family traditions. In keeping with our functional writing and reading focus, please take a look at this Morris family latke recipe.

Potato Pancakes

2 eggs 2Tbsp. flour

1/2 small onion 1/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt 3 Cups raw cubed potatoes

Put eggs, onion, salt, flour, baking powder, and 1/2 cup of potato cubes into blender container.Cover and process at grate until potatoes have gone throught the blades. Stop blender and add remaining potatoes; cover and process at chop until all potato cubes have passed through processing blades. Use rubbern spatula to help guide potatoes to blades. Do not overblend! Spray griddle or pan with cooking spray. Pour potato batter as you would pancake batter and flip when the edges turn brown. Serve warm with applesauce or sour cream.

By Mrs. Morris