2nd

CLICK HERE FOR WCDS UPCOMING DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Upcoming Dates & Announcements
February 21 – Open House @ 9:00 AM
Friday, January 30 – Parent Coffee, 8:30 AM
Friday, January 30 – Freedom Friday
Friday, February 6 – 11:30 AM Early Dismissal (Winter Long Weekend)
February 9 & 10 – No School for Students
February 16 – Bring a Friend Day (Grades 1–8)

💬 “What did you learn at school?” Conversation Starters
What did you learn about extreme weather?
What is the 1-1-1 doubling rule?
How do you make a good “how-to” writing?
Why do we sometimes need to regroup when subtracting?
How did your class help the community with the Little Libraries?

What a wonderful week we had in our classroom! Between meaningful service work, lots of learning, and plenty of laughter, the kids truly shined. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to and what’s coming up next:

📖 Phonics
This week we focused on the 1-1-1, doubling rule. Students practiced reading and spelling words using this rule and worked hard to apply it accurately in both reading and writing.

➖ Math
We’ve jumped into three-digit subtraction with regrouping. This is a big skill, and students are working through it with determination and growing confidence!

✏️ Writing
We are deep into How-To writing. Using the students’ rough drafts for “How to Make a PB&J,” we attempted to actually follow their directions to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich… and quickly realized we need to be much more descriptive! The kids thought it was hilarious and it was such a powerful, memorable lesson on clarity and detail. We are excited to see what kind of how-to writings they come up with on their own next week!

📝 Grammar
We’ve begun exploring subjects and predicates or the “whos” and the “dos”! From what the terms mean to how they work together in sentences. Students practiced identifying and writing complete thoughts using both.

💛 SEL / MLK Day of Service
During SEL, we dedicated our time to our Little Library MLK service project. The students sorted through donated books and those already in our library for a grand total of….756 books! The students were over the moon with the amount of books we had and discussing the different types of books we had. Plus, with your help, we restocked and filled 14 local Little Libraries in our community!!! The kiddos absolutely loved giving back, and so did we.

🌪️ Deep Dive
Weather has been in full effect! We took a closer look at extreme weather, which is perfect timing with the blizzard expected this weekend. The kids were highly engaged and full of great questions.

🍌 Kids in the Kitchen
This week’s recipe was mini chocolate chip banana muffins, made with cottage cheese as the base for a healthier, protein-packed snack. This treat turned out to be a big hit across the board. Lots of happy taste testers!

We’ve had a good bit of friends in and out with illnesses, please take the weekend to rest and restore! Also, stay safe and warm in preparation for the big blizzard!! Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are so proud of these kiddos and all the heart and hard work they bring each day.

Have a great weekend, see you next week (hopefully Tuesday😉)!

Warmly,
Miss Tylar & Mrs. Demarest

UPCOMING DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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• February 6th – 11:30 Early Dismissal – No Aftercare
• February 9th – No School
• February 10th – Professional Development Day – No School for Students

Dear 2nd Grade Families,

What a full and meaningful week it has been in our classroom! Our students worked hard, showed growth, and approached new learning with confidence and care. We are so proud of them and excited to share a glimpse of our week with you. 

💬 Conversation Starters

• What was something you felt proud of yourself for this week?
• What is your literature circle book about so far?
• Can you show me how you regroup when adding?
• What was your favorite thing you wrote about from winter break?
• What’s the difference between weather and climate?

📚 This week, we took a break from our usual phonics routine to complete winter benchmarking. Each student took this responsibility very seriously and put forth their very best effort. These assessments help us ensure continued growth and guide our instruction moving forward, and we could not be more proud of how focused and determined the students were. 

We were also thrilled to begin literature circles! Students are working in small groups with good-fit books and learning how to read, discuss, and deepen their understanding together. They are practicing listening, sharing ideas, and supporting one another.  They are doing a wonderful job so far. 

➕➖ In math, we wrapped up our work with addition into the hundreds and have begun subtracting within the hundreds. A major focus at this point in second grade is regrouping, an essential skill that builds a strong foundation for future math learning. When math work comes home, we encourage you to take a look together and try a few problems as a team. 

✏️ We are finishing up our winter break writing pieces, which will be coming home soon. It has been such a joy reading about students’ favorite memories—from playdates and time on the slopes to special family traditions.

As part of our grammar work, we have been mastering nouns and verbs, and we’ve used that knowledge to begin learning about subjects and predicates to help us write complete sentences more confidently. 

🌦️ Our science learning continued with a deep dive into the layers of the atmosphere, their jobs, and some fascinating facts. A hands-on liquid density activity helped students make connections to these invisible layers. We also began discussing the difference between weather and climate, learning that climate describes long-term patterns while weather can change from day to day. 

📖 A HUGE thank you to everyone who has signed up to visit a Free Little Library and to those who donated gently used books for our class service project. Your generosity is truly appreciated!

📌 Important reminders:

• Monday is the last day to bring in donated books.
• We will be sorting and packing books, visiting our school’s Free Little Library to give it a little sprucing up, and sending books home with students who signed up to visit a library.
• If you haven’t signed up yet and would still like to help, there are still a few libraries available.
• Please don’t forget to send us pictures.  We love seeing our students making a difference!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We are so proud of our second graders and look forward to another great week ahead!

Warmly,
Mrs. Demarest and Miss Tylar

CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING WCDS EVENTS

Upcoming Dates and Announcements
Monday, January 19th – MLK Day of Service
2nd Grade’s Little Library Adventures! *more information to come*
Friday, January 30th – Freedom Friday and 8:00am Parent Coffee 
Friday, February 6th – 11:30am Early Dismissal, Winter Long Weekend 
Monday, February 9th – No School (Winter Long Weekend)
Tuesday, February 10th – No School (Winter Long Weekend)

💬 Conversation Starters for Home
– What does it mean when y makes the long e sound?
– How does wind form, and how did your anemometer work?
– What is something you wrote about from winter break that you’re proud of?
– Can you explain how to trade 10 tens for 1 hundred?

Dear Families,
We had a full and exciting week in 2nd grade! Here’s a look at what we’ve been learning and experiencing together.

📚 Phonics: We learned about when the letter y makes the long e sound at the end of two-syllable words. Students noticed that these words often follow the VCCV syllable division pattern, and they practiced reading and sorting examples to build fluency and confidence.

➕ Math: We worked hard to keep our skills sharp with two-digit addition and subtraction, including regrouping. We also practiced mental math, adding 1s, 10s, and 100s, and explored place value by exchanging 10 tens for 1 hundred. The students are growing more confident explaining their thinking!

✏️ Writing: Students wrote about fun adventures from winter break. They worked on organizing their ideas and adding details to help their stories come to life.

🌬️ Deep Dive: Our weather deep dive continued with a closer look at wind. Where is it coming from and where is it going? Students built their own anemometers and tested them out. We were especially proud when our class shared what we learned with SK, who will soon begin their own weather deep dive!

🍽️ Kids in the Kitchen: We took a break from cooking this week to focus on restaurant manners. The teachers acted as servers while students practiced politely ordering for themselves. They also worked on quietly passing the time at their tables using games like I Spy, Rock Paper Scissors, and 20 Questions. It was a fun and meaningful way to practice real-world skills.  You might have to make a restaurant trip this weekend!

📖 Service Project Update: Second grade will soon begin a service project to tidy up and restock free libraries in our area. This project will help students learn about community responsibility and giving back. More details about how families can participate will be shared soon… stay tuned!

Thank you for your continued support. We are so proud of all the learning happening in our classroom!
Warmly,
Mrs. Demarest and Miss Tylar

UPCOMING DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLICK HERE FOR WCDS UPCOMING EVENTS
January 5th – Return to school, 8:00am start

💬 “What did you learn at school?” Conversation Starters:
• What was your favorite part of your Flat Stanley story?
• Can you solve 867 + 910?
• What was your snowglobe story about?
• What is a Grinch kabob?
• What are you most excited for during break?!

Hello and Happy Break!
What a fun-filled and festive week we had in our classroom! Even with lots of excitement and creativity in the air, our kiddos stayed engaged, curious, and eager to learn. Here’s a sneak peek our short, simple, and blissful week:

📚 Phonics:
This week, students proudly presented their Flat Stanley paper bag book reports! They worked hard to retell their stories, share their three corresponding items, and present clearly to their classmates. We loved seeing their confidence grow and watching them celebrate one another’s work.

➕ Math:
We dove into addition with regrouping in the hundreds, and wow, what a hit! The students were especially excited to see how numbers grow into the thousands when regrouping. Their enthusiasm and “aha” moments made this such a fun concept to explore together. Although subtraction with regrouping will be slightly more difficult, we are excited to tackle it when we return from break!

✏️ Writing:
We wrapped up some free writing pieces and also completed a short imaginative story titled “If I Was Stuck in a Snowglobe.” The stories were absolutely hilarious and incredibly creative! The students had so much fun letting their imaginations run wild. We especially loved their snowglobe photos that went along with their stories. We hope you all are able to cherish these for years to come!

🍓 Kids in the Kitchen:
This week’s recipe was Grinch Kabobs: made with grapes, bananas, and strawberries. They were simple, festive, and delicious! The students loved assembling their own kabobs and of course, enjoying a tasty treat they made themselves.

It was a wonderful week full of learning, creativity, and smiles. We are so proud of all the hard work your kiddos are doing each day!

We hope you have an eventful, yet relaxing break!
See you in two weeks,
Miss Tylar & Mrs. Demarest

UPCOMING DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLICK HERE FOR WCDS UPCOMING EVENTS

• Fun and Festive dress all week! Please see Talking Points or your child’s yellow folder if they’d like to dress in theme 🙂
• Wednesday, December 17th – Holiday Show 6:00. Please arrive at our classroom between 5:30 and 5:45.
• Friday, December 19th – 11:30 dismissal (no aftercare)
• Monday, January 5th – return to school

Dear Families,

We had a busy and exciting week in second grade! Here’s a look at what your children have been working on:

📚 This week, we focused on contractions. Students practiced identifying the two words in a contraction and using them correctly in reading and writing.

🔢 In math, we dove deep into place value up to the thousands place! Students worked on comparing and ordering numbers, as well as writing numbers in standard, expanded, and word form.

✍️ We spent the week working on persuasive writing pieces that will be coming home next week. The students are hoping to persuade you for one extra present under the tree.  Get ready for some very convincing arguments! 🎁😉

🌤️ Our weather study continued as we explored types of clouds and even tried making homemade thermometers in class. Students also began a weather graph, which will stay in their yellow folders so they can track changes over time.

🎶 The students are working so hard practicing for our holiday show, and their excitement is building! Thank you for supporting them as they practice at home, too.  Please remember that students should arrive at the classroom Wednesday evening between 5:30–5:45 PM, dressed in their favorite pajamas and holiday headwear if they choose.

Thank you so much for working with your children at home and for lending us your amazing kids day in and day out. 💛

Stay warm and safe during this snowy weekend! ❄️☃️

Warmly,
Mrs. Demarest

(see photo dump below! I’m catching up!)

UPCOMING DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLICK HERE FOR WCDS UPCOMING EVENTS

• Wednesday, December 17th – Holiday Show!!
• Friday, December 19th – 11:30 dismissal (no aftercare)

Hello Second Grade Families!

We had a wonderful first week of December filled with learning, creativity, and special events! Here’s a peek into what we accomplished:

📚 Phonics

This week, we focused on the vowel team “igh,” which usually makes the long “i” sound. Students practiced reading and spelling words such as “light,” “sight,” “bright,” and “night.” We enjoyed noticing how ‘igh appears most often in the middle, followed by a ‘t’ or at the end of words.

🔢 Math

We jumped into place value to 1,000! Using base-ten blocks helped us build, draw, and compare three-digit numbers. Students are working hard to understand hundreds, tens, and ones, as well as how to represent numbers in various ways.

✍️ Writing

It was a busy writing week!

• We finished our memoirs, celebrating small, meaningful moments.
• We learned about similes, which compare two things using ‘like’ or ‘as’ to make writing more descriptive.
• We began our “When I Grow Up” essays, brainstorming dreams and practicing how to elaborate on ideas.

🍪 Kids in the Kitchen

We brought December fun to life by making snickerdoodle cookies! Students measured, mixed, and of course enjoyed the delicious results.

🌦️ Deep Dive: Weather

Our new Deep Dive unit on weather kicked off with lots of excitement. This week we learned all about the water cycle with evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Students created diagrams and practiced explaining how water moves around our planet.

We wrapped up the week with a trip to the Book Fair, where students explored books and made wish lists. Afterward, we had a wonderful visit from Mr. B. from the Ohio County Library.  Always a highlight! His read-aloud and book recommendations had our class buzzing with enthusiasm.

💬 Conversation Starters for Home

Try these questions to spark meaningful discussions:

• “What are some words you can think of that have igh? Where does the igh usually appear in the word?”
• “Can you show me how to build a number like 346 using hundreds, tens, and ones?”
• “Tell me one simile you wrote this week. What are you writing about for your ‘When I Grow Up’ essay?”
• “Can you explain the water cycle to me? Which part do you find the most interesting?”
• “What was your favorite book you saw at the Book Fair? What did Mr. B. read to your class?”

Thank you for sharing your amazing kids with us each day. We’re looking forward to another great week of learning and December fun!

Mrs. Demarest

UPCOMING DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLICK HERE FOR WCDS UPCOMING EVENTS

• November 24th – Pajama/Popcorn Dance Party!
• November 25th – Alumni Kickball Game, Thanksgiving Luncheon, 12:30 Early Dismissal
• November 26th – 29th – Enjoy Thanksgiving Break!
• December 1st – Return to School – Regular Start Time
• December 1st – 5th – Scholastic Book Fair – Main AND Middle School
• December 17th – 2nd – 5th grade Holiday program @ 6:00 pm
• December 19th – 11:30 Dismissal
• December 22nd – January 2nd – Winter Break

Conversation Starters for Home

• Can you teach me the three sounds of the suffix -ed?
• What was the trickiest thing you measured with a ruler this week?
• What did you learn about West Virginia that surprised you?
• What small moment are you writing about in your memoir?
• Would you want to make cranberry salsa at home? Why or why not?

Hello Second Grade Families,

We had a full and exciting week of learning!

In phonics, we practiced using the suffix -ed, listening carefully for its three sounds: /t/, /d/, and /id/. The students did a fantastic job identifying each sound in words, and soon we’ll begin working with the spelling rules that come into play when adding -ed to certain verbs.

In math, our focus was all on measurement. We used rulers to measure objects to the whole inch, half inch, and even the quarter inch! We also talked about how a ruler is 12 inches and how three rulers together make a yard. The class loved using real tools to explore these concepts.

During Deep Dive, we zoomed out to look at our entire country, the United States of America, and how all 50 states work together. Then we zoomed back in to explore West Virginia, learning its location, state bird, state flower, and other special features that make our state unique.

In writing, students continued crafting their memoirs. We love hearing the feelings, details, and excitement they pour into these special small moments. With Thanksgiving coming soon, we also took time to write about what we are thankful for. Their thoughtful answers were truly heartwarming.

To wrap up the week, we made delicious cranberry salsa, a fun seasonal treat! Ask your child if you might see it appear on your dinner table next week!

Thank you for your continued support. We hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead!

UPCOMING DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLICK HERE FOR WCDS UPCOMING EVENTS

• November 21st – Freedom Friday!
• November 25th – Alumni Kickball Game, Thanksgiving Luncheon, 12:30 Early Dismissal
• November 26th – 29th – Enjoy Thanksgiving Break!
• December 2nd – Return to School – Regular Start Time
• Thursday, December 17th – Holiday Show!! Mark Your Calendars!

Hello Second Grade Families!

We’ve had another busy and exciting week of learning, exploring, and creating together!

🗣️ Conversation Starters for Home

• What word did you spell this week where the y said /ī/?
• What did you measure in math, and how did you make sure you measured accurately?
• What exciting moment are you writing about in your memoir?
• Is our home in a city, town, or rural area—and how do you know?
• How did the gluten-free pumpkin oatmeal cookies taste? Would you change anything in the recipe?

🔤 Phonics: This week in phonics, we learned that y can make the long /ī/ sound at the end of short words, like cry, sky, and shy. Students practiced reading and spelling words with this pattern, and we’ll keep reinforcing it as we build our phonics toolbox.

📏 Math: We jumped into measuring with rulers—a skill the class is already enjoying! Students practiced lining up objects carefully and reading measurements to the nearest inch. We also kept addition and subtraction fresh with daily warm-ups to strengthen accuracy and fluency.

✍️ Writing Workshop: Our memoir writing continues to grow in exciting ways. Students are working hard to narrow their stories down to one exciting moment, and many writers added “spider legs”—little extra details and ideas added to the margins of their drafts. Their creativity and commitment to revising are shining!

🌎 Deep Dive: Geography: In Deep Dive, we continued exploring where we live. We focused on understanding the differences between cities, towns, and rural areas. We also discovered that everyone has a “city” in their address, even if it’s not where they technically live! This sparked lots of great discussion and connections.

🍪 Kids in the Kitchen: This week’s recipe was a huge hit—gluten-free pumpkin oatmeal cookies! The students had so much fun measuring ingredients, mixing the batter, and of course, tasting the final product. We hope you’ll try making the recipe at home this weekend!

Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us each day. We’re excited for another great week ahead!

Have a restful weekend!

Mrs. Demarest

UPCOMING DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLICK HERE FOR WCDS UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, November 11th – No School For Students – Faculty Professional Development Day

Tuesday, November 25 – Alumni Kickball, Thanksgiving Lunch, and Early Dismissal at 12:30 (No Aftercare)

Wednesday – Friday, November 26th-28th  – No School
Thursday, December 17th – Holiday Show!! Mark Your Calendars!

In phonics, we explored how the letter s can sometimes make the /z/ sound.  Students were amazed to find so many words that use this tricky pattern! In math, we continued to build confidence with subtraction and regrouping, while keeping our addition facts sharp. We’ve also been practicing using addition to check our subtraction work, showing how the two operations are always connected.

Our writers have been busy polishing their memoirs.  Many pieces are “published” and proudly displayed around our classroom, while others are still hard at work and keeping the author’s seat warm. We’re so proud of the thoughtful, personal stories students are crafting!

In deep dive, we’ve been rotating through geography stations, putting our continent knowledge and map skills to the test. The students have loved exploring and discovering new facts about our world and their literal place in it.

We wrapped up the week with some amazing celebrations.  Our Vantoberfest pumpkin decorating win earned us a fun party, we enjoyed a special visit from our favorite librarian guest, and we ended Friday with an energetic assembly in the gym to kick off the upcoming 29 Hours event!

It was a wonderful week of learning, laughter, and celebration.  Second grade is truly shining bright!

💬 Conversation Starters

Use these questions to spark discussion at home about our week:

Phonics: Can you think of some words where the letter s makes the /z/ sound? (Hint: try nose, music, or these!)

Math: How can you use addition to check your subtraction work? Can you show me an example?

Writing: What are you writing about in your memoir? What makes it a special memory for you?

Deep Dive: Talk about your address.  What state do you live in?  What is the name of your city?

UPCOMING DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLICK HERE FOR WCDS UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, November 11th – No School For Students – Faculty Professional Development Day

Tuesday, November 25 – Alumni Kickball, Thanksgiving Lunch, and Early Dismissal at 12:30 (No Aftercare)

Wednesday – Friday, November 26th-28th  – No School
Thursday, December 17th – Holiday Show!! Mark Your Calendars!

What a spook-tacular week we had in second grade!

Conversation Starters!
“Can you tell me some words with the ‘oa’ sound, like in boat or road?”
“Can you show me how to do a two-digit subtraction problem where you have to regroup?”
“Tell me about your Halloween Town map — what landmarks did you put on it?”
“What’s your memoir about, and what adjectives did you use to make it more descriptive?”
“What was your favorite part of the Halloween celebration at school?”

📚 Phonics:
Our new phonics pattern this week was “oa” — as in boat, road, and toad! We practiced reading, spelling, and writing words with this long “o” vowel team, and students loved finding hidden “oa” words in our Halloween stories.

➖ Math:
We dove into two-digit subtraction and even started learning how to regroup when we subtract. The kids are becoming subtraction experts, showing great perseverance as they break apart numbers and explain their thinking!  Pulling out popsicle sticks or connecting cubes made it much more tangible!

🌍 Deep Dive:
We created our very own Halloween Town maps complete with a compass rose and map key. Students used creativity and map skills to include spooky landmarks like pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and ghost trails!

✏️ Writing Workshop:
We continued working on our memoirs, moving through the writing process — from drafting to editing! Students focused on adding creative and descriptive adjectives to help readers feel what they felt in their stories. A few brave authors even shared their work in the Author’s Seat, and we were so proud of their courage and expression!

We wrapped up our week with some festive fun — pumpkin dip with apples, exploring the haunted house, and of course, hay rides! A huge thank you to Grady’s family for organizing the hay rides again this year!

Wishing everyone a cozy, candy-filled weekend! 🍬
Mrs. Demarest