About The Teacher

NAME: Mrs. Vensko
Picture

SCHOOL:

CLASS: 2nd Grade

SCHOOL PHONE:


About The Teacher

Welcome to my class website!  My name is Stacy Vensko and I 
will be your child's second grade teacher.  This is my tenth (10th) year of 
teaching and my fifth (5th) year at Laurel Hill School.  LHS is great place 
to work and learn!  Goooooo HOBOES! I love getting up in the morning and 
going to work! I truly feel blessed to have my job.   

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  After high school, I 
attended Penn State University for two years and then transferred to 
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where I received my Bachelor of Science 
in Education degree in 2000.  Right out of college, I got my my first 
teaching job in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and have been teaching in the 
classroom ever since.  I have been very fortunate to teach in many parts of 
the country, including New Mexico, Florida, and even overseas in Germany!  
Some of my professional goals include receiving my National Board 
Certification and my Masters Degree in the near future.  I 
am also the Elementary Cheerleading Coach at Laurel Hill School which keeps 
me very busy, but it is so much fun and it brings back lots of good 
memories!!

Currently, I live in the sunshine state with my husband, John 
and our 3 year old son Noah Stephen.  We also have two Boxers named 
Gordon and Ethel, and one cat name Bleau (pronounced Blue).  Someday, 
I hope to have a little cheerleader of my own! 

When I'm not at school, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, 
working on my classroom website, coaching my little cheerleaders, shopping, 
reading, and of course, spending time at my most favorite place in the whole 
world -- the beach!  Here are some of my favorite things:  

MY FAVORITE THINGS

SEASON Fall (in Pittsburgh)
ITEM TO COLLECT Gingerbread people and children's books
HOLIDAY Christmas
FOOD pierogies, steak, potatoes
RESTAURANT Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse
TREATS Gummy Bears, salt & vinegar chips

FRUIT

strawberry, cherry
DRINK iced tea
CHILDRENS AUTHORS Jan Brett
CHILDREN'S BOOK Rainbow Fish, Stellaluna
FLOWER Stargazer Lily
SCENT Noah's babywash, vanilla candles
PERFUME Miss Dior Cherie
TV Show Law and Order, American Idol
SUBJECT TO TEACH Reading and Writing
VACATION SPOT Jamaica mon!
SPORTS TEAM Pittsburgh Steelers football (Go black and gold!)
COLOR Aqua
MUSICAL GROUP/SINGER Dave Matthews Band

Here are a few pictures of my family!

With my family at Seaside, Florida - September 2009
Noah at the pumpkin patch October 2009
Noah made his first letter "N"!
Noah was a cheetah at the daycare center play!

At the Steelers game with my two sisters in December 2008! At my favorite place with my favorite two guys!
Beautiful Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
Our new Fall family picture!
Noah 21 months old
My little ELMO!
My handsome little man!
Noah eating an icecream cone!
Christmas 2006 - In LOVING memory of our beloved friends, Treya & Paige
Mom's favorite picture of all!
Noah 6 months old

Mission For The Class

The mission for my class is to create a challenging and 
nurturing classroom environment where kids have fun while they learn.  I 
strive to create a classroom community where kids feel safe and take risks 
while learning.  I want my students to understand that it is human to make 
mistakes and that is how we learn.  In my classroom, I hold high expectations 
for all of my students and expect them to try their very best each day.  It 
is my goal to instill a love of learning in each of my students.  Here are 
some things that I believe about teaching elementary children:

I BELIEVE THAT...
*all children CAN and WANT to learn, if they are given the necessary "tools" from home.

*students learn best by being actively engaged, so my classroom is centered around hands-on work stations. I truly believe in the statement "Hands- on, Minds'On"and strive to incorporate daily activities that embrace that pedagogy.

* students have their own unique learning styles and it is my responsibility as their teacher to discover these individual learning styles and to teach according to them as much as possible.

*students learn from teaching one another, so in my classroom, students are constantly paired up with a partner or in a small group to discuss their learning with one another and for daily cooperative learning experiences.

*instruction needs to be differentiated in order to meet the diverse needs of our classrooms today.

*music holds the "KEY" to learning in elementary school, so I incorporate singing and music into ALL subject areas as much as possible.

*"practice makes permanent" not perfect, so my students have opportunities daily to practice what they have been learning during the year.