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 Maria DiGiorgio is a lifelong New Yorker, who currently resides in Commack, with her family. She is a devoted wife and mother, an educator and designer. Maria is active in her community, as a PTA mom and Girl Scout leader. She has a passion for interior decorating and loves to garden. She is an avid reader, and enjoys writing about life experiences and parenthood, as well as her personal observations about the world around us. |
| What a simple declaration. What a thoughtful observation. This sentiment is one I cannot take credit for, as it belongs to Thomas Jefferson, but it is one I fully embrace. Wherever we go, we are surrounded by the written word. Books, magazines, tablets, circulars, newspapers, pamphlets, maps, street signs, labels, all abound. There are storybooks, textbooks, novels, fiction, non-fiction, drama, mysteries, thrillers, memoirs, biographies, tutorials, and many more forms of text. For those of us, who shun the notion of being a “reader”, the prospect is simply inescapable. For those of us, (like myself), who are forever reading, the prospects are simply endless. Reading is essential to living, as it makes our life experiences richer, more profound and more meaningful! As an educator, I know that reading is paramount to all things we learn. It is the very basis of all learning, regardless of the subject matter or content. With strong reading skills, one can master just about anything, from the ridiculous to the sublime. Reading is the key to unlocking the potential inside all of us. Through this medium, we can discover hidden interests we may have, greater passion for knowledge, helpful information and guidance, all to enable us to lead more productive, fulfilling and prosperous lives. Beyond informational or instructional reading, there is reading for the sheer joy of the experience. Reading offers us an “escape”, into the worlds we may, otherwise, never have the opportunity to enter into. It sparks our imaginations, ignites our creative juices, satisfies our curiosity, answers our questions, and makes us poised to inquire, even more. Reading enables us to continue growing, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. It is a precious commodity, and one meant to share and enjoy with others. Exposure to the written word should come as early as birth. New parents, teachers and caretakers, alike, can and should make storytelling, nursery rhymes, poetry and music an integral part of a child’s daily life. With these tiny seeds planted so early on in development, the likelihood of embracing and incorporating a love of reading will be greatly enhanced, as children grow. Make regular visits to the library, bookstore and to any place where the written word can be found. Enroll your child in reading/literature programs that are readily available at these sites. Celebrate milestones in your child’s reading development, both in school and at home, and set a powerful example by modeling your own reading skills and behaviors. The example you set is the most compelling one of all. Treat your child and yourself to these wonderful learning experiences, and teach them that reading is not only functional, but that it can be immensely pleasurable. It is a gift we can enjoy giving to and receiving from the children in our lives, and the inner child inside each one of us, for a lifetime! |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 