Award-winning Author to Visit Newton Montessori School

November 28, 2016 - On Thursday, December 1, author Deborah Sosin will visit Newton Montessori School to read her award-winning book, Charlotte and the Quiet Place, to Newton Montessori kindergarteners. After the reading, Ms. Sosin, who lives in Watertown, will talk with students about the book-making process.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome such a dynamic and successful author to our school,” remarks Newton Montessori Head of School, Beth Black. “Many of our kindergartners are really into books. They’re already starting to get a sense of what books they like,” Black states. “So to be able to bring a ‘real author’ to their classroom, that’s really very exciting for them.”

The reading and book-making lesson is part of Newton Montessori’s “Reader’s Workshop,” a literacy curriculum that is introduced to students in their kindergarten year. “One goal of Reader’s Workshop is to teach kids fundamentals of literacy,” emphasizes Black, “but the other purpose of the program is to get students to love the whole reading experience.” Knowing and loving books is not just a fun activity, explains Black, it can often accelerate the development of literacy skills. “Many parents today become concerned if their child isn’t reading at a very young age. Our students typically develop strong reading skills, in part because we help them discover their own unique love of literacy.”

Sosin’s visit was organized by Newton Montessori teacher Jutta Lossner-Liang, who leads a section of Reader’s Workshop at the Primary level (a mixed-age classroom including three, four, and five year-olds). “This opportunity lines up perfectly with how we teach our students,” says Lossner-Liang, a longtime teacher at Newton Montessori School. “Our students are intensely curious and Ms. Sosin’s presentation will give them the chance to see, hear, and experience the book making process.”

Charlotte and the Quiet Place is the first picture book for Ms. Sosin, who is also a clinical social worker and former Montessori educator. The book - illustrated by Sarah Woolley - won the 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award (Gold Winner); the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Award (Silver Medal Winner); and the 2015 National Parenting Publications Awards (Bronze Award Winner). Sosin writes primarily creative non-fiction and her essays have been featured in The Boston Globe, Writer’s Chronicle, and the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Newton Montessori School is a diverse, thriving co-educational community serving students in Pre-K through Grade 6, where students are encouraged to explore their natural curiosity.

For all coverage requests, including author interviews, please contact Newton Montessori School Director of Marketing, Enrollment and Parent Engagement, Mason Sand at mason.sand@newtonmontessori.org.

More resources:

Book website: charlotteandthequietplace.com
Author website: deborahsosin.com
School website: newtonmontessori.org