Arden Montessori school was founded by Lydia Saadeh, who studied at the Maria Montessori Training Center in San Francisco with a teacher trained by Maria Montessori herself. Lydia has a Master's degree in educational administration, is accredited with AMI, and has over ten years of experience in Montessori education. "What is unique about Arden Montessori School," she says, "is that we use purely the Montessori structure and materials." The special materials allow children to absorb information through all their senses in the same natural way that they learn to walk and talk, and at their own pace without pressure. They are delighted to find they are not restrained but encouraged to use their hands for learning! They are not segregated by age because the younger ones learn much from the older ones, who are role models and leaders. Taking advantage of "sensitive periods" when an individual child is fascinated with a particular skill, specially trained teachers guide his development in practical life experiences, sensory awareness, mathematics, language, creative arts, science, and movement.
