They took the time to get to know my son and led him to new confidence in himself. I give The Children's House my highest recommendation!"
Elizabeth Watson Chaney
Montessori Preschool, Davidson NC, serving Lake Norman
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Montessori Preschool, Davidson NC, serving Lake Norman
We are located in the town of Davidson NC, in the Lake Norman area. We offer a 5 Day Program:
Monday – Friday
7:45 – 5:25 PM
This is what The Children’s House is renowned for. We invite you and your child to come and experience it for yourself.
In 2004, a new mother and experienced Master Montessori Teacher was reaching the end of her tether. Her new baby would soon reach preschool age, and knowing the inestimable value and life-long advantage that an early education provides, she was determined to give her child that gift.
However, having taught at one of the best Montessori schools in the area, visiting many other schools, she was nonetheless disappointed with the choice of preschools for her daughter.
She became convinced the only way to ensure her child a quality, complete, education that met her specific needs was to provide it herself.
That new mother was me. In 2004 I opened a small Montessori school in Davidson North Carolina, called The Children’s House.
Our school has gained a reputation for providing an effective, highly individualized and holistic education for toddlers and preschoolers, equipping them for not just for Elementary school, but for life. We invite you and your child to come and experience it for yourself.
Elizabeth Watson Chaney
I grew up in South Africa and received my Licentiate in Speech and Drama from Trinity College of Music, London. I received my Montessori Primary Diploma, (birth to 6 years) and Montessori Elementary Diploma, (6-9 years) at the London Montessori Center. I founded The Children’s House in 2004, when my daughter was born, as my ideal preschool for her.
I have been teaching for over 20 years and I can honestly say that the more I practice, learn and the deeper I come to understand the Montessori philosophy, the more I appreciate the depth and breadth of it. It is so much more than a method of education, it is a way of life; you have to strive to be the best in all areas of your life so you can guide the young child to reach his full potential, in his life.
The 3-6 year period are truly magical years; it is a time when the child’s basic character and intelligence are being formed and I get to witness miracles of that evolution on a daily basis. It is a wondrous experience.
In my spare time I love to practice yoga, and enjoy being active in nature. I’m passionate about health and nutrition and I love traveling and experiencing new places and cuisines, with my family.
I was a business professional before becoming a full-time mother. I returned to the work place to join The Children’s House in 2008 to be an assistant teacher in the primary classroom. Among my many interests is storytelling, singing and art. I was raised with a rich heritage of folk tales, learned from my grandparents and my parents, in West Virginia.
I have taken early childhood courses both at CPCC and at the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. My favorite course was an intensive “Visual Arts in the Montessori Classroom”. I love watching how the children progress throughout the year and years, we have them. I love to listen to what they have to say about their drawings and see their version of an art project.
My two children Sam and Lorelei, both TCH alumni keep me busy. In my spare time I enjoy doing crafts, playing cards and board games and fishing. I’m also an expert bargain hunter.
I graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree and Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia. I taught music in the Cobb County School system in Georgia for 11 years and began teaching cello using the Suzuki method once my son was born.
After 11 years teaching with the Suzuki method, I also began teaching music at Cross of Life Montessori School where I became the Toddler teacher after training at North American Montessori Center. Then, my husband was transferred to the Charlotte area, and I began work at Trillium Montessori School. I am now thrilled to be at The Children’s House!
I love being in the outdoors, camping, genealogy, and all types of music as well as spending time with my husband, Dave, and my children Alexander and Abigail. The toddler years are such a huge time of growth and exploration and children are amazing beings during this period of life. I am privileged to guide them and their families on part of their journey to who they will become and what they will discover.
I was born and raised in Queens, New York where I lived with my parents and four siblings. Although we lived in the city, we managed to have our entire extended family in the same neighborhood; where it was always normal to share our family dinners with grandparents, cousins, and friends. I guess this is where I fostered the love for family I still share today.
I attended Queensborough Community College and mainly studied Arts and Photography. I still spend my free time drawing and creating art. Upon meeting my husband, we moved to Connecticut and opened our own business, Bagel Bob’s. Here, I was able to share my love for cooking. Though owning a business was difficult, I like to say my greatest accomplishment was raising my three beautiful children. I stayed home with my children until they were of school age; then pursued a career in the school system. In total, I have spent 16 years as a para-educator. I have had the opportunity to work with children of all age groups and abilities, which truly established my understanding of childhood development.
Now, most of my family resides in North Carolina. Here, I get to enjoy my soon to be five granddaughters! I love sharing my excitement for cooking, baking and art with them. I have a passion for saving the Monarchs which I hope to share at the Children’s House. I am very excited to start this new chapter of my life and look forward to learning and experiencing the Montessori environment of independent thinkers!
My goal is to make every child at The Children’s House feel welcomed, known and loved, every single day!
I am native Spanish speaker, from Colombia, South America. I came to the U.S in 1988 to study English and look for better job opportunities. I have a Bachelor degree in Business Administration majoring in Human Resources. I also have credentials in Early Childhood Education.
I have worked as a teacher assistant for over ten years in traditional and private schools, including a Montessori School for three years.
Working with children has been my passion since I began working as a volunteer teacher assistant, when my daughters Katherine and Jennifer attended preschool. I am looking forward to contributing to the school team giving the children the guidance and support they need to reach their full potential. I love to be a positive role model in their lives. I’m a big believer in a structured and nurturing educational environment for children.
In my free time I enjoy walking outdoors and I love to travel and learn about different cultures around the world.
