1st Grade

1st Graders at Carlthorp School are pros at the ins and outs of how the school works.

Responsive classroom continues with daily Morning Meetings focused on reinforcing the importance of community. Students are given opportunities to be comfortable speaking in front of their classmates and teachers. Our 1st graders also develop more independence.

They are expanding the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that were introduced in kindergarten. They continue learning through the core subjects: Fundations, guided reading, cognitively guided instruction (CGI), and math workshop. The 1st graders are becoming strong readers and writers.

In the spring, the students invite parents to join them for the 1st grade author share; students excitedly share their animal research reports, which they have been working on for two months. This is a culmination of our nonfiction writing unit. The parents join this special event and enjoy a tasty breakfast together in celebration of their children's hard work.

Meet the Team

List of 4 items.

Hannah Grunbaum

Hannah is thrilled to be entering her second year at Carlthorp as part of the 1st grade team. With six years of teaching experience, she brings a warm, playful, and dedicated presence to the classroom. Hannah earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Saint Mary’s College and later completed her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in social justice at Cal State Fullerton. Her teaching approach is rooted in the importance of mindfulness and social-emotional learning, and she values building meaningful connections with each student. A Southern California native from Huntington Beach, Hannah loves traveling, cooking, staying active, and spending time with her loved ones.
Keara Devitt

Keara is eager to begin her eighth year teaching at Carlthorp School and 11th year as an educator in Los Angeles. She values helping her students develop critical thinking skills as academic scholars and fostering their social and emotional growth. Originally from Long Island, New York, she is the youngest of seven children. In 2010, she moved to California for college to pursue her teaching degree and professional career. She attended the University of San Francisco and earned a B.A. in psychology and a master's in elementary education. She later attended Mount Saint Mary’s University and completed the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing program. In her free time, Keara enjoys the outdoors, running, and doing yoga.
India Military

India is thrilled to begin her third year teaching at Carlthorp School! Her journey began at Boston University, where she studied early childhood education. There, she had the pleasure of teaching preschool and grades K-2. After moving back to Los Angeles, her hometown, she taught 1st grade at Brentwood School. India’s passion for teaching rests in the belief that how we shape the minds and hearts of young children has a lasting, powerful impact on the global community. Her approach to learning respects, appreciates, and celebrates each aspect of children’s identities through a strengths-based lens. When India is not teaching, she enjoys reading, trying new recipes, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.
Cassidy Dalton

After three years as a 3rd grader teacher at Carlthorp, Ms. Dalton is eager to serve as a 1st grade teacher in 2025-2026. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, where she taught TK students on campus for four years, and her master’s in teaching and credential from Pepperdine University. Prior to Carlthorp, Ms. Dalton served as a 1st grade teacher in Manhattan Beach. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.