3rd Grade

3rd Grade is a transition year where students begin to become more independent.

In 3rd grade, we focus on developing a growth mindset so students know how to approach new challenges and responsibilities. Students utilize planners to stay on top of long-term projects and assigned work from different teachers. Morning Meeting activities continue to follow the responsive classroom model, and they are integral to building and strengthening the classroom community.

After three years of gentle public speaking preparation, 3rd graders are ready for Current Events! In this discipline, students learn how to identify a newsworthy article, analyze the information and present it in their own words in front of the class. By the end of the year, students are able to speak confidently and clearly, maintain eye contact, and present material in an easy, natural way.

Small-group study in math and reading helps to prepare the students for the rigor of the upper elementary grades. Writing workshops focus on personal narratives and information writing, and students learn to combine their writing with public speaking skills. Reading workshops are split between fiction and nonfiction texts, as students at this age shift away from “learning to read” as they continue “reading to learn.”

Field Trips

Field trips are carefully chosen to tie into the curriculum. These include a visit to a key landmark in the Los Angeles region as well as a trip to Upward Bound House, which connects directly to social issues in reading and our Service Learning focus on the unhoused population.

Meet the Team

List of 4 items.

Haley Skiba

Born and raised in Pacific Palisades, Haley is now living her dream of raising her own children there. After attending Corpus Christi Elementary School and Marymount High School, she received a bachelor’s degree in communication while playing volleyball at UCLA and snowboarding at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an education degree at Denver Metropolitan State. Haley is so happy to be back at Carlthorp as a teacher after taking time away to raise her children. On the weekends, you can find her playing beach volleyball, surfing, or heading to Mammoth with her family and dog, Fisher.
Jarrod Moon

After two years in 4th grade, Mr. Moon will serve as a 3rd grade homeroom teacher in 2025-2026. His passion for teaching grew from his experience as a summer camp counselor during college, when he led hikes, fishing trips, and cooking activities for young explorers. A football and baseball player in high school, Jarrod graduated from Indiana University with a degree in elementary education, a minor in counseling, and a concentration in mathematics. He looks forward to sharing his passion for math and history with his Carlthorp students. Jarrod spends free time expanding his movie and TV trivia and rewatching Star Wars movies.
Megan Peterson

Megan is excited to join the Carlthorp community this year. Originally from Connecticut, she is relocating to Santa Monica from Nashville with her family. She holds a B.A. in history from William Smith College and a master’s in teaching from Manhattanville College. With 10 years of experience in independent schools in Connecticut and Tennessee, she brings a passion for creating joyful, inclusive classrooms where students feel safe, curious, and confident. Most recently, she taught second grade at the University School of Nashville, where she piloted new curricula and focused on supporting student growth through inquiry and reflection. In 2024, she was awarded a grant to develop a curriculum for teaching during an election year in K-12 settings. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children, as well as cooking, swimming, doing needlework, and watching “Jeopardy!” She’s eager to explore Los Angeles and enjoy time by the beach.
Tara Prieto

A California native and two-time Trojan, Tara Prieto is so excited to serve as a teacher at Carlthorp. Tara graduated from USC’s Marshall School of Business while working in the university’s football recruiting department. After enjoying a career in professional athlete representation, Tara returned to USC, earning her first Master of Arts at the Rossier School of Education. While teaching at St. Brendan School, she earned her California elementary teaching credential and a second Master of Arts at Loyola Marymount University.

Prior to joining the Carltorp community, she taught 4th and 5th grade math and English language arts in Chicago Public Schools. During this time, she worked to earn her Illinois Math Endorsement and English as a Second Language Endorsement.

When she is not teaching, she is creating adventures and learning. Through true serendipity, she has been able to: witness both Venus and Serena play at Wimbledon, watch Muhammad Ali light the torch at the 1996 Olympics, attend Barack Obama’s first Presidential Inauguration, get surprise recognition on "The Ellen Show" after students started a letter writing campaign, and see "Hamilton" seven times from LA to Chicago to London.