RICA Test Prep | 135 Questions with
100% Correct Answers
What are the 3 primary purposes of reading assessment? Correct Answer: 1. Entry Level
Assessments - they are implemented prior to instruction to determine which students have
already mastered the skills that are going to be taught and which posess the prerequisite skills
and knowledge.
2. Monitoring of Progress Assessments - during the instructional unit, tell which students are
making adequate progress toward the standard.
3. Summative Assessments - determines which students have achieved the target standard, some
measure student achievement of a single standard, where as others, often given quarterly,
midyear and at the end of the year, measure many standards.
What are some alternative assessments for students with an IEP or Section 504 plan? Correct
Answer: 1. Give Students More Time
2. Divide the Assessment into smaller units (spread over 2 days).
3. Change the mode of delivery (ask the student to tell, rather than write).
4. Provide Practice Assessments.
5. Provide A Simpler Version of the Assessment (if the student does not read at the 5th gtade
level, give them something that is at a simpler level and note that the standard was not met).
Quality Indicators That Apply to Standardized Assessments Correct Answer: 1. Reliability
B. Validity
C. How to Interpret the Results of Standardized Tests
What Assessments Are Used to Determine Students' Reading Levels? Correct Answer: 1.
Informal Reading Inventories (IRI)
2. Word Recognition Lists
3. Graded Reading Passages
What is an Informal Reading Inventory? Correct Answer: An IRI us a collection of assessments
administered individually to students. For an IRI, one adult gives the assessments to one student.
The selection of the IRI depends on the students reading level.
What are some types of assessments that are included in an Informal Reading Inventory (IRI)?
Correct Answer: 1. Word Recognition Lists
2. Graded Reading Passages
3. Reading Interest Survey
4. Assessments Measuring Concepts about Print
5. Phonemic Awareness Assessments
6. Phonics Assessments
7. Assessments of Reading Fluency
8. Structural Analysis Assessments
9. Vocabulary Assessments
,10. Spelling Tests
What is the purpose of a word recognition list? Correct Answer: They serve 3 purposes:
1. to provide a rough guess of the child's reading level so that whoever is administering the tests
knows where to start on the graded reading passages.
2. to provide information on the child's "sight" vocabulary, the words the child can correctly
identify
3. provide information about the student's ability to use sound-symbol relationships (phonics) to
decode words. The child's errors will provide a partial picture of what letters and letter
combinations the child knows and which ones he or she needs to learn.
Which Assessment is the most important part of the IRI? Correct Answer: The graded reading
passages.
What is a miscue analysis? Correct Answer: Examining a record of a student's oral reading to
identify and classify errors. ( a student reads aloud a passage and the teacher keeps a detailed
record of the student's performance).
What are Graphophonemic Errors? Correct Answer: These errors are related to the sound-
symbol relationships for English, such as reading feather or father. The words sounds alike, but
feather wouldn't make sense in a sentence where the correct word is father. A child who
repeatedly makes graphophonemic errors is either a) reading word by word and depending too
much on phonics to decode each word b) reading a passage that is too difficult, or they are not
using the meaning of the sentences and paragraphs to decode words (contextual clues).
What are Semantic Errors? Correct Answer: Semantic Errors are meaning-related errors, such as
reading dad for father. The student has relied too much on the semantic cueing system - and
hasn't used graphophonemic clues. A child who repeatedly makes semantic errors understands
what the are reading but needs to be taught to use phonics skills to be sure that every word read
makes sense from a graphophonemic sense.
What are common strategies for struggling readers and students with learning disabilities?
Correct Answer: 1. re-teach what is not mastered. Use visual, kinesthetic, and tactile activities.
2. Teach things in manageable units.
3. Provide concrete examples
What are common strategies meeting the needs for EL and Speakers of Non-standard English?
Correct Answer: 1. Take advantage of transfer of relevant skills and knowledge from the first
language
a) English/Spanish cognates: active/activo,
artist/artista, color/color
2. Teach vocabulary with concrete items, pictures, charts and diagrams
3. Modeling
What are common strategies for meeting the needs of Advanced Learners? Correct Answer: 1.
Increase the pace and complexity of instruction
, 2. Extend the depth (same topic) and breadth (additional topics) of instruction
3. Build on and extending current skills
What are the English-Language Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools K-12?
Correct Answer: These standards state what every child should know and be able to do at each
grade level. All textbooks purchased with money from the state of CA are aligned with these
standards. The STAR test measures students achievement of the standards.
* All of your instructional decisions, including materials you choose, how to group students, the
activities you plan, and the pace of your teaching, should enable every student to achieve each of
the standards for your grade level.
What is the California Reading/Language Arts Framework for CA Public Schools, K-12?
Correct Answer: The framework provides guidelines on what should be taught at grade level
and how to assess and teach that content.
What is the difference between a skill and a strategy? Correct Answer: A skill is something that
a reader does automatically (or with automaticity) The ability to decode is a skill. For example,
knowing that the c in cake is "hard" and makes the "k" sound, whereas the c in city is "soft" and
makes the s sound.
A strategy is something a reader consciously chooses to implement. For example, a reader may
want to get an overview of a chapter, so she previews the chapter by reading the first paragraph,
all the subtitles and chapter summary.
What is systematic instruction? Correct Answer: systematic instruction is when the teacher
knows what skills to teach (defined by content standards) and assessment drives the instruction.
Those students who are not acquiring a skill or strategy are grouped together for additional
lessons.
What is explicit instruction? Correct Answer: Explicit instruction involves directing student
attention toward specific learning in a highly structured environment. It is teaching that is
focused on producing specific learning outcomes. These lessons are best taught to students who
share a common need.
Topics and contents are broken down into small parts and taught individually. It involves
explanation, demonstration and practice. Children are provided with guidance and structured
frameworks. Topics are taught in a logical order and directed by the teacher.
Another important characteristic of explicit teaching involves modeling skills and behaviours
and modeling thinking. This involves the teacher thinking out loud when working through
problems and demonstrating processes for students. The attention of students is important and
listening and observation are key to success.
What is the goal of systematic and explicit instruction? Correct Answer: to prevent reading
difficulties in the early grades.
prevention rather than remediation.
100% Correct Answers
What are the 3 primary purposes of reading assessment? Correct Answer: 1. Entry Level
Assessments - they are implemented prior to instruction to determine which students have
already mastered the skills that are going to be taught and which posess the prerequisite skills
and knowledge.
2. Monitoring of Progress Assessments - during the instructional unit, tell which students are
making adequate progress toward the standard.
3. Summative Assessments - determines which students have achieved the target standard, some
measure student achievement of a single standard, where as others, often given quarterly,
midyear and at the end of the year, measure many standards.
What are some alternative assessments for students with an IEP or Section 504 plan? Correct
Answer: 1. Give Students More Time
2. Divide the Assessment into smaller units (spread over 2 days).
3. Change the mode of delivery (ask the student to tell, rather than write).
4. Provide Practice Assessments.
5. Provide A Simpler Version of the Assessment (if the student does not read at the 5th gtade
level, give them something that is at a simpler level and note that the standard was not met).
Quality Indicators That Apply to Standardized Assessments Correct Answer: 1. Reliability
B. Validity
C. How to Interpret the Results of Standardized Tests
What Assessments Are Used to Determine Students' Reading Levels? Correct Answer: 1.
Informal Reading Inventories (IRI)
2. Word Recognition Lists
3. Graded Reading Passages
What is an Informal Reading Inventory? Correct Answer: An IRI us a collection of assessments
administered individually to students. For an IRI, one adult gives the assessments to one student.
The selection of the IRI depends on the students reading level.
What are some types of assessments that are included in an Informal Reading Inventory (IRI)?
Correct Answer: 1. Word Recognition Lists
2. Graded Reading Passages
3. Reading Interest Survey
4. Assessments Measuring Concepts about Print
5. Phonemic Awareness Assessments
6. Phonics Assessments
7. Assessments of Reading Fluency
8. Structural Analysis Assessments
9. Vocabulary Assessments
,10. Spelling Tests
What is the purpose of a word recognition list? Correct Answer: They serve 3 purposes:
1. to provide a rough guess of the child's reading level so that whoever is administering the tests
knows where to start on the graded reading passages.
2. to provide information on the child's "sight" vocabulary, the words the child can correctly
identify
3. provide information about the student's ability to use sound-symbol relationships (phonics) to
decode words. The child's errors will provide a partial picture of what letters and letter
combinations the child knows and which ones he or she needs to learn.
Which Assessment is the most important part of the IRI? Correct Answer: The graded reading
passages.
What is a miscue analysis? Correct Answer: Examining a record of a student's oral reading to
identify and classify errors. ( a student reads aloud a passage and the teacher keeps a detailed
record of the student's performance).
What are Graphophonemic Errors? Correct Answer: These errors are related to the sound-
symbol relationships for English, such as reading feather or father. The words sounds alike, but
feather wouldn't make sense in a sentence where the correct word is father. A child who
repeatedly makes graphophonemic errors is either a) reading word by word and depending too
much on phonics to decode each word b) reading a passage that is too difficult, or they are not
using the meaning of the sentences and paragraphs to decode words (contextual clues).
What are Semantic Errors? Correct Answer: Semantic Errors are meaning-related errors, such as
reading dad for father. The student has relied too much on the semantic cueing system - and
hasn't used graphophonemic clues. A child who repeatedly makes semantic errors understands
what the are reading but needs to be taught to use phonics skills to be sure that every word read
makes sense from a graphophonemic sense.
What are common strategies for struggling readers and students with learning disabilities?
Correct Answer: 1. re-teach what is not mastered. Use visual, kinesthetic, and tactile activities.
2. Teach things in manageable units.
3. Provide concrete examples
What are common strategies meeting the needs for EL and Speakers of Non-standard English?
Correct Answer: 1. Take advantage of transfer of relevant skills and knowledge from the first
language
a) English/Spanish cognates: active/activo,
artist/artista, color/color
2. Teach vocabulary with concrete items, pictures, charts and diagrams
3. Modeling
What are common strategies for meeting the needs of Advanced Learners? Correct Answer: 1.
Increase the pace and complexity of instruction
, 2. Extend the depth (same topic) and breadth (additional topics) of instruction
3. Build on and extending current skills
What are the English-Language Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools K-12?
Correct Answer: These standards state what every child should know and be able to do at each
grade level. All textbooks purchased with money from the state of CA are aligned with these
standards. The STAR test measures students achievement of the standards.
* All of your instructional decisions, including materials you choose, how to group students, the
activities you plan, and the pace of your teaching, should enable every student to achieve each of
the standards for your grade level.
What is the California Reading/Language Arts Framework for CA Public Schools, K-12?
Correct Answer: The framework provides guidelines on what should be taught at grade level
and how to assess and teach that content.
What is the difference between a skill and a strategy? Correct Answer: A skill is something that
a reader does automatically (or with automaticity) The ability to decode is a skill. For example,
knowing that the c in cake is "hard" and makes the "k" sound, whereas the c in city is "soft" and
makes the s sound.
A strategy is something a reader consciously chooses to implement. For example, a reader may
want to get an overview of a chapter, so she previews the chapter by reading the first paragraph,
all the subtitles and chapter summary.
What is systematic instruction? Correct Answer: systematic instruction is when the teacher
knows what skills to teach (defined by content standards) and assessment drives the instruction.
Those students who are not acquiring a skill or strategy are grouped together for additional
lessons.
What is explicit instruction? Correct Answer: Explicit instruction involves directing student
attention toward specific learning in a highly structured environment. It is teaching that is
focused on producing specific learning outcomes. These lessons are best taught to students who
share a common need.
Topics and contents are broken down into small parts and taught individually. It involves
explanation, demonstration and practice. Children are provided with guidance and structured
frameworks. Topics are taught in a logical order and directed by the teacher.
Another important characteristic of explicit teaching involves modeling skills and behaviours
and modeling thinking. This involves the teacher thinking out loud when working through
problems and demonstrating processes for students. The attention of students is important and
listening and observation are key to success.
What is the goal of systematic and explicit instruction? Correct Answer: to prevent reading
difficulties in the early grades.
prevention rather than remediation.
