I just found out that I have failed the RICA for the 3rd consecutive time. I passed all CSET's the 1st time and now this. I have 3 different RICA prep books and I also purchased the sucess dowload for the moneyback guarentee. That didn't help. So what should I do now? Please help.
Hm. I'm guessing you have unofficial results - just scores, no performance indicators. Did you come close to passing or can you tell yet? Which prep books do you have?
On the first 2 RICA's the official scores annotates I was failing the reading comprehension (Domain 3). I'm sure when I receive my official scoring for test #3 it will also state, reading comprehension. I sure would like to know whether it is from the multiple choice or the essays. I have the following: Ready for Rica book (Zarrillo) Ready for Rica book (Pearson Custom Publishing) The RICA comprehensive success systems (download on-line) money back guarentee. I still am in shock that I didn't pass this time. I have more hours of study time on this test than all others combined. So what do you think?
Have you had a test prep class for RICA, or have you been working alone? Could you send me a private message with the Web site for the thing you downloaded? (Use the link for Private Messages that's on the upper right hand corner of the message screen, quite near where it says, "Welcome, akcx4".) Let me think about this a bit.
I am in the same boat. I have taken the RICA Exam 2 times and failed by 4 points and 5 points. I have no idea what to do next. I just feel like giving it all up. The test is geared for grades K-8, I have only taught high school. Plus I took a reading methodology class many, many years ago. I have searched for prep classes in my area but have been unsuccessful in locating any near me. So if any one has any tips for passing this exam, I would surely appreciate the help.
The first time I totally blew the Case Study. This time I aced it and got 3 plus signs. Domain #1 ++ Domain #2 + Domain #4 ++ Domain #5 +++ So here I am trying to figure out where to start.....
So you've come up short on Domain II, Developing Phonological and Other Linguistic Processes Related to Reading. From your scores I'd guess that your marks in the first and third domains are on the high end of the range that ++ covers. Let me suggest that you find the RICA content specifications, which are at http://www.rica.nesinc.com/RC_contentspecs.asp. Print a hard copy of this page, or at least of the detailed content specifications for Domain II. Then go through that hard copy and underline every technical term. Try to think of an example for each. Then look up each underlined term on the Internet - you could use Answers.com or Google: find Web sites that give you detailed definitions and specific examples of assessments and activities that can help you figure out what a little kid can do and what a little kid needs to learn in order to be able to read. This may seem to be busywork if you're not planning to teach kindergarten or first grade - but you'd be surprised how many older kids have issues that can be addressed by looking at some fairly basic reading processes. If you have questions about the material, feel free to post them here. Here's a Web site you might find useful: PUT READING FIRST, http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/reading_first1.html.
Thanks TeacherGroupie for the great advice. The Web site you recommended is great. You are a wonderful resource, thanks.
i'm so scared now for the Rica..i'm going to take it in January. I havent studied yet becausei passed the cset the 1st time and it seems like it's way harder. i know my butt is getting into gear now..oh thanks for the website too!
You're welcome, why_me. Same to you, kermy, and please don't panic. Try making up your own version of the Content Specifications from the RICA Web site; think of your own specific examples for each of the competencies (maybe it's something you've done in student teaching or maybe it's something you heard about). And do take full advantage of this Web community: if you have questions or potential answers, this would be a good place to share them and get feedback and reassurance.
I was at National University and they had an 8 hour seminar which was on how to ace the Rica. Maybe you could see if a university near you offers something like that. I don't think it was too costly. I did not take it.
RICA help seekers, San Diego State University and Calfornia State University San Marcos have great websites to help break down the material for the RICA exam. I used these websites as a tool to enhance the (Zarillo book). They proved to be very helpful. If you can't find them, let me know and I will post them.
Thanks so much! I couldn't find the csu san marcos site though. I'm studing for the febuary test right now and freaking out. I just want to pass so bad.
This arena won't let me post websites or attatchments. Try it this way. Csusm college of education link. Then go to staff link. Click on Alice Quiocho name highlighted in blue. This will give you plenty of information on the RICA.
Here's one of the links that Alice Quiocho has posted: it's a huge list of resources for language arts and reading: http://www.toread.com/. Her Reading Instruction Portfolio page, http://www.toread.com/, contains a number of helpful links for portfolio students that would also be useful in studying for RICA topics. The specific RICA links that Dr. Quiocho mentions don't seem to be working, but they might be worth trying later.
RICA Test Prep Class in the Downey Area Anyone interested in taking the RICA Test Prep in Downey? The Los Angeles County Office of Education offers the RICA Test Prep. For more info please contact: Ida Humphrey 562-922-8930 Sessions begin Jan. 28th through Feb. 8th Sessions will cover: Domains 1, 2, 3, 4, Study Case and Review/Sample Exam Hurry, you must register by Jan. 20th.
It's ALWAYS a good idea to sign up for test prep sooner rather than later. Classes get cancelled when not enough bodies have presented themselves two or three days before the run date.
Requirement for Professional clear credential Hi, I have a preliminary credential in Biological Sciences. On my credential requirements it says that I need to complete the following courses in addition to the subject matter competence. They are: Health Education,Special Education and Developing English language skills including reading, US constitution. Please forward any information regarding the preparation for these. I already have the info on US constitution exam. Can I just take the exams for the rest if I can get study material or do I need to complete any coursework? Also is the developing Eng language skills same as RICA. I am in the Santa clara area in San Jose. Any help or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks, Krisi
You need to take these questions to your local county office of education, which can give you advice better suited to where you are than I can. (TeacherGroupie doesn't know EVERYthing. Fortunately.) I would assume that a course in developing English language skills will cover some of the topics covered in RICA but will also cover teaching the English language learner. I don't know whether it's possible to pass any of these classes by exam (well, except the US constitution thing - and you might want to ask the credentialing people before you take that test, because you may have coursework on your transcript that covers it).
Luck is what I need now. I took the test today and ran out of time. I could not believe I used up the four hours given. Oh ... the pain from that much writing.
Are you still sharing your information for the RICA? I'D be glad to have those sites from Sand Diega State and San Marcos. Thank You. Andi.
See my post #17 above - that's the San Marcos link. I think Alice Quiocho has a link to the SDSU stuff too.
Well, my friends, here I am again.........I failed the RICA, but have already signed up fpr the April 22nd test. This is so frustrating, it's no wonder why some people don't become teachers, they want us to have all this information memorized and will we ever hsve to memorize this or will there be books available to us in our classrooms to look this stuff up? Sheesh.........I figure if I can pass the CSET I should be able to pass this one, so much information to cram into one's head and so little time to dump it all out. ANY suggestions would be appreciated......
RICA is more focused than CSET-MS, but it draws on some of the same information. Are you already in a credential program or are you applying to one? What books etc. have you been using to prepare? And where are you located? There ARE some prep classes for RICA in Southern California, at least, and I'm sure there are some in other areas as well.
I failed 3 times too I finished my teaching credential program but every time my scores are like 75 and this time 78 for my unofficial score. I am soo frustrated because worked on the multiple choice section. Last time I got ++ on everything and +++ on my case study. I am going to take it again in August and hopefully I pass or else I won't qualify for the master's program
failed RICA more than 5 times....what am I doing wrong? I have studied from the RICA Cliff notes book, as well as a the book from Zarrillo that has helped a lot but I am still have a hard time with the comprehension, fluency, and coming up with strategies for the short response questions...What else can I do to help me pass the RICA? I am scheduled to take the RICA April 10...I'm am SOOO ready to give up!!
chinagirl, what's the copyright date on your copy of the Zarrillo book? For that matter, what's the copyright date on your copy of Cliffs?
Did NOT pass 2/5/10 RICA I am in quite a predicament! Here goes...I took and passed the CSET Subtest 101 in 3/05, Subtest 102 in 9/05, and Subtest 103 in 5/05...yes 05 as in 2005! I finished all of my credential coursework in 06 and was scheduled to student teach in Fall of 06. Due to a number of reasons I ended up postponing student teaching and did not complete it unil Fall of 09!! (In between those 3 years I got married, had my daughter, and then...had my son). Well...I took the 2/10 RICA and did NOT pass ...very difficult to study with 2 babies (both under 2)! I was then informed by the Credential Center @ my university that my CSET scores are only valid for 5 years and that my Subtest 101 score expired on 3/10!!! At first I was given incorrect information...I was told that I could "apply" for an extention and that my scores would remain valid for 6 more months. Turns out this info was incorrect. Took the 4/10 RICA (yesterday) and well I know that I did NOT pass (I just know)! So now it looks like I'll have to retake not only the RICA but Subtests 101 and 103!!!! I am so frustrated! If I had know that the CSET scores were only valid for 5 years I would have taken the RICA a lot sooner! I am desperate! I absolutely have to pass the RICA in June I never want to take subtest 102 EVER! Please help! I used the Zarrillo book and the Cliffs book. I need the most help with Fluency (can't seem to understand digraphs...dipthongs...etc) Chinagirl: did you take the exam yesterday? If so, what did you think?
Oh, dear, j&jsmommy: have several hugs on me. I'm sorry you didn't get the word that CSET scores do expire after five years. The good news, since Subtest 2 (102) seems to be your biggest concern, is that you've got till September on that one. It's fairly common, by the way, that people leave the test site feeling not very hopeful but then find that they passed.
A digraph (DI 'two', GRAPH 'write, as in autograph') uses two letters to represent a single sound, like <sh> in ship or <oo> in too. A diphthong (DI 'two', PHTHONG 'sound' - this is Greek, mind you: I'm not making this up) consists of two vowel sounds, as in sound and how, noise and boy, site and by.
It took 3 tries for me, but it seemed that everytime I used the Zarrillo book, I just did not get it. So I bought the book from Chris Bossalis, BINGO! At the time I was studying for the test Chris Bossalis offered on line tutoring. We would meet once a week on line and he reviewed what was important to know and gave me some wonderful strategies. You can look him up on line, he is a professor up north and actually teaches a class on the RICA...Good luck ladies.......... NG
