In need of Study Material Hi I am studying right now to take the RICA--could you PM me the study information you have? I would really appreciate it!
Hi Dimples8484- I would love the resources you have to study for the RICA. I am a new member; could you PM me the information? Thank you!
What are you using at the moment, yearn2learn? Have you had reading instruction methodology coursework?
I have, but it was a sub that taught the class and it was basically worthless, unfortunately. I am using Ready For RICA third edition and Cliff Notes RICA 2nd edition.
dimples8484 I am struggling and so baddly have been studying and wanted to know if you could or would forward the info or videos anything that would help me pass with flying colors like you. I have been done with my student teaching for 2 years and work at a charter school and want to work for the school district I live in and kids will go to school in. Can you help me please!!!! PM?
Hi Bubbarossa, Did you get a study packet? Did you pass? dimples8484 offered you their study packet that they passed using. Could you help a fellow struggling soon to be teacher!!!!
Hugs, Teachreading. How close have you come to passing, and what do your score reports show about where you're coming to grief?
Hey dimples, Reading this awhile back I have watched all Dr. Boosalis' videos but would really like anything else you have to help me. I am a mild/mod candidate and this is the last step to getting my credential. I have a job right now and really want to keep it so I would be eternally grateful for anything you have that you could share. I joined this forum just for you and can't figure out how to send a PM. So silly. Thanks so much for your help!
Welcome to A to Z, Marajade, and hugs. If you've attempted RICA more than once (and you wouldn't be the only one), what are you seeing in your score report(s) about where you're getting stuck? Rack up a few more posts here or in forums other than the Teacher Time Out forums, and you'll be able to initiate PMs soon.
Study guide for the RICA needed I am looking for a good study guide for the RICA. I am trying to help a fellow colleague who is trying to complete his credential course work. Can any one help me?
Welcome to A to Z, aztecachik. Is your colleague someone who has taken RICA before, or will this be his first attempt? Has he completed reading instruction methodology coursework? If so, how long ago? Has he student taught?
Dimples Study Packet Hi Dimples, I tried to PM you but couldn't find the feature on this site. Could you PM me your RICA study packet? I will be taking it next month and am stressing out. Thanks so much!
RICA Test Prep Hi Dimples! I am scheduled to complete my special education (mild/mod) credential in less than two weeks and am scheduled take the RICA in in a few days. I have been overwhelmed by the material I have been reading. I have watched a couple of Chris Boosalis' videos thanks to your post and I have found them extremely helpful. If it is not too much trouble, would you be so kind as to send me the resources that Chris suggested? Thank you so much for your post! Sheila
Hi Vsimpkins, I am also going to be taking the RICA for the first time and am feeling very overwhelmed. I have not taken a reading instruction course in over a year and feel as if I am now starting from scratch! Would it be possible for me to receive your study guides as well?
RICA HELP SO SORRY JUST SAW YOUR POST BUT GIVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND I CAN SEND IT THROUGH MY PERSONAL EMAIL...ITS JUST EASIER FOR ME.
Warning: the site software won't allow email addresses to be posted as such. (This is for the protection of A to Z members. Who wants one's email address taken advantage of by a spammer?) dimples, you will have a private message coming shortly.
I have no idea what is going on 8th try on this exam and failed now went down 10 points 209 from the past time of 219 CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT THEY MEAN TO DESCRIBE INSTRUCTIONAL STRAT OR ACTIVITIES?? i thought i had done that
I did get your packet Simpkins thank you and i followed it until i understood it and I was able to fill out the blank flow chart on my own, but here I am, Somethings going on I feel that im missing somthing but the feedback by RICA is soo vague that I dont know how to study on my next try
It means to describe to them what strategy or activity you would use to teach the area they are asking. What area is it? Spelling, Reading Comprehension, etc.
Describing the activity is stating, briefly, the materials and the procedures: for instance, if one chooses a word sort, one gives examples of the words being sorted and the criteria by which students are sorting them. The idea is to make clear to a fellow professional in reading - someone who knows how to teach reading but may not know THIS strategy under THIS name - what it is that is being done and what with.
New here please help! I'm new here. I have also failed the RICA several times. I would love any available information or study guides. I can't PM any one yet. My test is in 2 weeks. I have taken the RICA 3 times without success!!!! I'm at my wits end!!!! I study ALL the time, but apparently it’s not enough. My last score was a hurtful 219. I am open to any advice and would gladly accept any and all study guides, websites or suggestions. Thank you for your help, I’m trying to be positive. :]
Hugs, Casslan. How are you doing on Domain 2 (Word Analysis)? What feedback, if any, are you seeing on your case study?
My score break down: Planning-4 Word Analysis- 3 Fluency-2 Vocab-2 Comprehension-2 Case study-3 -No comment
Pretty good scores, though there's a little room for improvement everywhere but in Domain 1. Define fluency for me, please.
Dimples, I am new to this site and in desperate need of help. I just found out I failed, 209 is there any chance you could email me your notes and help a struggling teacher? I need to pass it the next time in order to keep my job! I would REALLY appreciate it. I'm not too familiar with this site, can I give you my email through a message?
Hugs, Lconn13, and welcome to A to Z. You may not quite yet be eligible to send a PM. (The system software likes to see enough of you to determine that you're not a spambot. Let me recommend participating in a couple more of our threads on RICA.) What are you seeing in your diagnostics?
Dimples - I tried sending you a PM, but couldn't as it said your mailbox was full. Can you please delete a few messages and I'll PM you my email address.
Overwhelmed by RICA Good evening everyone, Just looking for some direction on studying for the RICA. I have my Clear Single Subject Physical Education credential and have been a sports teacher for the last 3 years. I also worked on my Mild/Moderate SpEd credential and student taught 9th grade English as the Educational Specialist. I completed all my classes 3 years and now just need to pass the RICA to earn SpEd credential. I have tried to study for the RICA exam a few times and just get overwhelmed every time. The terminology and material is just so dense for me to take in. I would like to take the test in the 3 weeks and pass hopefully on June 12th. I do have the Zarillo book and will supplement my studying now with the Dr. Boosalis videos. TeacherGroupie, would you recommend purchasing the Case Studies in Preparation for the CRCT book? Vsimpkins, could you kindly send your study guide? I created my own for the first 2 domains but for the sake of time, would love to utilize yours in my study regime as well. Thanks everyone!
Need to pass Dimples, I am currently teaching and between trying to complete two separate college programs, first year teaching in my own room (subbed for a few years), and changing over to the new Common Core, I put off taking my RICA. Now my district NEEDS my preliminary credential. I need to pass the RICA to get it and I only have a few days to study. I have been taking practice tests with 80% accuracy on the multiple. Domain 3 seems to be the most difficult. I did watch some of Boosalias's videos. I would love any information, study guides, study focus area suggestions, etc that anyone is willing to share. I love and NEED my job! I feel very overwhelmed by this test, especially since the written portion seems ambiguous and unclear. It is difficult to measure my accuracy practicing these without a clear rubric or answer. In many situations there are multiple ways to provide intervention and/or instruction in a particular content area. I created a list of a teaching methods and an assessment for each content area. Any other suggestions?
coachzabala, my apologies for not having responded to this sooner. RICA tests material that's taught mostly in multiple subject credential programs, in the reading-instruction methodology courses - but you should have covered some of the content in your CLAD coursework. The Zarrillo book (Ready for RICA) and the current edition of Rossi and Schiffer (Case Studies in Preparation etc.) can be helpful, though - as with any test resource - that varies from individual to individual. Knowing and being able to use the terminology on RICA is crucial. I'll note that domain II, Word Analysis, accounts for 33% of multiple-choice points: your study guide so far covers content that you need and wouldn't have gotten in your single subject credential coursework. Enable private messages, please (you can do that through the User CP link near the top left of this page): it's possible that you and I should talk.
The responses in domains III (Fluency) and IV (Vocabulary, Academic Language, and Background Knowledge) are the shortest, at 75 to 150 words; the responses for domains II (Word Analysis) and V (Comprehension) are next longest, at 150 to 300 words. Get to the point and use the technical terminology: you're addressing fellow professionals, not people who need lots of background explained. I wouldn't call the case study so much "ambiguous and unclear" as open-ended - which means you can bend the question to your strengths. For most of the interesting teaching scenarios, there really isn't one right answer, and that's certainly true with RICA: the scorers want to know that, from the teeming mass of possible strategies, you can (a) select one that fits the strengths and needs of the student(s) in question, (b) show it in action in a way that makes sense to fellow professionals, and (c) make the case that the strategy you chose and the way you're carrying it out does in fact meet the needs that are presented in the scenario. Obviously one's choice in (a) can't be entirely off the wall, but my strong suspicion is that an unusual choice that's not inapt, that's well exemplified and for which a strong case is made will get a sympathetic hearing.
I am worried about what happens if you go over the word count for the case study? I edited and tried to narrow it down but if I cut anymore out, my response wouldn't address every aspect of the prompt. I could have deleted my short headings but I thought they clearly illustrate that my answers addressed each question and deleting them would have only saved 8 words. Not to mention, it makes grading easier. I was at 680 words. The case study required 300-600. Will they mark me wrong or deduct points?
They shouldn't mark you wrong or deduct points, no - but it sounds like you might have been working a harder than necessary.
