Learning to be a teacher – the journey from school to classroom

RICA stands for Reading Instruction Competence Assessment and it is one of the tests that you need to pass if you want to become a Multiple Subject Teacher in California. The purpose of the RICA is to ensure that teachers in California, that want to become an elementary teacher, possess the knowledge and skills to effectively teach reading to their students.

There are five main areas or “domains” that the RICA tests:

• Domain 1: Planning, Organizing, and Managing Reading Instruction Based on Ongoing Assessment
• Domain 2: Word Analysis
• Domain 3: Fluency
• Domain 4: Vocabulary, Academic Language, and Background Knowledge
• Domain 5: Comprehension

The test has 70 multiple choice questions, 4 shorter essays, and 1 case study (longer essay).

For more specific information including test dates and cost visit their website.

http://www.rica.nesinc.com/

There are a few different study guides that you can get to help you with the RICA. The one that was recommended to me and that I strongly recommended is called “Ready for RICA” by James J. Zarrillo. I felt it was very comprehensive in scope and gave a good overview of all material that would be covered on the test.