RICA English Language Learners and Diverse Learners

Question 1

Which approach BEST supports English Language Learners (ELLs) in developing reading skills while also building English language proficiency?

Accepted Answer

Providing comprehensible input at a level slightly above the student's current proficiency, with visual and contextual supports

Answer

Delaying reading instruction until the student speaks English fluently

Answer

Restricting ELL students to below-grade-level texts only

Answer

Requiring ELL students to read only in their home language

Question 2

A student who is an ELL makes reading errors that reflect the phonological patterns of their home language (L1). A RICA-prepared teacher should:

Accepted Answer

Recognize these errors as natural L1 transfer and use contrastive analysis to address the differences explicitly

Answer

Refer the student immediately for a special education evaluation

Answer

Ignore the errors because they are not significant

Answer

Require the student to repeat grades until errors are eliminated

Question 3

What is 'BICS' and how does it differ from 'CALP' in the context of ELL literacy instruction?

Accepted Answer

BICS refers to Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (conversational fluency); CALP refers to Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency needed for academic tasks

Answer

BICS and CALP are both standardized reading tests for ELL students

Answer

BICS is a writing assessment; CALP is a reading assessment

Answer

BICS and CALP are synonymous terms for language proficiency

Question 4

Which strategy is MOST appropriate for supporting ELL students during a whole-class reading lesson?

Accepted Answer

Previewing key vocabulary and text concepts with ELL students before the lesson begins

Answer

Seating ELL students separately from English-proficient peers

Answer

Providing a simplified, different text than the rest of the class

Answer

Excusing ELL students from reading lessons until they pass an English proficiency test

Question 5

According to RICA standards, what is the role of a student's home language (L1) in developing English literacy?

Accepted Answer

Strong L1 literacy skills transfer to and support English literacy development

Answer

L1 should be completely avoided in school to accelerate English acquisition

Answer

L1 literacy is irrelevant to English reading performance

Answer

Students should be discouraged from reading in their home language outside of school

Question 6

A teacher differentiates a reading lesson by providing sentence frames for ELL students during a discussion activity. This scaffold PRIMARILY supports:

Accepted Answer

Academic language production and participation in content-area discourse

Answer

Phonemic awareness development

Answer

Spelling accuracy in English

Answer

Reading fluency with grade-level texts