RICA Literacy Assessment and Diagnosis

Question 1

A teacher uses a running record to assess a student's oral reading. What information does this assessment PRIMARILY provide?

Accepted Answer

The student's reading accuracy, error patterns, and use of cueing systems

Answer

Running records capture oral reading behaviors, allowing teachers to analyze accuracy, error types, and which cueing systems the student uses.

Question 2

What is the MAIN purpose of formative assessment in a RICA-aligned reading program?

Accepted Answer

To provide ongoing information that guides instructional decisions and identifies student needs

Answer

Formative assessment is ongoing, low-stakes evaluation used to adjust instruction and support individual student learning.

Question 3

An informal reading inventory (IRI) provides information about a student's independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels. Which level is MOST important for selecting classroom texts?

Accepted Answer

Instructional level, because students can grow with teacher support

Answer

The instructional level represents the 'zone of proximal development' for reading — challenging enough to grow but manageable with teacher guidance.

Question 4

A teacher administers a phonics screener to a kindergarten class in September. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Universal screening

Answer

Universal screening involves assessing all students at the start of the year to identify those at risk and in need of additional support.

Question 5

What does a 'miscue analysis' reveal that a simple error count does NOT?

Accepted Answer

The type of errors made and what they indicate about the student's reading strategies

Answer

Miscue analysis categorizes errors by type (semantic, syntactic, graphophonic) to reveal which reading strategies the student relies on or neglects.

RICA - Reading Instruction Competence Assessment Practice Test

RICA - Reading Instruction Competence Assessment Practice Test

RICA Literacy Assessment and Diagnosis