Click the picture below for a 2-minute course introduction video:

The San Diego County Office of Education, Teacher Effectiveness and Preparation unit, has collaborated with Point Loma Nazarene University to offer you this "review and preparation" experience before taking the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment® (RICA®).

The purpose of the RICA is to ensure that California-trained candidates for Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials and Education Specialist Instruction Credentials (special education) possess the knowledge and skills important for the provision of effective reading instruction to students.

It is assumed that participants in this preparation experience have already taken a comprehensive reading course in their teacher preparation program, and perhaps have already attempted the RICA. This preparation is a review of concepts and does not replace the preparation, or rich funds of knowledge offered through a teacher preparation reading course. This prep course is an independent study and does not have a day to day instructor, therefore the Inbox feature is not being monitored.

Moving through the course:

This course is best viewed on Firefox or Safari as images may not show in Chrome.
To move through this online course, click HERE to get started, which will take you to the very beginning of our course. Then use the next button found at the bottom of the pages. This will take you through the course in order.
You can also see the entirety of the course by going to the Modules tab in the left-hand column of this page, which is helpful if you want to go back to review videos on certain topics.
Register for the exam before starting this prep course so you can allow yourself the maximum amount of time to take advantage of the study videos
Please come back to this homepage when you've finished and give us feedback by clicking this link!

What does the course review?

The course reviews each competency assessed by the RICA in personal video style, a format where you can review and easily revisit each distinct topic:

Getting Ready - 8 minutes
Test Taking Tips - 31 minutes
Phonemic Awareness - 7 minutes
Phonics - 36 minutes
Fluency - 24 minutes
Balanced Literacy - 28 minutes
Vocabulary and Comprehension - 22 minutes
Assessment - 29 minutes

Each topic is approximately 30 minutes of direct instruction via video. We suggest you start and stop the video to review and study concepts as you need to, and individuals will spend varying amounts of time based on specific need. You will also gain test taking strategies and links to sign up for the test when ready.

Do I need any other materials?

Ready for RICA, by James Zarrillo, 4th Edition, is referred to during different sections of the preparation videos so you can go deeper on the topics you are less familiar with.

Case Studies in Preparation for the RICA), by Rossi and Schipper, is recommended only if you have already taken the test once and want a more intense, workbook style preparation.

You may also use the text from your teacher preparation program reading course to go back and review each concept as it is addressed in the videos for further studying if needed.

Questions?

If you have questions about taking the RICA, your timeline for passing the RICA or about your teaching credential, please direct those to the teacher preparation program where you are earning your credential.

click HERE to get started.

Thank You Banner

instructor Jill Hamilton-Bunch

Conni Campbell photo Special thanks and recognition to the RICA Prep course creators from Teacher Effectiveness and Preparation at SDCOE, and Point Loma Nazarene University.

The RICA preparation course is created by Conni Campbell, coordinator at SDCOE, and content videos are presented by Jill Hamilton-Bunch, Associate Dean of the School of Education at Point Loma Nazarene University. They share a background as ELD teachers and researchers, teachers of reading and academic coaches to teachers of reading in both San Diego and Kern County.

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