Beating Them All! Thirty Days to a Magic Score on Any Elementary Literacy Instruction Exam for Teacher Certification

For those of you who have tried passing the RICA and have bought the cliff notes, case study reviews and any otherRICA test aides and have failed. I urge you to please purchase this book. Chris Boosalis explains in plain English to understand how to pass the RICA. He explains in full details from the beginning stage of the concepts about print to phonemic awareness to decoding to vocabulary development and finally reading comprehension. He explains each section with examples, activities, as well as practice questions, so you may get a full understanding of the the reading and writing concepts needed to help you pass the RICA. He also gives you an outline on how to approach, attack and conquer each of the 5 writing prompts the RICA requires. Yes, even the dreaded case study. I assure you that if commit yourself to 30 days 2 hours each day you will pass the RICA. Chris Boosalis will give you a study guide to follow on what you should be studying every day. He will give you all of the information you need. This is by far the best book I have ever purchased. I wish you success in your journey in obtaining your teaching credential. Thank you Chris!Freddy C. Beating Them All! Thirty Days to a Magic Score on Any Elementary Literacy Instruction Exam for Teacher Certification

I aced the Foundations of Reading exam the first time I took it. Here's my advice:1.) Take the computer-based test. It is worth the extra money. You'll take the test in a small, quiet room where you will be given your own private cubicle and a sound-proof head set. It is SO much easier to concentrate without distractions. Also, it's easier to type in the essays (you don't have to write rough drafts and then rewrite final copies -or- worry about handwriting neatness) and you have "copy/paste" features to use during editing. It was very easy to navigate on the computer - and I'm far from being "computer savvy." The best part is you can schedule it for a day/time that works best for you. If you are not a "morning person" schedule yourself an afternoon test.2.) Use the practice test on the MTEL website to guide your studying!!! It was the most helpful source I found. It will give you a very good idea of what to expect on the exam. Memorize the "strong" example responses (on MTEL website) for both essay questions. You will have 1 question that has to do with miscue analysis and 1 question that has to do with comprehension on your exam. All you have to do to get 4/4 points on both is memorize and understand the reading comprehension terminology + the miscue analysis terminology. Know the terms and definitions associated with both by heart. Also, memorize the "wording" ofthe "strong" sample responses. Go into the exam with a very good understanding of reading comprehension (inferential vs. literal) and the ability to analyze the miscues made during an oral reading assessment.3.) As for the multiple choice questions: they cover a lot of material. I strongly suggest buying the book "Beating Them All!" by Chris Nicholas Boosalis. Make sure you have a very good understanding of ALL the terms/material in chapter 2. Memorize the sequences for phonics instruction and phonemic awareness instruction too.

This book seriously helped me for the Foundations of Reading MTEL!! I had taken a course prior to this, failed test by 2 points, then gave up for a year (don’t do that). So having extra background info helps, but Chapter 2 of this book has so much important information, write it all down and make flashcards of vocab words. Look on the MTEL website/ your state test website for the outline of your test to!!! That way you can hit other points on your own by research that the book does not include. Good luck confidence is key!!

This was the only study aid I used to prepare for the MTEL Foundations of Reading. I was very nervous about taking it because I had yet to take the ELA course at my university and I had heard from several people how difficult the test was. Infact, I knew many people who did not pass the first time, and some did not pass the second time. I studied this book very carefully and then took the MTEL website sample exam. I did very well the first time through and found that the book followed the model very closely that was reflected on the MTEL. I continued to review the content chapter right up until the test. I am glad to say that I passed the first time I took the Foundations of Reading MTEL and I don't think I would have been able to accomplish that without this book. Reasonably priced and very easy to follow!

EDIT: I passed with flying colors. Seriously, if you don't spend the $30 on this book and study chapter 2, you are throwing the $130 registration fee out the window. Unless this subject matter is already your area of expertise, you NEED this book! I have never, ever felt that $30 was more worth it in my life. I was terrified of taking the Foundations of Reading MTEL 3+ times like others, but with zero background knowledge this book transformed me into a first-time passer. Honestly, if you don't buy and study it you have no sympathy from me when you fail.I will update after the test, but I will say that in addition to buying and studying this book, I paid $70 for a 4 hour prep course(I have never taken the MTEL Foundations of Reading, but have heard enough ugly rumors that I went above and beyond in preparation). In that 4 hours, I felt like I knew 95% of the material already from this book, and that probably 30% of the things that seem important in the book(verified by practice tests) were not even covered in the prep course at all. So overall I spent $30 on this book and $70 on a classroom experience, and while I'm glad I took the class and there were a few unique nuggets of wisdom here and there, if I had to choose one or the other, I'd buy this book and study Chapter 2 HARD.