Where’s the Evidence? Margaret Teske ESL Instructional Support Manager, Mt. San Antonio College CATESOL Annual Conference 2016 Introduction – not with CASAS, but attended the CASAS Summer Institute Focus on the new reading tests

Purpose of this presentation Why are the CASAS reading tests changing? How will the new CASAS reading tests be different? What types of reading questions will there be? How can we prepare our students for the new CASAS reading tests? Let’s explore answers to these questions:

Why are the CASAS Reading tests changing? College and Career Readiness Standards (April 2013) Complexity – regular practice with complex text and academic language Evidence from the text Knowledge - content-rich informational texts CASAS Reading Standards English Language Proficiency Standards (New! October 2016) 3 key shifts prompted by the Common Core being updated; look for new version on the CASAS website

RESOURCES ELPS CCRS AWL & GSL English Language Proficiency Standards, College and Career Readiness Standards, Depth of Knowledge, Academic Word List, General Service List

College and Career Readiness Standards Purpose: Students entering the workforce are discovering that they need critical knowledge and skills that are used on a regular basis. Leading economists note that key college and career ready knowledge and skills are closely linked to being able to get the training necessary to earn a living wage in high-growth industries. It is crucial that adult education programs provide students the opportunity to acquire these skills to pursue their long-term career aspirations and goals.  Excerpts from the CCRS: http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/CCRStandardsAdultEd.pdf

CCRS Reading Anchors Reading Anchors 1-9 [handout] provide a framework for the types of reading we need to have our students practice. Reading Anchor 10 is a chart showing the complexity of reading our students should be reading as they advance in their levels of proficiency. Become familiar with these anchors.

English Language Proficiency Standards

ELPS ELP Standards 1-10 [handout] provide an additional guideline for reading types and student practice. View One displays each ELP Standard and its Level 1-5 descriptors. View Two displays each CCRS for AE that corresponds to one or more ELP Standards for AE. Become familiar with these standards. Read the whole document. There are two “Views” for each standard. This is just an excerpt.

Proposed Formatting Changes to the tests Same New Paper and computer-based Numbered lines in text passages Multiple choice items Items will ask students to refer back to the text Comprehension questions – one passage with more than one question Underlined words embedded in the Passages Some sentence completion items Photo prompts and distractors for some items (Level A) How will the changes alter the format of the test?

Types of Reading Passages Emphasis on reading "every day" texts Reading email, community announcements, employee handbooks Reading for information, especially online Following the 3 key shifts

Types of Reading Questions Identify the main idea and supporting details Vocabulary in Context Where in the text can the answer be found? Compare and contrast two short articles

Strategies for Reading Intensive Reading Use reading textbooks but ADD questions Look for materials that include GSL and AWL Extensive Reading Build vocabulary Increase reading confidence Practice summary and paraphrase

Strategies for Reading Found Reading in our Communities Community announcements Neighborhood flyers and newsletters Reading from the Workplace Workplace policies and procedures Employee handbooks Email Others?

Strategies for Reading Online reading Websites Current news Google search Other ideas?

Reading Task Areas Forms Charts Diagrams Emails Editorials

Reading Websites Newsla Easy English News ESL Home Others?

Reading Passage Practice Get with a partner, choose a passage and read it Relate it to a CCRS Reading Anchor and/or ELPS Make one or more questions If time allows, create 3 distractors (possible answers). Share out Let’s practice what you can do with your classes Choices: textbook passage, employee handbook, fundraising blurb, LA Mission news

Why are the CASAS reading tests changing? Quick Review Why are the CASAS reading tests changing? How will the new CASAS reading tests be different? What types of reading questions will there be? How can we prepare our students for the new CASAS reading tests? Let’s explore answers to these questions:

References Bauman, John and Brent Culligan (1995). New General Service List (the original General Service List of West (1953), plus 284 more). Retrieved from http://www.auburn.edu/~nunnath/engl6240/wlistgen.html Pimentel, Susan (April 2013). College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education. Retrieved from http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/CCRStandardsAdultEd.pdf Taylor, Linda (May 2016). Reading Assessment Strategies for College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education, Presented at CASAS National Summer Institute. Retrieved from www.casaas.org/docs/default-source/institute/SI=2016/a13-reading-assessment-strategies-for- ccrs.pdf?sfvrsn=2?Status=Master The Academic Word List Highlighter: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/alzsh3/acvocab/awlhighlighter.htm U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, Adult English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education. Washington, DC, 2016.