Test Prep Reading Book for CASAS Reading STEPS Level A-Forms 621R and 622R

PREFACE

Dear Instructors,

Get ready to transform your ESL classroom with our Test Prep Reading Book for CASAS Reading STEPS Level A, specifically designed for the Form 621R and 622R reading comprehension tests. This essential tool aligns with the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) for Adult Education. It satisfies the National Reporting System (NRS) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) expectations, ensuring your ESL students are on the path to success.

This reading textbook is more than just a teaching aid; it is a comprehensive program tailored to bolster reading comprehension among ESL learners. With a structured layout of six units, 16 learner-centered reading lessons, and one practice test, your students will navigate essential topics like basic communication, consumer economics, community resources, health, employment, government, and law.

Leverage Bloom's Taxonomy's six levels of objectives and competencies (remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating) to enhance your teaching methods. Each lesson in the book is a stepping stone that equips you with the strategies to teach reading effectively, focusing on important skills such as identifying main ideas, uncovering details, making inferences, summarizing content, applying knowledge, understanding the author's perspective, and contextual vocabulary. The clarity and depth of the lessons will enable you to deliver content that resonates with your students and solidifies their understanding.

Finally, this textbook isn't just about reading—it's about providing your students with the academic and life skills they need to thrive. As they progress through the book, they'll gain valuable insights and abilities to navigate the complexities of community life, family responsibilities, and the workplace. By using this book, you'll be equipping your students for standardized testing and real-world challenges. 

INTRODUCTION

Dear Students,

This book will help you get ready for the CASAS Reading STEPS level A test. It's filled with lessons to help you read better.

The book has six units and one practice test. Each unit has two to three lessons, with 16 lessons in total. The lessons teach important skills like basic communication, understanding money, finding community help, staying healthy, finding a job, and learning about government and laws. These skills will help you in many parts of your life.

When you read this book, you will read different kinds of texts. They will have information about reading and real-world activities. After you read each text, you will answer questions. These questions make sure you understand the main points, details, the writer's thoughts, and the words they use.

Remember, reading gets better the more you do it. This book will help you in school, in your community, with your family and at work.

Good luck! Every lesson you finish will take you closer to your goals. 

Reading Strategies:

Here are ten ways you can improve your reading comprehension skills:

1. Look at titles and subtitles to get an idea of what you will read.

2. Think about why you are reading. Is it to answer a question or learn something new?

3. Read out loud every day. The more you read, the better you will get.

4. Use pictures to help you understand the text.

5. Read again if you don’t understand something.

6. Summarize. After reading, tell yourself what the text was about.

7. Ask questions. While reading, ask, Who, what, where, when, why, and how?

8. Connect the text to your own life or things you know.

9. Guess what the author means from clues in the text.

10. If you don't know a word, look it up in the dictionary.

Vocabulary Building:

Here are seven ways to learn more words: 

Keep going! You can do it!

UNIT 1: MEETING AND TALKING TO PEOPLE

Lesson 1: Interactions with People

Objectives:

1. Students will read short texts and answer questions about interpersonal interactions.

2. Students will use new words to complete sentences about interacting with others.

Exercise 1- What do you see in the picture?

Exercise 2- Draw a line connecting each word to its meaning.

Exercise 3- Read the sentences below before answering the questions.

Anna and Luis

1. Anna and Luis are at a meeting.

2. They smile and shake hands.

3. Anna talks to Luis about their project.

4. They are working together.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Where are Anna and Luis?

_________________________________________________________

2. What does Anna talk about?

_________________________________________________________

3. How do they greet each other?

_________________________________________________________

4. Are they happy to work together?

_________________________________________________________

Exercise 4- Read the sentences below before answering the questions.

John and Emily

1. John and Emily are in a classroom.