See how Ventures addresses the CASAS STEPS test, ELPS, CASAS Competencies, and the Content Areas to help prepare your students for CASAS STEPS and increase measurable skill gains.
Preparing for Success on CASAS STEPS
Getting to know CASAS STEPS
What is CASAS STEPS? CASAS STEPS (Student Test of English Progress and Success) is the new CASAS test for Adult Education ESL students. It is designed to measure academic reading and listening skills in the context of common life and work scenarios, and replaces the current CASAS Life and Work tests.
STEPS tests student performance in three areas .
1. Reading or Listening comprehension based on the ELPS • The English Language Proficiency Standards
• There are ten ELP Standards in all, covering reading, listening, speaking, writing, and language. However, the STEPS Listening and STEPS Reading tests only assess students on those ELPS competencies that pertain to Listening and Reading.
spell out the English-language skills that Adult ESL students will need in order to achieve the more rigorous academic content standards required for college and career readiness.
Based on
English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS)
CASAS coverage
CASAS Competencies and CASAS Content Areas
Number of levels
5 — Increased number of levels is intended to make it easier to report students’ measurable learning gains
Types of tests
Listening and Reading
Versions
Print and digital
2. The CASAS Content Areas • The CASAS Content Areas refer to the kinds of activities that STEPS uses to assess students’ listening or reading ability on the tests. • These content areas covered in STEPS are Dialogue, High-frequency Vocabulary (Pictures), High-frequency Vocabulary (Texts), Numbers, Vocabulary, Details, Main Idea, Summary, Inference, and Point of View and Supporting Evidence
3. The CASAS Competencies • The CASAS Competencies identify more than 360 essential life skills that Adult ESL students will need in order to be functionally competent members of their community, their family, and the workforce. • The following competencies are covered in STEPS: Basic Communication; Consumer Economics; Community Resources, Health, Employment; and Government and Law.
Ventures Third Edition is the best way to prepare your students for success on CASAS STEPS
Ventures prepares students for success on CASAS STEPS
Ventures and the CASAS Content Areas and Competencies • The Ventures Third Edition syllabus has been designed from the beginning to be fully aligned to the CASAS Competencies and Content Areas. • Ventures drives measurable skill gains by covering the CASAS Competencies and Content Areas found on the CASAS STEPS test. Listening and reading activities are specifically designed to prepare students for the questions on the test. • The competency areas of Basic Communication, Consumer Economics, Community Resources, Health, Employment, and Government and Law are featured prominently throughout Ventures. • Ventures students practice the CASAS competencies in every lesson. Our focus on a communicative approach means students develop like skills, workplace skills and academic skills while reaching goals required by the standards.
Ventures and the English Language Proficiency Standards • Ventures is fully correlated to the ELP Standards and integrates the listening and reading skills outlined in ELPS at all levels and in every unit. • When it comes to STEPS, the skills-based syllabus of Ventures doesn’t simply practice listening and reading comprehension but systematically develops actual listening and reading skills that will serve students in college, in their careers, and on the STEPS test itself. • Dedicated Listening and Reading lessons integrate vocabulary-building activities and communicative and community-building interactive speaking activities. These build student confidence and cement their learning gains.
Solid pedagogy At the heart of Ventures’ solid
Best practices in the classroom The Ventures author team have students’ and teachers’ best interests at heart. Their decades of combined experience as teachers, coordinators, and trainers have been poured into every lesson to create material that is clear and effective, easy to teach, and easy to follow. Easy to follow Every student activity is clearly signposted, and scaffolding provides additional support for student success . Ventures repeats activity types so students can develop confidence and familiarity. QR codes on the pages give quick access to grammar video presentations and class audio for extra practice and review.
Clean and simple design The design of the Ventures Student’s Book makes it easy to see the unit aims and the main teaching points of each lesson. Units are divided into two-page lessons that follow the same format. This creates a predictable sequence that reassures your students and provides a firm foundation for your teaching.
pedagogy is Communicative Language Teaching – an approach where students use the language they are learning for meaningful communication. The interactive activities in Ventures help students connect with others, building community both inside and outside the classroom.
Easy to teach Every lesson is clearly signposted so you can teach effective and engaging lessons straight off the page. Teacher’s Editions and teacher training videos provide further support. A wealth of optional print and digital supplementary material matching lessons in the Student’s Book adds variety to your classroom.
Flexible and easy to fit into any program
Coordinators will find that Ventures easily integrates with their program. Each lesson can be expanded to cover anywhere from one to three hours. Digital components , including Canvas shell courses, can be used to support face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning .
View correlation
See what teachers are saying about Ventures “Our staff has found that the curriculum is both teacher and student friendly. The Ventures curriculum aligns with both CASAS and ESL Content Standards providing
On the following pages, you’ll see how the lessons in Ventures address ELPS, CASAS Competencies, and the Content Areas to help prepare your students for CASAS STEPS and increase measurable skill gains.
a structured curriculum for English language learners.” — Principal of ESL Program, Grossmont Adult School
Ventures addresses ELPS, CASAS Competencies, and CASAS Content Areas in every lesson
Watch Ventures
Level 1 STEPS walkthrough
Level 1
ELP Standards
In terms of the STEPS test, lower- level students are expected to: • Use strategies to identify words/ phrases/the main topic in oral communications and simple spoken and written texts and then retell a few key details. (ELP Standard 1).
This activity covers the CASAS Details Content Area by having students practice listening and retelling key details .
CASAS Competencies 0.1 Communicate in
Interpersonal Interactions 0.2 Communicate regarding personal information 4.1 Understand basic principles of getting a job 4.5 Effectively use common workplace tools and technology 7.2 Demonstrate ability to use critical thinking skills 7.5 Understand aspects of and approaches to effective personal management 8.2 Perform home-care skills
Lesson A covers the CASAS High-frequency Vocabulary Content Area by using illustrations, photos, and text to introduce key vocabulary.
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The grammar lesson covers the CASAS High-frequency Vocabulary Content Area by using photos to understand and practice key vocabulary.
Level 1 STEPS walkthrough
Level 1
ELP Standards
In terms of STEPS, lower-level students are expected to: • Participate in short conversations
and written exchanges about familiar topics/texts; present information/ideas; respond to simple questions and wh- questions; and appropriately take turns in interactions with others (ELP Standard 2)
CASAS Competencies 0.1 Communicate in
Interpersonal Interactions 0.2 Communicate regarding personal information 1.9 Understand how to maintain an automobile 4.1 Understand basic principles of getting a job 4.4 Understand concepts and materials related to job performance and training 7.2 Demonstrate ability to use critical thinking skills
The Communicate activity covers the CASAS Dialogue Content Area by having students talk and continue the conversation.
Watch Ventures
Level 1 STEPS walkthrough
Level 1
ELP Standards
In terms of STEPS, lower-level students are expected to: • Participate in short conversations and written exchanges about familiar topics/texts; present information/ ideas; respond to simple questions; and appropriately take turns in interactions with others. (ELP Standard 2). • Use strategies to identify words/ phrases/the main topic in oral communications and simple spoken and written texts. (ELP Standard 1) • Use context, questioning, and knowledge of English to recognize or determine the meaning of frequently used words, phrases, and expressions
in spoken and written texts on familiar topics. (ELP Standard 8)
The Picture Dictionary covers the CASAS High-frequency Vocabulary Content Area by using and practicing vocabulary with photos .
CASAS Competencies 0.1 Communicate in
Interpersonal Interactions
4.1 Understand basic
principles of getting a job 4.4 Understand concepts and materials related to job performance and training 4.6 Communicate effectively in the workplace 7.1 Identify or demonstrate effective skills and practices in accomplishing goals 7.2 Demonstrate ability to use critical thinking skills 7.5 Understand aspects of and
approaches to effective personal management
The Reading lesson covers the CASAS Details and Main Idea Content Areas by featuring reading texts, charts, and forms for which students practice understanding the main idea, supporting details, and making inferences.
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This activity covers the CASAS Main Idea and Details Content Areas by having students identify the main topic and retell key details .
Level 4
Level 4 STEPS walkthrough
ELP Standards
In terms of STEPS, upper-level students are expected to: • Use strategies to determine central ideas/themes in oral presentations and spoken/written texts; analyze the development of the themes/ ideas; cite specific details and evidence from texts to support the analysis; and summarize a text. (ELP Standard 1)
CASAS Competencies 0.1 Communicate in 2.3 Understand concepts of time and weather 4.1 Understand basic principles of getting a job 4.4 Understand concepts and materials related to job performance and training 7.2 Demonstrate ability to use critical thinking skills 7.3 Demonstrate ability to use problem-solving skills 7.5 Understand aspects of and Interpersonal Interactions
approaches to effective personal management
Lesson A covers the CASAS Vocabulary Content Area by using photos to introduce academic vocabulary through listening activities.
The Discuss activity covers the CASAS Dialogue Content Area by having students talk to their classmates to continue a conversation.
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The grammar lesson covers the CASAS High-frequency Vocabulary Content Area by using photos to understand and practice key vocabulary.
Level 4 STEPS walkthrough
Level 4
ELP Standards
In terms of STEPS, upper-level students are expected to: • Participate in conversations/ discussions/written exchanges about a range of topics/texts/issues, building on the ideas of others. • Express their own ideas; clearly/ persuasively support points with specific/relevant evidence; ask and answer questions/probe reasoning and claims to clarify ideas and conclusions; and summarize the key points/evidence. (ELP Standard 2)
CASAS Competencies 0.1 Communicate in
Interpersonal Interactions 0.2 Communicate regarding personal information 4.4 Understand concepts and materials related to job performance and training 4.8 Demonstrate effectiveness in working with other people 7.2 Demonstrate ability to use critical thinking skills 7.3 Demonstrate ability to use problem-solving skills 7.4 Demonstrate study skills 7.5 Understand aspects of and
The Communicate activity cover s the CASAS Dialogue Content Area by having students practice the conversation.
approaches to effective personal management
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The After you read activities covers the CASAS Main Idea and Key Details Content Areas by having students answer questions about the main idea of the text, locating and comparing details, and then inferring and drawing conclusions.
Level 4
Level 4 STEPS walkthrough
ELP Standards
In terms of STEPS, upper-level students are expected to: • Use strategies to determine central ideas/ themes in oral presentations and spoken/ written texts; analyze the development of the themes/ideas; cite specific details and evidence from texts to support the analysis; and summarize a text. (ELP Standard 1) • Participate in conversations/discussions/ written exchanges about a range of topics/ texts/issues, building on the ideas of others • Express their own ideas; clearly/persuasively support points with specific/relevant evidence; ask and answer questions/ probe reasoning and claims to clarify ideas and conclusions; and summarize the key points/evidence. (ELP Standard 2) • Determine the meaning of general academic and content-specific words/ phrases, figurative/connotative language, and idiomatic expressions in spoken/written texts about a variety of topics/experiences/ events using context, questioning, and knowledge of English morphology
CASAS Competencies 0.1 Communicate in Interpersonal Interactions 0.2 Communicate regarding personal information 2.3 Understand concepts of time and weather 4.1 Understand basic principles of getting a job 4.4 Understand concepts and materials related to job performance and training 4.5 Effectively use common workplace tools and technology 4.7 Effectively manage workplace resources 4.8 Demonstrate effectiveness in working with other people 7.1 Identify or demonstrate effective skills and practices in accomplishing goals 7.4 Demonstrate study skills 7.5 Understand aspects of and
This activity covers the CASAS Dialogue Content Area by having students talk and continue the conversation.
approaches to effective personal management
The Check your understanding activity covers the CASAS Point of View and Supporting Evidence Content Area by asking students to identify the author’s point of view.
The Analyze the texts activity covers the CASAS Point of View and Supporting Evidence Content Area by having students identify supporting evidence.
Level 4
ELP Standards In terms of STEPS, upper-level students are expected to:
• Use strategies to determine central ideas/themes in oral presentations and spoken/ written texts; analyze the development of the themes/ideas; cite specific details and evidence from texts to support the analysis; and summarize a text. (ELP Standard 1) • Participate in conversations/discussions/written exchanges about a range of topics/ texts/issues, building on the ideas of others Express their own ideas; clearly/ persuasively support points with specific/relevant evidence; ask and answer questions/probe reasoning and claims to clarify ideas and conclusions; and summarize the key points/evidence. (ELP Standard 2) • Determine the meaning of general academic and content-specific words/phrases, figurative/connotative language, and idiomatic expressions in spoken/written texts about a variety of topics/experiences/events using context, questioning, and knowledge of English morphology
Watch Ventures
Level 4 STEPS walkthrough
Additional resources to help prepare for CASAS STEPS
Ventures has a variety of resources to use alongside the Student’s Book for additional practice in preparing your students for CASAS STEPS.
Projects Projects (one per unit) give students the opportunity to work with classmates on projects related to the unit topic, which addresses collaboration and research skills.
Kahoot! quizzes Created specially for Ventures, a fun gamified Kahoot! quiz is available for every unit to help students practice their listening skills.
Multilevel Worksheets Multilevel Worksheets are designed for use in multilevel and leveled classrooms where students’ proficiency levels differ. These worksheets offer additional practice of the language and unit topic. They take the learning off the page and into the classroom through a variety of fun pair work, group work, and whole-class activities.
Collaborative worksheets Collaborative worksheets for each lesson develop cooperative learning and community building within the classroom. These can be pair work, group work, or whole-class activities, and provide a fresh way for students to reinforce what they’ve just learned. Great for cooperative learning and community building within the classroom.
Workbook Workbook (print or digital) gives students additional practice for every lesson in the Student’s Book, reinforcing ELPS and CASAS Competencies.
Take a look at the correlations to see how Ventures is aligned to ELPS and CASAS in every lesson.
Watch a walkthrough video of a Ventures unit and how it aligns to ELPS, CASAS Competencies, and Content Areas
View correlations:
Watch Level 1 video:
Watch Level 4 video:
Get in touch As part of a world-leading organization, we have expert ELT specialists across the country to support you, whatever your circumstances. Contact your local ELT specialist to find out more about Ventures. cambridge.org/ventures/contact
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