The study indicated that early receptive language skills were a better indicator of later reading level than any of the other variables they looked at, which actually makes a good case *against* the idea that all children even out in the end.
That finding actually indicates that, while young children of the same age who have the same level of receptive language skills will likely even out with each other, regardless of when they are taught to read (if they even need to be formally taught), children who are significantly behind or ahead of their age peers in receptive language skills will likely have a corresponding significant difference in later reading level.
Well that makes a lot of sense!!! So it actually better explains those kids that people are always surprised about, when they turn out to be quite competent despite not having done it early.
DeHe
