A few weeks ago I came across a very interesting and sobering article.  While not a surprise, it supports the results of other research that suggests that by the time students begin formal schooling, there is a large, perhaps even insurmountable gap between those students who have had the benefit of growing up in a word-rich environment and those who have not had the benefit of such a background.  Reading the article reminded me of how fortunate we are at CWA to have the parents that can and do provide that early-life support on which schools such as ours can build.