Listen to a recent piece on NPR explaining the word gap and its implication for young learners: http://www.npr.org/2013/12/29/257922222/closing-the-word-gap-between-rich-and-poor In Virginia this summer, Arlington Public Schools transported students in poor neighborhoods to community libraries for group readings. Studies say children from low-income families may hear roughly 30 million fewer words by age 3 than their more affluent peers. Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post/Getty