Most often the gap widens as a students without skills don't receive the explicit multi sensory instruction they need . Students and families may think the child is merely delayed in their ability to read and spell, but if there is learning difficulties the delay becomes an ever widening deficit. Compounding the difficulties are habits of mind which develop when effective literacy skills aren't present. Children often begin to hate reading, label themselves as stupid or just give up using the basic skills they may have. An evidence based intervention is a critical step to begin to close the gap and create foundational skills.

An evidence based intervention evaluates the skills a child has. Motivation is also accessed and a child's mental outlook on the written language is developed and fostered. Explicit lessons on the rules of reading with multi-sensory involvement of the child begin to build the skills necessary to develop real, measurable literacy skills and passion for reading. Without an intervention the gap between the have's and have not's become an onerous  anchor against success in life. 

This learning gap has far-reaching implication for any child's future. It is imperative that parents don't become lulled into thinking this gap is just a common delay. The gap only widens and soon become a barrier to the success we all want for our children.