Fourth and eighth graders vocabulary skills on the rise

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The latest nation's report card shows Massachusetts fourth and eighth graders have a larger vocabulary than most of the kids their age across the country.

But there are still large achievement gaps for minorities and low income students.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress report card also found that the more words a students know, the better their reading comprehension.

But some avid readers say it's the other way around.

Don Cawrse says, "I think it's important that parents read to their younger children, reading expands their vocabulary, reading expands their knowledge of the world. “

This is the first time the results of the vocabulary section of the national reading comprehension test have been released.