What has research shown regarding listening and reading comprehension in elementary students?

Research has indicated that there is a significant relationship between listening comprehension and reading comprehension in elementary students. As pupils progress in their educational journey, particularly during the elementary years, the correlation between these two skills tends to strengthen. This connection is largely attributed to the development of cognitive and linguistic skills that support both listening and reading.

When students are adept at listening, they are often better equipped to understand and process written text. This is because listening skills contribute to vocabulary development, understanding of sentence structure, and the ability to make inferences—skills that are equally critical when it comes to reading and comprehending written material. Therefore, the observation that the correlation improves with age is backed by research that emphasizes the interconnectedness of these comprehension skills as students become more proficient learners.

In contrast, the other options present an inaccurate view of the relationship between listening and reading comprehension, overlooking the synergy between these two essential skills in developing literacy in young learners.