The ability to read provides children with a promising future, so starting early is important.
Dr. Ceretha Brown-Levingston, Liberty-Eylau Independent School District's deputy superintendent, is passionate about students being able to read.
She offered some suggestions to get children interested in reading at very early ages, which is a good foundation for academic success.
"Read to your child every single day, even before they can form a sound, and they hear you reading and that helps foster that love of reading. They want to read a story with you."
"Some of the things I used to do, or still do especially when they are younger, is make sure they learn their letters, recognize them and learn the sounds each letter makes."
"With my kids, I labeled everything in the house. I took note cards and put one on everything in the room - on the curtains, wall, bed, TV, dresser and that is very concrete."
The two-or-three word rhyming repetition books are good books for children to read to parents and adults.
Engage children with what she calls "environmental print." While driving down the road, talk to the child about what word is on the stop sign, or what word is under the Golden Arches or other business you may see.
"Another thing I did as a parent was to use closed caption on the television. Any time they are watching TV and reading those words it helps."