March begins the spring state testing window. It starts with TAKS writing in grades 4, 7, 10 and 11 on March 3^rd. In order to have children perform well in writing, to write with confidence, the students must have a broad vocabulary. One of the best ways to develop this broad vocabulary, students must develop a healthy, happy, voluntary reading habit. Typically students who make excellent grades and are fluent writers are excellent readers. They read books for enjoyment and passionately. They carry books with them and read every moment of free time. They have a voluntary reading habit and possess an ever-growing vocabulary. Students of all ages enjoy listening to adults read aloud to them. This promotes the joy of reading. As a parent, teacher or community member share the joy of reading to our young people and help promote reading to assist our students to develop a broad vocabulary to increase our students’ academic achievement.  It's never too early or too late to start developing voluntary readers and thinkers.