When you hear someone called a nerd, what do you think of, big glasses and braces, perhaps? What about their hobbies? Reading books and doing homework for fun? Well, it turns out these “nerds” are onto something. In fact, reading gets you better grades. Think about it: “As you read, you construct images, thoughts, and opinions… You use critical thinking and logic to process information. Reading leads to…clear thinking. (“Why reading does”). But “clear thinking” alone won’t save your grades; reading also helps in most, if not all, areas of learning. “We all know the importance of a good workout to stay fit. The same is true with our brain. A Stanford University study proves that reading is the exercise the brain needs to stay healthy. (“Reading: an ideal”). When you exercise, you stretch and strengthen your muscles. When you read, you stretch your mind and your brain becomes stronger. Concentration is a good example. When you read, your mind is forced to focus on all the different plots and words in the book. So when you read, you train your mind to focus. Another example of stretching the mind is memory. If you can exercise your memory, you will be able to memorize more in school, such as math equations and vocabulary. “Reading just 30 minutes a day works the muscles of the mind and reasoning and, like any exercise, the more you practice, the better you will get.” (“Why reading does”). Like anything else in life, practice makes perfect. Confidence may seem like a minor detail when we think about grades and schoolwork, but we all have those moments where we know the answer but just aren't confident enough to raise our hand in fear. will...... middle of paper ...... anyway. “Of course, you can read little or nothing at all and still be brilliant at “reading between the lines” of a conversation. But in today's world, fluid intelligence and reading generally go hand in hand… [This] may partly explain why students score on average about 20 points higher on IQ tests than they did at the start of the 20th grade. century. » (Hurley, Dan). Although being “nerdy” might not be your style. Reading will help you get better grades and will also help you in other aspects of your life. Works Cited Hurley, Dan. “Can reading make you smarter?” » The Guardian. NP. January 23, 2014. the web. March 13, 2014. “Reading: an ideal form of brain exercise.” » Existence examined. NP. 2014. Internet. March 14, 2014. “The Impact of Reading on Your Imagination.” » Blogging. April 7, 2012. The web. March 15, 2014. “Why reading makes you more creative” Creative Market. 2014. Internet. March 15 2014.