I started each class today by having students respond to this quote by Joseph Addison:

I was blown away by their thinking on the first day of school.  I wanted to share some of the highlights from their quick writes throughout the day.

• “Another thing I think it means is that sometimes reading encourages you to try new things.:
• “You need to exercise your mind like you exercise your body.  Treat your brain as you would your body.  Reading is just as important to your mind as sports are to the body.”
• “When you exercise, you train your muscles to get stronger, so when you read you train your brain about knowledge.”
• “Reading makes your mind stronger, and exercise makes your body stronger.”
• “I think that the quote means that when you are reading you are using your mind like you would your body.  You are straining your muscles when you exercise, and you are straining your brain when you read.”
• “I also think this quote means reading could take as much work as exercising.”
• “I think it means that reading is as important as exercise.  It could also mean that you need to do the same amount of reading as you do exercise.”
• “It means that when you read a book it’s like exercising but for your mind.  Your mind needs exercise just like the body.  If your brain did not get exercise, it would be completely and utterly useless.”
• “Reading is just as needed as exercising because it helps your imagination expand.”
• “If you read, your brain gets stronger just like if you exercise, your body gets stronger.  As you read, you learn which makes the brain stronger.”
• “Reading is thinking about lots of things so your mind will think more than usual.”
• “Reading helps keep your brain healthy.  Exercise keeps your body healthy.”
• “Exercising your mind is thinking.  Read is fun and makes you think.  Exercising your mind is fun.”
• “Reading is an exercise to your brain.  It also keeps your mind in shape like your body when you exercise.  It keeps you alert of the world.”
• “Reading is good for your mind to let your mind think and wonder and to help your mind exercise.”
• “Reading is basically exercise for the brain.  Reading makes you smarter. It also sharpens you brain and makes you think.”
• “Reading gives your brain knowledge while exercise gives your body strength.”
• “It means you use your mind when you read, like you use your body to exercise.”
• “Reading is just not for school or for fun!  It is exercise for your mind!”
• “Reading is hard work like exercise is hard work.  Exercise is hard work just like reading is hard work.  Both take a little bit of ability.”
• “Reading helps our brains figure out new words, spellings and meanings.  Exercise helps our body become healthy, get in better shape, and have gigantic muscles!  Both reading and exercise help us become the best we can be.”
• “Exercise makes the body healthier and more active.  Reading would help the mind think more and visualize different things going on in the book.”
• “The more you read, the better you’ll get at it, like the more you exercise, the better you’ll be at that.”
• “This quote means reading is just as important for your body process as exercise.  you have to be able to read to do everything!  It’s bad not to be able to read, and also not to exercise because you won’t get fit!”
• “I think that it means when I read it is working with my brain, to push it more on things I should know, like how you exercise helps keep you in shape.”
• “Reading is a choice whether you want to do it or not.  Exercise is a thing that helps you just like reading helps you learn.  Exercising is something you can do if you want to.”
• “Exercise is good for your body.  Reading is good for your mind.  It makes it quicker and smarter.”

What do you think?