How Nonfiction Pairings Build Understanding and Reading Success [Ep 65] Artwork

Middle School Café – Strategies & Support for Middle School ELA Teachers

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Middle School Café – Strategies & Support for Middle School ELA Teachers

How Nonfiction Pairings Build Understanding and Reading Success [Ep 65]

November 18, 2025 • Carolyn Wahl - Middle School ELA • Episode 65

Looking for new ways to make reading more meaningful? In this episode, we’ll explore how pairing fiction and nonfiction can benefit all readers, helping every student, from those who need a little more support to those ready for deeper analysis, make stronger connections and think more critically. Together, these texts can deepen comprehension, build empathy, and help students see how reading connects to the real world.

You’ll hear easy-to-use ideas for blending the two, from short articles and infographics to full-length novels, along with examples you can try right away. Whether you’re following a set curriculum or designing your own lessons, this episode will help you use nonfiction to bring stories to life and strengthen your students’ understanding of what they read.