Why Nonfiction Belongs in Independent Reading [Ep. 68] Artwork

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

Are you a middle school ELA teacher looking for practical, proven strategies to help your students grow as confident readers and writers? Middle School Café is your go-to podcast for engaging teaching ideas, classroom-tested tools, and real talk about what works in today’s ELA classroom.

Each episode delivers actionable tips to help you close reading gaps, build student ownership, and create a classroom culture where literacy thrives. Whether you're navigating a curriculum, supporting struggling readers, or just looking for fresh ways to inspire your students, you'll find support, strategy, and a sense of community right here.

Join a community of passionate middle school ELA teachers working to build confident, engaged readers. Visit www.middleschoolcafe.com for classroom tools, podcast extras, and resources to support every student on their reading journey.

All Episodes

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

Why Nonfiction Belongs in Independent Reading [Ep. 68]

January 06, 2026 • Carolyn Wahl - Middle School ELA • Episode 68

Happy New Year! As the new term begins, many middle school ELA classrooms start to shift toward nonfiction, informational text, and research. In this episode, we talk about how to make nonfiction a natural part of independent reading—without turning it into a separate unit or disrupting the reading culture you’ve worked so hard to build.

We explore why easing nonfiction into independent reading matters, how to lower student resistance to nonfiction, and simple, low-pressure ways to incorporate nonfiction articles, graphic nonfiction, and podcasts alongside novels. You’ll hear practical strategies for modeling real-world nonfiction reading habits, building curiosity, and helping students see nonfiction as a useful, everyday reading tool. This episode sets the foundation for upcoming conversations about nonfiction and research while keeping reading flexible, student-centered, and manageable.