In this episode I’m talking about those familiar one-line reading responses like “I liked it” or “I don’t know” and how we can help students move beyond them. Students are capable of deeper thinking, and sometimes they just need a few simple routines to help them slow down, notice more, and explain what they’re seeing in a text.

We’ll explore practical, low-pressure ways to strengthen student conversations around reading and create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable sharing what they’re thinking. If you’re looking for small shifts that lead to more meaningful discussions, this episode will give you a few easy places to start.

Read more in the show notes.

Get your FREE set of Reading Support Posters here!

Resources you may find helpful:

• Reader Response Cards
• More Reader Response Cards

Related episodes and blog posts:

• Building a Reading Culture Where Students Feel They Belong
• Task Cards: An Engaging Tool for Middle Schoolers
• How to Reduce Reading Anxiety

Be sure to join the Secondary ELA Facebook group. If you’re loving this podcast, please rate, review and follow!

Website: https://middleschoolcafe.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondaryela
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolcafe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middleschoolcafe/
TPT Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middle-School-Cafe

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.

Read more in the show notes.

Get your FREE set of Reading Support Posters here!

Seasonal Nonfiction

• Holiday Traditions Reading/Writing Activity
• History of the Poinsettia
• History of New Years Eve in Times Square

Resources you may find helpful:

• Reader Response Cards
• More Reader Response Cards
• Reading Reflection Sheets
• Genre Review Scavenger Hunt
• Titanic Text Structures

Related episodes and blog posts:

• How to Use Nonfiction to Engage Reluctant Readers
• Building a Reading Culture Where Students Feel They Belong
• How to Build Reading Stamina

Website: https://middleschoolcafe.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondaryela
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolcafe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middleschoolcafe/
TPT Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middle-School-Cafe

Nonfiction doesn’t have to be dry or something students just “get through.” In this episode, we’ll share how high-interest nonfiction can spark curiosity, build confidence, and help even the most reluctant readers see themselves as capable readers. You’ll hear why nonfiction belongs in everyday reading instruction, not just as a single unit, and how small, intentional shifts can make it feel relevant and engaging for your students.

We’ll also share practical ideas you can use right away, like incorporating nonfiction into book talks, connecting it to your existing curriculum, and helping students find real-world topics that matter to them. You’ll walk away inspired to rethink how nonfiction fits in your classroom and ready to help your students discover that reading true stories can be just as powerful as fiction.

Read more in the show notes.

Get your FREE set of Reading Support Posters here!

Seasonal Nonfiction

• Holiday Traditions Reading/Writing Activity
• History of the Poinsettia
• History of New Years Eve in Times Square

Resources you may find helpful:

• Reader Response Cards
• More Reader Response Cards
• Reading Reflection Sheets
• Titanic Text Structures

Related episodes and blog posts:

• Building a Reading Culture Where Students Feel They Belong
• Why Independent Reading Still Matters
• Short Stories with Purpose

Be sure to join the Secondary ELA Facebook group. If you’re loving this podcast, please rate, review and follow!

Website: https://middleschoolcafe.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondaryela
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolcafe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middleschoolcafe/
TPT Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middle-School-Cafe