Getting Students Excited About Nonfiction Reading

Series:  A Game Changer

Let’s be honest—getting students excited about nonfiction can feel like a challenge. The moment we say “nonfiction,” many students immediately assume the reading will be boring, dry, or disconnected from their interests. But the truth is, nonfiction can be just as engaging, thrilling, and even humorous as fiction—when we know how to present it and what to offer.

Why Nonfiction Matters

Nonfiction reading is more than just an academic expectation—it’s a life skill. From reading directions and understanding news headlines to analyzing data and solving real-world problems, nonfiction is everywhere. When students develop a love and stamina for reading nonfiction, they’re not just getting better at reading—they’re learning how to navigate the world around them.

And here’s the big one: nonfiction reading directly impacts student achievement. Research consistently shows that students who read a balance of fiction and nonfiction perform better on standardized tests. Why? Because nonfiction reading builds background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension of complex text structures—all of which show up heavily on state assessments.

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Real Life Reading, Real Results

Nonfiction is the gateway to curiosity. It connects students to real people, real problems, and real progress. Whether they’re reading about a young inventor, a natural disaster, or how a social movement changed the world, nonfiction allows students to see beyond their current reality and into the possibilities of who they can become.

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Did You Know There Are Nonfiction Book Series?

Yes! Just like fiction series, nonfiction book series come in all shapes and sizes—from animal battles to true survival stories, from biographies to science investigations. These series are written with engaging layouts, accessible vocabulary, and lots of visual support, making them especially great for striving readers or students who struggle to stay engaged with longer texts.

These series often feature:

• Text features: captions, bolded words, timelines, graphs, and sidebars that support comprehension.

• Text structures: cause/effect, problem/solution, chronological order, compare/contrast—all critical for test-taking and academic writing.

• Multiple access points: Students can enter a series at different levels of interest and complexity.

And the beauty? Once they fall in love with one book, they usually want to read more. This helps build reading stamina, confidence, and content knowledge naturally.

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The Writing Connection

Nonfiction doesn’t stop at reading. These texts provide authentic models for student writing—informational reports, opinion pieces, explanatory writing, and even argument writing all stem from strong nonfiction models. When students read nonfiction regularly, they start to internalize how authors organize their ideas, use evidence, and build explanations—key components of writing instruction.

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Different Forms of Nonfiction to Explore

Nonfiction doesn’t only live in books. To build well-rounded, curious readers, we have to give students access to a variety of nonfiction sources:

• 📰 Magazines like TIME for Kids, Scholastic News, and National Geographic Kids

• 📱 Digital articles curated from websites like Newsela, Tween Tribune, or The Day

• 📚 Newspapers (even student-friendly versions) to explore current events and local news

• 📖 Nonfiction picture books for younger or reluctant readers

• 🧠 Infographics and fact cards for bite-sized learning

• 📺 Documentaries paired with text-based learning

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Ideas to Promote Nonfiction Reading in Your Classroom

• ✅ Set up a nonfiction corner in your classroom library—rotate topics based on student interest.

• ✅ Start “Fact Friday” where students share something interesting they learned from a nonfiction source.

• ✅ Use book clubs or partners focused on a specific nonfiction series.

• ✅ Teach mini-lessons using excerpts from nonfiction to explore structure, vocabulary, and author’s purpose.

• ✅ Incorporate nonfiction in your warm-ups or morning meetings through headlines, short blurbs, or daily fun facts.

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Ready to Get Started?

👉 Download my Nonfiction Reading List for Grades 2–8 – organized by grade level and full of popular, high-interest nonfiction series to help you stock your classroom, plan instruction, and engage all types of readers.