Nonfiction Matters

This practical guide offers educators concrete strategies for integrating nonfiction reading and research writing into upper elementary and middle school classrooms. Stephanie Harvey provides a comprehensive framework for teaching students how to navigate informational texts, conduct meaningful research, and produce well-structured reports. The book addresses the critical shift toward nonfiction literacy that many teachers face, offering specific techniques rather than abstract theories. It serves as both a philosophical foundation and a practical toolkit for building students' information literacy skills.

What sets this resource apart is its emphasis on making nonfiction engaging and accessible to developing readers and writers. Harvey understands that students need explicit instruction in how to read for information, evaluate sources, and organize their findings into coherent writing. Classroom teachers seeking to strengthen their literacy instruction will find immediately applicable lesson ideas and assessment tools. The approach transforms research from a dreaded assignment into an authentic process of discovery that prepares students for academic success across content areas.