The Easiest Way to Add Informational Texts Without Adding More Work

If you’ve ever thought, “I know I should teach more informational text… but I cannot add one more thing,” this episode is for you.

Because the issue usually is not that you don’t value nonfiction. The issue is that most advice makes it sound like you need to build a whole unit, create text sets, run research projects, and design elaborate activities.

And in real classroom life, that kind of plan gets pushed to “someday.”

In this episode, you’ll hear a simple shift that makes informational text feel doable again:

Stop treating informational text like an event.
Start treating it like a habit.

Instead of adding a big new unit, you’ll build consistent, low-stakes practice that actually sticks.

HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1️⃣ Informational text works better as a habit than a unit
A small weekly routine builds stamina and skill without taking over your pacing guide.

2️⃣ Short, focused practice beats one big nonfiction “event”
Students grow through repeated exposure, low-stakes checks, and one-skill-at-a-time practice.

3️⃣ One skill per week gives you clean data
You’ll quickly see what students actually need: text structure, central idea, evidence, vocabulary in context, and more.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Friday 5 routine (one short passage + one skill + 4–5 questions)

MORE FROM EB ACADEMICS

If you have access to pre-made skill-based passages, The Friday 5 becomes even easier: print, pass out, quick check, done.

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