Words Change Worlds

"When teaching grade one I noticed how language — specifically learning to read and write — empowered students. This idea has captivated me since. Join me in my quest to change the world through words."
-Karen Filewych

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Literacy Instruction Matters

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This practical, comprehensive overview of literacy instruction equips teachers with the tools, understanding, and confidence to meet the literacy needs of students.

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What people are saying

After reading Karen's book, Literacy Leadership Matters, I really appreciated her insights and was inspired to action her advice that literacy learning can be fostered outside the classroom in non-evaluative ways. I launched a Writer's Craft club in the fall and, with two other teacher leaders, opening it up to bi-monthly sessions for K-8 students. By January, we had around 50 students writing for the fun of it using mediums that included stories, animation, poems, song lyrics, picture books, and the contents of the soccer card that a student imagined seeing about himself in his future. Some students wrote independently, and some collaborated across classes and grade levels. We were building a literacy culture beyond curriculum and grades. Karen's work is always practical and powerful, and this was one of those "look-for” moments to help leaders observe and support classroom practice.

Noa Daniel, classroom teacher, writer, and speaker

Thank you for the wonderful month of learning and inspiration. We have loved having you in our school and the "buzz" around writing among staff and students has been exciting!

Kendall Monti
Learning Coach, Landing Trail School

Karen, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, experience, and most importantly your passion with us. It is contagious in the most positive way - the chatter and excitement with our staff is palpable and we are looking forward to continuing to learn with you.

Rebecca Martini Assistant Principal

Karen’s passion for literacy easily comes across in her lessons to the children. I have been a classroom teacher for 25 years, and I was very impressed with how my students were genuinely engaged in lessons that were tailored specifically to activities we were working on in our class. I look forward to welcoming Karen and her expertise into my class again!

Warren Letchford Edmonton Teacher

Expectations for our provincial-wide annual event are always high and Karen Filewych did not fail to deliver! Attendee feedback was off the charts for Karen. Her knowledge of the topic, connecting to our province’s ELA curriculum, organization, ease to work with and ability to connect with a ‘virtual’ audience were exceptional. Karen’s presentation was bursting with unique ideas, and real-life examples linking her own experiences as an educator and writer resonated with her audience. Teachers left energized and eager to use what they learned with their students. We hope to work again with Karen one day soon!

Jackie Parsons 2021 MTS PD Day Chair
Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg

This week on the Words Change Worlds blog

Lose Yourself in a Book; Develop Empathy in the Process

Posted on March 1, 2026 by Karen Filewych

I was delighted to present at Reading for the Love of It in Toronto recently. During a session on the importance of independent reading in our classrooms, I spoke about the pleasure of reading, of losing ourselves in a book. I quoted Thomas Newkirk who said, “I would argue that unless you have entered this state, the whole point, the whole gratification of extended reading, is baffling.” So true. And yet how many of our students have not experienced this gratification?

On the plane on the way home from the conference, I was reading My Friends by Fredrik Backman. My four-hour flight flew–pun intended! The gentleman beside me seemed oblivious to my gasps, my stifled laughter, and my tears. I even stopped to take pictures of a few pages so I could easily return to the words that stopped me short.

The men’s Olympic gold medal hockey game was earlier that day. Besides Canada WINNING silver, I’m sure you’ve heard about the U.S. men’s team being heavily criticized for some post-game reactions. How is this related to reading, you ask?

As Malorie Blackman has said, “Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.” I truly believe that the more we read, the more we understand one another, and hopefully the more we think about how our words and actions might affect others.

As teachers, we have the opportunity to expose our students to powerful, thought-provoking literature. Read alouds are a way to ensure that all students can lose themselves in a book and learn from the experiences of others. We can create the conditions for this to occur during independent reading, but often it happens first during shared reading. A few of my favourites for this purpose:

Picture books: The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, Clara and the Man with Books in His Window by Maria Teresa Andruetto, Navigating Night by Julie Leung (coming soon!)
Novels: The Giver by Lois Lowry, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
Novels in verse: Ebb and Flow by Heather Smith, Louder Than Hunger by John Schu, Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Reading matters: in more ways than one!

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