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

Available Now

Freewriting
with Purpose

Simple classroom techniques to help students make connections, think critically, and construct meaning. Freewriting with Purpose provides writing ideas across the curriculum helping students make meaning in all disciplines of study.

Read Now More Books

What people are saying

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

It was an AMAZING PD day today. Thank you SO much for your wisdom. I learned a ton and I am excited about changing the way I teach writing with my students! I wish we could have kept going today!

Shauna Leferink Manitoba Teacher

I was lucky enough to have Karen Filewych come into my class to work with my students. The engaging lessons had students thinking deeper about their story writing. Karen's use of mentor texts show students different story structures with planning pages to help them evaluate mentor texts and then use them to plan their own stories. Her lessons for the classroom are easy to implement and improve the quality of student writing!

Jody Nahirnak Edmonton Teacher

Karen Filewych is a person who truly understands how children learn. With her book "How Do I Get Them to Write?" she shares her experience and builds key strategies which allow you, as a classroom teacher, to confidently help children learn the basics of writing and beyond. In my own practice I found that children, when taught through her methods, found greater success. By teaching through literature, she helps children see that their words can have meaning, especially, when built around existing and well used story structures. She truly has lifted the veil on student writing, making each student find their own voice.

Lexi Bruseker Edmonton Teacher

This week on the Words Change Worlds blog

525 600 Minutes

Posted on January 23, 2022January 23, 2022 by Karen Filewych

I have been facing a difficult choice. Do I give up my contract with a school district where I’ve spent all of my career as a student and most of my career as a teacher? Do I give up the financial security, the comfort in what I know, the people I love working with, so I can work with teachers and students throughout the province and also pursue my writing career?

For months I’ve been considering the pros and cons. Then, not long ago, I listened to Seasons of Love from Rent. You know the one. “525 600 minutes: how do you measure a year? …in daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife…”

For whatever reason, hearing that song when I did confirmed my decision. 525 600 minutes. How is it that I want to spend that time? I know the answer.

I could measure what’s to come in numbers of a different sort: income. And yet, I know that those numbers are not the most important ones. Not for me anyway.

If I want to pursue this dream, if I want to fulfill my purpose, now is the time. No more minutes to waste.

On my desk, I have a fortune from a fortune cookie of many years ago: “Your most important work is yet to come.” I want to do what I love. I want to share what I love. I want to do my most important work.

So, my decision is made. I have resigned.

A friend of mine sent me this video saying that it reminded her of me… she might have a point!

Get in Touch

Have a question for Karen? Interested in booking a workshop? Just want to say hello? Simply fill out this form.

Find Karen Elsewhere on the Web

Subscribe to the Words Change Worlds Blog

Sign up to receive an email notification whenever a new blog post is published. This is completely spam-free and you can opt out at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.