Authors
Karen Filewych
Karen is an educator, author, and literacy consultant who lives in Alberta. She has more than twenty-five years of experience as a teacher, school administrator, and Language Arts consultant. In 2007, Karen completed her Master of Education degree at the University of Alberta with a focus on literacy. She is the author of three professional books and seven of Pearson’s Bug Club Phonics Decodable Readers. She enjoys sharing her love of literacy and empowering others through professional development sessions for teachers, writing residencies for students, and literacy workshops for parents. Karen authored many of the Bug Club Morphology reading passages, the pedagogical text on all student cards, and the lesson for each card.
A message from Karen…
As a Language Arts consultant, I was often asked how to approach word study with students beyond the primary grades. My answer was always “morphology.” And yet, there were few resources available and nothing I considered comprehensive. As the focus on morphology has become more prominent and explicit in curricula across the country, teachers are asking more questions and searching for resources to support instruction. In addition, research strongly recommends the explicit teaching of morphology to students. Bug Club Morphology is a response to both the research and the needs expressed by teachers and literacy consultants.
Throughout the development of this resource, I had two main goals in mind:
• Empower teachers with easy-to-follow lessons, grounded in research-based pedagogy, and relevant background information.
• Provide teachers with engaging student materials so they will not have to spend precious time searching for texts that include multiple examples of words with the morphemes they want to teach.
Bug Club Morphology achieves these goals. The scope and sequence provides a timely, developmentally appropriate way to approach morphology instruction in our classrooms. The practical information for teachers, combined with meaningful reading passages for students, leads to lessons that support strong morphology instruction, while at the same time addressing many other aspects of Language Arts curricula.
The following authors contributed reading passages for the Kit A Student Cards.
Randy Boyagoda
A10 Reading Passage: “Below the Surface”
Randy is a writer and professor at the University of Toronto. He has written several novels, contributes to magazines and newspapers, and appears frequently on CBC Radio. Randy and his family, who live in Toronto, Ontario, love reading books and exploring.
Holly Brandsma
A5 Reading Passage: “Two Métis Structures” (reviewed by Métis educator Cort Dogniez).
Holly is a proud Métis woman connected to the historical Métis community of mânitow sâkahikanihk (Lac Ste-Anne) who resides in amiskwaciywâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta). Holly has taught K–12 for over 20 years. She is passionately committed to advancing Métis education as a Métis Education and Learning Initiatives Consultant.
Marty Chan
A16 Reading Passage: “Mistakes and Mishaps!”
Marty writes books for kids, stage plays for adults, and tweets for fun. He wrote the bestselling novel Haunted Hospital for striving teen readers. The Junior Library Guild awarded it a gold medal standard. Marty lives in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife Michelle and their two cats, Hugo and Minnie.
Jennifer Ladipo
A14 Reading Passage: “Scientists at Work”
Jennifer is an engineer. She writes children’s books, using her science knowledge to create fun adventure stories. Jennifer lives in Calgary, Alberta, where she loves reading, looking at the mountains, and running around with her dog, Sir Yogi Bear.
Eileen Marthiensen
A7 Reading Passage: “Natural Materials” (reviewed by Shelley Charles, Ojibway Elder).
Eileen is Inuvialuk from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. She is an educator and a proud mother of three. Eileen believes that positive representation of Indigenous Peoples in resources is essential. Her career is focused on creating systemic changes in the education system to improve opportunities and outcomes for Indigenous students.
Nadine McSpadden
A17 Reading Passage: “The Sacred Cedar” (reviewed by Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper Rita Kompst and Indigenous educator Heidi Wood).
Nadine is from the Secwépemc Nation. Her home community is the Shuswap Band located in Invermere, British Columbia. After teaching for more than 20 years, Nadine is now semi-retired and does consulting work in the area of Indigenous Education. Nadine has authored books for Pearson’s Mathology and Inquiring Minds series.
Elaine Su
A4 Reading Passage: “Reducing Waste”
Elaine is a first-generation Chinese-Canadian settler living on the beautiful, unceded West Coast lands of the Halkomelen-speaking peoples. She works as an elementary school teacher-librarian and is a consultant in equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice matters. She loves hot tea and spicy noodles and puddle-stomping with her children.
The following authors contributed reading passages for the Kit B Student Cards.
Kyla Bernard
B1 Reading Passage: "My Drum Story"
Kyla Bernard is from the Eskasoni First Nation Community in Nova Scotia. She is an Elementary Mathematics Consultant for Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, and has published math resources used across the province. Kyla has her Bachelor of Arts, Reading Recovery, Math Certificate, and M.Ed in Indigenous Education and Leadership.
Cort Dogniez
B10 Reading Passage: "A Sense of Belonging" (reviewed by Métis educator Holly Brandsma)
Cort Dogniez is a proud Métis man raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He was an educator for 41 years and is now happily retired. Cort is a storyteller. His first book, Road to La Prairie Ronde, was published in 2020. It received two nominations from the Saskatchewan Book Awards.
Dwayne Drescher
B16 Reading Passage: "The Spring Equinox" (reviewed by Inuvialuktun language consultant Beverly Amos)
Uvanga atira Atjgaliaq, Inuuvingmun qairunga.
Uirunga, ahiin Aaparunga. Inuvialuktun Ilihaurirunga.
Aquniaqtunga iliharniaqtunga U of S – M. Ed.
Admin. Aquniaqtilu, Iqalungniaqtilu.
My name is Dwayne Drescher. I come from Inuvik, Northwest Territories. I am a husband and father. I teach Inuvialuktun [language]. I am training to be a leader at the University of Saskatchewan, working towards an M. Ed. (Administration). I am also a hunter and fisher.
Jennifer Ladipo
B2 Reading Passage: “Razi the Goose”
B8 Reading Passage: “The Perfect Photo”
Jennifer is an engineer. She writes children’s books, using her science knowledge to create fun adventure stories. Jennifer lives in Calgary, Alberta, where she loves reading, looking at the mountains, and running around with her dog, Sir Yogi Bear.
Harman Pandher
B14 Reading Passage: "A Berry Important Job"
Harman Singh Pandher lives in Burnaby, British Columbia, and teaches elementary school in Surrey. He is the author of the children’s books Gurpreet goes to Gurdwara: Understanding the Sikh Place of Worship, and the Celebrate Canada book Welcome to Paldi, published in 2022.
Elaine Su
B11 Reading Passage: “Textile Art” (reviewed by DEI Communications Consultant Barbara Yebuga)
Elaine is a first-generation Chinese-Canadian settler living on the beautiful, unceded West Coast lands of the Halkomelen-speaking peoples. She works as an elementary school teacher-librarian and as a consultant in equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice matters. She loves hot tea and spicy noodles and puddle-stomping with her children.
Gary R. Williams
B4 Reading Passage: "Small but Mighty"
Gary R. Williams is a grade 4 teacher who lives and works in southern Ontario. He coauthored (and appeared in) the Celebrate Canada book Our Families, Our Homes in 2022. Gary likes sports, reading, and spending quality time with his three daughters.
The following authors contributed reading passages for the Kit C Student Cards.
Owen Campbell
C9 Reading Passage: “Meet a Conductor”
Owen is a high school student and aspiring clarinetist. He currently attends high school in Toronto, Ontario, and plays in numerous musical ensembles, including the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra. Besides music, Owen loves cooking, reading, and playing video games.
Marty Chan
C17 Reading Passage: “Explorer’s Log”
Marty writes books for kids, stage plays for adults, and tweets for fun. He wrote the bestselling novel Haunted Hospital for striving teen readers. The Junior Library Guild awarded it a gold medal standard. Marty lives in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife Michelle and their two cats, Hugo and Minnie.
Crystal Clark
C5 Reading Passage: “Circles All Around” (reviewed by Nehiway expert William Weekusk and Nehiyawewin Cree Advisor Rose M. Makinaw)
Crystal is a Nehiway/Denesuline/Métis mother, educator, and artist. Her family resides in Treaty 6 territory near the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. Crystal has a B.Ed, BFA, M.Ed, and a New Media diploma, and studied creative writing and visual arts at the En’owkin Centre. Crystal has extensive experience teaching in First Nations communities, developing educational resources, and facilitating professional development.
Dwayne Drescher
C13 Reading Passage: “Kicking for Gold” (reviewed by Inuvialuit coach Matthew Anikina)
Uvanga atira Atjgaliaq, Inuuvingmun qairunga.
Uirunga, ahiin Aaparunga. Inuvialuktun Ilihaurirunga.
Aquniaqtunga iliharniaqtunga U of S – M. Ed.
Admin. Aquniaqtilu, Iqalungniaqtilu.
My name is Dwayne Drescher. I come from Inuvik, Northwest Territories. I am a husband and father. I teach Inuvialuktun [language]. I am training to be a leader at the University of Saskatchewan, working towards an M. Ed. (Administration). I am also a hunter and fisher.
Dr. Barb Laderoute
C7 Reading Passage: “Mahcacowayis: Gift Lake” (reviewed by Gift Lake Contractor and Member Donna Lakey)
Barb is a Cree Métis, fluent and literate in Cree and English. She is from and lives in the Gift Lake Métis Settlement in Alberta. Barb is a researcher, school principal, university professor, and an educational consultant. She is also a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and belongs to a wonderful Laderoute extended family.
Jennifer Ladipo
C16 Reading Passage: “The Wonders of Water”
Jennifer is an engineer. She writes children’s books, using her science knowledge to create fun adventure stories. Jennifer lives in Calgary, Alberta, where she loves reading, looking at the mountains, and running around with her dog, Sir Yogi Bear.
Harman Pandher
C4 Reading Passage: “Let's Talk Numbers”
Harman Singh Pandher lives in Burnaby, British Columbia, and teaches elementary school in Surrey. He is the author of the children’s books Gurpreet Goes to Gurdwara: Understanding the Sikh Place of Worship, and the Celebrate Canada book Welcome to Paldi, published in 2022.
Kristi White
C11 Reading Passage: “Wisdom in Wampum” (reviewed by Haudenosaunee Consultant Jennifer Staats)
Kristi is a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames in southwestern Ontario. Her focus is on Indigenous language and culture revitalization. Kristi’s five-book series, The Adventures of Jay and Gizmo, focuses on the importance of revitalizing and normalizing Indigenous language, culture, and literacy of young Indigenous children.