Buying Steve

Steve’s Educational Books

Imagine That. This is a compendium of around 100 creative thinking activities applicable across the age and ability range. Spiral bound, with many photocopiable pages. ISBN: 1 85539 043 4. Network Continuum Education (NCE – originally Network Educational Press).

Self Intelligence. A compendium of activities, strategies and ideas for developing self-confidence, self-esteem and other aspects of emotional resourcefulness. ISBN: 1 85539 055 8. (NCE – originally NEP).

ALPS StoryMaker. This teaching pack for KS 2-4 uses children’s love of story and the structure of narrative to teach thinking skills and boost creativity. The manual itself explores and explains around 80 writing activities, which can also be used analytically to develop critical skills in terms of literacy, deconstruction and appreciation of text, etc. The manual 300 page can be bought as a stand-alone resource (ISBN: 1 85539 076 0) with a free interactive CD (NCE / NEP).

StoryMaker Catch Pack. This is a follow-up to the first StoryMaker pack. The manual contains around 70 further ideas for developing writing, thinking and creativity, and here the focus is on Fantasy, Horror and Science Fiction to address the issue of motivating boys. Again the manual is available by itself (ISBN: 1 85539 109 0) with a CD ROM or in conjunction with the Catch books of stories – Catch and Other Stories, Catch SF Minitales and Catch Horror Minitales. (NCE / NEP).

But Why? Developing philosophical thinking in the classroom. This is a manual written by Sara Stanley with contributions from myself. The pack is a ‘starter kit’ for establishing a community of philosophical enquiry in your classroom. Intended for KS1 and KS2, the manual (ISBN: 1 85539 172 4) comes with four picture books – a dark retelling of Pinocchio by Sara and three books by me – Philosophy Bear and the Big Sky, Dojen the Wanderer and the poem If I Were A Spider. You also get a Philosophy Bear soft toy (also available separately). (NCE / NEP).

What’s The Story? Games and activities for creative storymaking. This book, for upper KS1 and KS2, is largely photocopiable and contains 40 ideas for creative writing. ISBN: 0 7136 5420 1 A&C Black.

100 Ideas for Teaching Creativity (ISBN 0-8264-8478-6) / 100 Ideas for Teaching Thinking Skills (ISBN 0-8264-8479-4) Continuum.

Boys & Writing (ISBN 1-85539-108-2) Network Continuum PocketPAL book – Practical Aided Learning. A dip-in pocketbook of ideas.

Success in the Creative Classroom: using past wisdom to inspire excellence (ISBN

978-1-85539-216-8). This is a collaboration between myself, Roy Leighton, Trish Lee and Tim Harding. The emphasis of the book is to link profound ideas from past thinkers with new ideas in neuroscience and education, focussed into practical classroom activities. Topics covered include philosophical enquiry and reasoned dialogue, creativity and thinking, ‘narrative intelligence’, learning and remembering through song, further memory techniques, listening skills and peer group education. Ideas are applicable both to primary and secondary students. Network Continuum.