About the author
Steve Bowkett’s background is in teaching. After qualifying in 1975 with a B.Ed (2:1 Hons) in English he taught for nearly twenty years in Leicestershire high schools (Years 7–9), while simultaneously developing a career in writing.
His first book, published in 1985, was a fantasy novel for pre-teen readers. Further early published work consisted of fantasy and science fiction for teenagers. He has since diversified into adult and teen horror, teen romance, mainstream fiction for pre-teens, fiction and non-fiction for younger readers, educational non-fiction, and poetry for all ages. To date he has published forty-six titles and numerous short stories and poems.
Steve went freelance in 1994 and is now a full-time writer and trainer. Over the years he has visited hundreds of schools to give storytelling sessions, run creative writing and thinking workshops, give talks about writing and run INSET courses on thinking skills, creativity, writing and emotional resourcefulness.
Educational books published:
Imagine That
This is a compendium of around one hundred creative thinking activities applicable across Key Stages 2–3, all abilities. 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 Key Stages 2–4 uses children’s love of stories and the structure of narrative to teach thinking skills and boost creativity. The manual itself explores and explains around eighty 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 pages) can be bought as a stand-alone resource and has a free interactive CD.
ISBN: 1 85539 076 0. NCE/NEP.
StoryMaker Catch Pack
This is a follow-up to the first StoryMaker pack. The manual contains around seventy further ideas for developing writing, thinking and creativity. Here the focus is on fantasy, horror and science fiction, particularly addressing the issue of motivating boys. Again, the manual is available by itself (with a CD ROM), and also in conjunction with the Catch books of stories – Catch and Other Stories, Catch SF Minitales and Catch Horror Minitales (NCE/NEP).
ISBN: 1 85539 109 0. NCE/NEP.
But Why? Developing philosophical thinking in the classroom
This is a manual written by Sara Stanley with contributions from Steve Bowkett. The pack is a ‘starter kit’ for establishing a community of philosophical enquiry in your classroom. Intended for KS1 and KS2, the manual comes with four picture books – a dark re-telling of Pinocchio by Sara and three books by Steve – Philosophy Bear and the Big Sky, Dojen the Wanderer and the poem If I Were A Spider. A Philosophy Bear soft toy (also available separately) is included in the pack.
ISBN: 1 85539 172 4. NCE/NEP.
What’s the Story? Games and activities for creative storymaking
This book, for upper KS1 and KS2, is largely photocopiable and contains forty ideas for creative writing.
ISBN: 0 7136 5420 1. A&C Black.
100 Ideas for Teaching Creativity/100 Ideas for Teaching Thinking Skills
INSET also available – ‘Boosting Creativity in the Classroom’.
ISBN 0 8264 8478 6 and ISBN 0 8264 8479 4. Continuum.
Boys & Writing
A dip-in pocketbook of ideas. INSET also available – ‘Creative English Lessons’.
ISBN 1 85539 108 2. Network Continuum PocketPAL book – Practical Aided Learning.
Success in the Creative Classroom: Using past wisdom to inspire excellence
This is a collaboration between Steve Bowkett, 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, and develop them 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 pupils.
ISBN 978 1 85539 216 8. Network Continuum.
Emotional Intelligence
A dip-in pocketbook of ideas covering relaxation techniques, developing sensory acuity, teaching empathy, developing emotional resourcefulness and ‘dealing with feelings’. INSET also available – ‘Relaxation, Stress Management and Emotional Resourcefulness’.
ISBN 1 85539 165 1. Network Continuum PocketPAL book – Practical Aided Learning.
A Handbook of Creative Learning Activities
This is a refresh of my earlier book Imagine That. It's a user-friendly manual of practical activities suitable for Key Stages 2–4 intended to stimulate creative thinking, talking and writing in the classroom.
ISBN 978 1 85539 363 9. Network Continuum Education.
Jumpstart! Creativity
Part of the Jumpstart series, this is a handbook of over fifty interactive and multisensory techniques for developing mental flexibility and emotional resourcefulness in creative thinking. Sections cover creative thinking, questioning, reasoning, problem-solving and wordplay.
ISBN 978 0 415 43273 3. David Fulton.
100 Ideas for Teaching Creative Development
Designed for Nursery (Early Years) and Infant (Key Stage 1), this is a book of practical ideas and activities that promote creativity across many of the Early Learning goals.
ISBN 978 0 8264 9929 5. Continuum.
100 Ideas for Good Practice
This is a ‘dip-in’ book of practical tips, techniques and advice about maintaining high professional standards in Early Years education. Useful as a refresher for more experienced practitioners and a good sourcebook for students, TAs and NQTs.
ISBN 978 1 84706 166 9. Continuum.
[Both of the above are written in collaboration with Wendy Bowkett who has worked in Early Years settings for thirty years, and for fifteen of those ran her own private day nursery.]
Countdown to Creative Writing
A choose-your-own-adventure strategy for writing prose fiction.
ISBN 978 0 415 46855 8. David Fulton.
Happy Families – Insights into the art of parenting
This is a collaboration between myself, Roy Leighton, Trish Lee and Tim Harding. My contribution emphasises the value to storytelling and story sharing with children.
ISBN 978 1 855 39447 6. Continuum.
Forthcoming:
Countdown to Non-Fiction Writing
The third book in the Countdown trilogy. The emphasis of this book is on the thinking that must occur in preparing to write and analyse pieces of non-fiction writing – questioning, interpreting, inferring, etc. A number of the activities explore how we can distinguish between fiction, non-fiction, beliefs, truth, exaggerations, spurious arguments, etc.
ISBN 978 0 415 49259 1. David Fulton.