What is creativity and how do we teach it? The Really Useful Creativity Book provides approaches and ideas that will enable children to develop their creativity. Written for the primary school teacher, student or trainee teacher, the book shows you how creativity can flourish in your classroom. With examples of practice included throughout, the issues covered include: everyday creativity – ideas to get started on straight away planning – with ideas for cross-curricular planning, and many other ways to plan for creativity creativity and the environment – starting with the classroom and school, then going further afield creative Partnerships – working with other people to stimulate children’s creativity the drama of creativity – showing how teachers can adopt the mantle of the expert thinking about creativity – thinking skills for your children, and ways of thinking for you. This lively, stimulating book will help busy teachers working with the National Curriculum to develop children’s creativity.

The Really Useful Drama Book offers busy primary school teachers a collection of step-by-step drama sessions, inspired by high-quality picturebooks, that will engage children and promote enjoyable learning across the curriculum. Lively and thoughtful, the interactive drama sessions are structured around a wide range of texts, including wordless picturebooks, postmodern picturebooks, short stories, well-known texts by recognisable authors and some you may not have come across before, all chosen for their power to foster curiosity. The step-by-step sessions can also be adapted to incorporate your own ideas and passions, allowing you to structure them for the topics you’re exploring with your class. Each session is structured around two texts and offers a guide to the drama strategies used, teaching objectives, ideas for writing opportunities, problems, emotions and challenges to explore, and a clear guide to exploring each text. Ten key themes are explored: Suspense Prejudice Friendship Rhyme and rhythm War and conflict Nature Overcoming fear Possessions and obsessions Dreams Short stories With a focus on the crucial role of imagination in the classroom, The Really Useful Drama Book helps reclaim a purposeful, passionate pedagogy and shows teachers how drama can place children right at the heart of a story, encouraging their desire to ask questions, solve problems and search out new information.

Now in its third edition, The Really Useful Literacy Book is the definitive guide to the high quality teaching of literacy in your primary classroom. Written specifically for primary school teachers and student trainee teachers, this book offers inventive ideas for the classroom together with an accessible and informative summary of the theories that underpin them. It explores creative approaches to literacy teaching as well as offering a range of units on all areas – speaking, listening, reading and writing. While this book provides creative ideas that can be taken by teachers and developed for their own classrooms, it clearly explains the theoretical rationale for these ideas. It can also be used by school literacy leaders to develop whole school approaches and high quality teaching throughout the school. This accessible and engaging text will be an essential companion for all primary teachers, at any stage in their career, looking to motivate, engage and challenge their children in their literacy lessons.

The Really Useful Maths Book is for all those who want children to enjoy the challenge of learning mathematics. With suggestions about the best ways to use resources and equipment to support learning, it describes in detail how to make learning the easy option for children.An easy-to-follow, comprehensive guide packed with ideas and activities, it is the perfect tool to help teachers who wish to develop their teaching strategies. The second edition has been fully updated in light of the latest research, as well as in response to the new mathematics curriculum. It includes many more practical activities for each mathematical topic and explores exciting new areas. Key topics covered include: Numbers and the number system Operations and calculations Shape and space Measures, statistics and data handling Cross-curricular approaches Resources and planning for teaching and learning Contexts for making sense of mathematics Bridges, strategies and personal qualities Dialogue and interactive teaching International perspectives on teaching and learning Psychology and neuroscience to maximize learning. The Really Useful Maths Book makes mathematics meaningful, challenging and interesting. It will be invaluable to practicing primary teachers, subject specialists, maths co-ordinators, student teachers, mentors, tutors, home educators and others interested in mathematics education programmes. Tony Brown was formerly the Director of ESCalate, the UK Centre for Education in HE at the Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol, UK. Henry Liebling formerly led Primary Mathematics Education at University College Plymouth, Marjon, UK.

The Really Useful Primary Languages Book is an easily accessible guide, full of handy resources and activities which are perfect to dip into for enjoyable, engaging and ultimately effective language lessons. Providing principles, approaches and ideas to help bring the teaching of languages to life in your classroom, this highly practical book will be essential reading for the development of children’s language skills across Key Stage 2. With examples of practice included throughout, the book covers key topics such as: principles of good planning mixed age classes developing skills such as literacy and oracy phonics grammar storytelling, poems and songs using language games and activities activities for developing reading skills supporting children’s writing integrating learning a language with daily routines cross-curricular language learning peer and self-assessment involving parents in language work at school. The experienced author team draws upon their own personal teaching experience, coupled with knowledge of primary best practice and government guidance, to ensure that The Really Useful Primary Languages Book is a stimulating resource to help busy teachers, trainee teachers and teaching assistants to develop their own effective teaching style.

The Really Useful Physical Education Book offers support, guidance and practical ideas for effective, innovative and imaginative physical education lessons. Underpinned by easy-to-understand theory, this second edition is fully updated in line with the National Curriculum for Physical Education at Key Stages 3 and 4 and provides a wide range of high-quality lessons alongside engaging teaching examples and methodologies. With an emphasis on inclusive physical education, it highlights the ways in which schools can re-design the curriculum to ensure maximum enjoyment for all pupils. Key topics covered include: • Planning, progression and assessment • Health and safety issues • Inclusive track and field athletics • Adapting activities to support SEND • Swimming and water-based activities • Alternative activities including street-surfing and combat sports • Introducing dance into the curriculum • Enjoyable gymnastics for physical literacy • On-site adventurous activities • Values-based teaching • Teaching accredited awards • Using new and emerging technologies The Really Useful Physical Education Book offers essential advice and inspiration for both trainee and practising teachers responsible for the 11–16 age range. It is a must-read for all those who want to make their lesson inclusive and fun whilst promoting a healthy lifestyle and enthusiasm for lifelong activity.

The Really Useful ICT Book is a practical and easy-to-use guide to give you all the confidence you need to use ICT really effectively inside and outside the primary classroom. It makes clear how ICT can be taught as a standalone subject, and how it can be used easily and imaginatively to enhance teaching other subjects. Jam-packed with ideas and templates to save you time, this friendly handbook offers an introduction to: using ICT inside the classroom – including interactive whiteboards, computer suites, VLEs and e-safety using ICT outside the classroom – including word processors, laptops, data loggers and digital cameras when and how to use a wide range of software and hardware – from spreadsheet packages through to digital photography, e-portfolios and software simulation using ICT in all subject areas practical suggestions for using ICT in cross-curricular topics using ICT to develop teacher and pupil creativity using ICT for assessment and in your professional role. With an emphasis on developing children’s creativity and on progression from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2, The Really Useful ICT Book is a comprehensive compendium of advice and inspiration for all training, newly qualified and experienced teachers, as well as those in support roles in primary schools.