The Writers of Wales Database

KILLICK, STEVE

PO Box 5162, Cardiff  CF5 9BH
Tel: 07772259550

Email: stevekillick@hotmail.com
Website: www.wordsofwonder.co.uk/SteveKillick

Writer, psychologist and storyteller. Steve was born in Devon in 1958 and moved to Cardiff in 1982. He worked as a clown and performer before training as a child psychologist in the NHS. Steve has written and produced several video films about child development and mental health including ‘Giving Sorrow Words’ and ‘Start Talking’. He has been involved in several innovative mental health projects and has a long interest in the field of developing emotional literacy in children and particularly in the power of the arts to do this.

Steve has written many scientific and academic papers, books and book chapters. His latest book is a collaboration with storyteller, Taffy Thomas, MBE, and is about using storytelling and making to develop emotional literacy schools. Telling Tales is a collection of traditional stories retold and written for children. The book also includes section on why stories are so important for children’s emotional development and how to develop storymaking skills in children.

Steve also works a professional storyteller and works in schools, theatres and communities. He is currently working on adapting and retelling the ancient story from India, The King and the Corpse, an epic story about the mythical King Vikramaditya’s journey to wisdom through being tormented by a spirit who asks him increasingly complex riddles. This project will lead to both a performance and a book. Steve has also created ‘Mind’s Eye Publications’ to develop and publish books and training materials about emotional literacy.

Reviews:
With respect to Telling Tales: Storytelling as Emotional Literacy (Eprint Publishing, 2007)

“…He leaves you in no doubt of the value of storytelling in entertainment, sharing information, developing a narrative thread, or imparting wisdom on how to behave within a culture. Most of all he shows how stories help emotional and social understanding….......Many of the stories in this book are ones that I use myself, and have found them most effective. There are some that I hadn’t come across before or hadn’t realised they could be used in this way...” 
Janet Dowling, Storylines, Spring 2008

“...The book, which is launched at the Wales Millennium Centre, explains the theory of emotional literacy and how stories can be a powerful communication and learning tool. It details how stories can be used to help social and emotional development and how children can learn to deal with their feelings through stories....... There are practical guidelines for teachers to use in the classroom and a selection of stories that can be used across different age ranges. Telling Tales includes some of these stories, new stories and familiar tales...”
Abbie Wightwick, Western Mail, November 1st,2007

Selected Publications:
Emotional Literacy at the Heart of the School Ethos (Sage, 2006)

Contributed to:
Telling Tales – Storytelling as Emotional Literacy (co-writer) (EPrint, 2007)
Giving Sorrow Words: Managing Bereavement in Schools (co-writer) (video and book training package) (Sage, 1999)
Therapeutic Stories (contributor) (AFT Publishing, 1999)

Telling Tales: Storytelling as Emotional Literacy by Steve Killick & Taffy Thomas (Eprint, 2007)

Telling Tales describes how telling stories is a powerful communication and learning tool for schools or for other organisations that work with children and young people. The theory of Emotional Literacy is described and used as a basis for thinking about how stories can be used to facilitate children’s learning and well being in the school setting and how they can aid social and emotional development. As well as giving a basic theoretical approach, practical guidelines on how to tell stories in the classroom that captivate, amuse and move listeners are given. There is also a rich selection of stories that can be used across the age range that can enhance emotional understanding and expression and help develop relationship skills.

Key Points:- 

•  The educational value of telling stories and how stories enhance emotional literacy are fully described.
  
• Practical skills are given for both telling stories and helping children create and tell their own stories.

To purchase this title from amazon.co.uk, please click on its front cover