Why should children learn to write fluently‎?‎ What difference will it make to them and the opportunities available to them later on in life‎?‎ The ability to communicate clearly‎,‎ accurately and persuasively is a vital life skill‎.‎ Deficiencies in motivation and thinking skills pervade the challenge of improving children‎'‎s literacy levels‎.‎ ‎'‎A Creative Approach to Teaching Writing‎'‎ combines practical activities to help children aged 7‎-11 develop their writing skills‎,‎ with insights into the attitude that experienced writers apply to their craft‎.‎ The activities explore different working methods ‎- such as how authors tap into and develop their creativity and how they deal with ‎'‎writer‎'‎s block‎'‎ ‎- and are supported by strategies for thinking that will develop children‎'‎s literacy and the way they use language to express their opinions in all subject areas‎.‎ Steve Bowkett‎,‎ author‎,‎ storyteller and education consultant‎,‎ provides the key concepts and learning benefits of each strategy‎,‎ along with a series of activities‎,‎ extension ideas and useful links‎.‎ Linked resources can be found on the series companion website‎.‎