John Oughton

John Oughton was born in Guelph, Ontario. He spent some of his "formative years" in Alexandria, Egypt, and Baghdad, Iraq. He received his B.A. and his M.A. in English Literature from York University and pursued further poetic studies at the Naropa Institute. He taught English in Japan, was a journalist in Prince Edward Island, and worked at Coach House Press in Toronto. He is now a community college teacher and a photographer.

Selected Publications
Taking Tree Trains. (Coach House Press, 1973).
Gearing of Love. (Mosaic Press, 1984).
Mata Hari's Last Words. (Ragweed Press, 1987).
Counting Out the Millennium. (Pecan Grove Press, 1997).

Selected Anthologies
The Swift Current Anthology. (Coach House Press, 1987).
Instant Anthology '87. (Meet the Presses, 1987).
Insight: Canadian Writers View Holland. (Netherlandic Press, 1988).

Books in Print
Oughton, John
Gearing of Love. Mosaic Press, 1984. $6.95 ISBN: 0-88962-248-5.
Counting Out the Millennium. Pecan Grove Press, 1997. ISBN: 1-877603-37-6.

 

Poet in the School
(Toronto)

phone: 416-535-7328

Oughton has written four books of poetry. Born in Guelph, he has lived in the Middle East, Japan, and Nova Scotia. He now teaches writing courses at Sheridan College in Brampton. As well as taking part in the Poets in the Schools program, he has worked on literacy linkages with high schools and served on parent executive boards. He has published articles, reviews and interviews as well as photographs. His latest book of poems is Counting Out the Millennium.

Grade Levels: 4 - OAC

Fees: standard

Classroom Approach:
Combines brief readings of his and others' work with in-class writing exercises and games. He uses visual stimuli (slides, photographs, newspaper pictures) and music to help inspire students and encourages creative writing by students during the visit, both on their own and in collaboration with other. Simple forms of poetry such as Haiku are used to focus on writing with precision and power.