John S. O’Connor has taught English for the past twenty years in a wide variety of settings and at every level from sixth grade to college, including Penn State University and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. He has published in English Journal, Shakespeare, and OAH Magazine of History and wrote Wordplaygrounds, a book that presents new approaches to teaching poetry. In addition, he has published poems in Rhino, Heron’s Nest, and Modern Haiku. John has been a featured speaker at state English Council Conferences, the Harold Washington Library for National Poetry Month, and poetry teacher workshops.
View John O'Connor's Resume/Vita, Publications and Workshops.
To request NCTE Professional Development Services, complete the Online Request Form, call 800-369-6283 or email us today!
Learn more about John in this video where he reflects on what teacher's face on the first day of school (from an NPR interview).
Level: 6-12
- Poetry Reading, Writing, and Performance
Let us help you take the guess-work out of planning effective professional development for your teachers! Purchase a comprehensive professional development package that includes a one-day workshop with John O'Connor (on a topic of your choice) AND 20 copies of This Time It's Personal: Teaching Creative Nonfiction!
Cost: $3,000 plus travel costs.
Contact profdev@ncte.org to book this package!
*Other packages/quantities are available. Contact us to learn more!
Previous Presentations
- “New Voices on the Poetry Playgrounds"
- “Poetry Playgrounds: New Voices in the Classroom"
- “Poemsinging: Incorporating Poetry and Music in the Classroom”
- "Teacher as Reformer, Chicago, IL. Presented “Life Lessons: Learning to Analyze Characters and Ourselves through Story”
- "StoryFrames: Using Student Narrative to Improve Comprehension”