So my last post was about using comics as a way to get kids to write, and as I was once again surfing my google reader, I found an article about new ways of getting kids to read —- VIDEO GAMES!  Now, I am pretty liberal in how I view literacy – I personally believe that anything that gets kids involved in their world and thinking is good.  There are, however, different levels of “good.”  I, for example, love to read Nora Roberts books – I hate to admit this, but I hope that it will help me make my point.  I don’t consider them to be ”literature” – I know that every time I read one, not only do I know how it will end, but I can almost always predict how it will come about.  The thing is, they really are just a quick fun read, I don’t have to think much to get through the book.  So I’m thinking about this as I read “The Future of Reading: Using Video Games as Bait to Hook Readers” from the New York Times.  Between my liberal view of literacy and my own personal reading habits, I really think that video games might be a really great way to get kids to read. 

If kids are interested enough in the video game, extending that world beyond the television and controller could create an interest.  If that world is done in a way that involves more than just looking up a clue for the next level, I really think that there could be some “good” thinking and learning going on.  Literacy today isn’t just about being able to read a book or a newspaper – it is about being able to interact with one’s environment – and this involves technology. 

Now, I definitely don’t think that this will work for every kid, but the fact that it may help us reach some makes it worth at least researching.  Yeah, I do think that this would be on one of the lower levels of what I would consider “good” reading material – but honestly it goes back to what is becoming one of my personal mantras – anything to get them reading!!  If this might work, then why not?!?