Spoilers! Game
Leah Langby
May 28, 2019
Keeping Up With Kids

I found out about this game, Spoilers!, from an ALSC listserv.  It was developed by Kendra Wright, formerly at the Sno-Isle Library System in the state of Washington.  Though this game requires library staff to commit to reading a lot of middle-grade books, it sure seems like a great way to develop relationships around reading.  It might be a really fun way to work with kids who struggle with reading, or who need more encouragement to read during the summer (or any time).  You could offer it specifically to a smaller group of kids, or try it out on an individual basis with a kid who spends time at the library already, but who might need a little extra nudge to read enthusiastically.

The basic gist of it is that a child chooses a book they haven’t read before, the librarian gets a copy of it, and reads to the halfway mark.  Then the child comes back after reading the whole book and tells the librarian two endings:  one true, one that they made up.  The librarian tries to choose which one is real–kids love trying to trick adults!

I love the idea because it engages kids in a one-on-one relationship about reading, with plenty of individuated support and validation for reading, which the research supports as being a really excellent motivator.  Plus it give kids a chance to be creative and sneaky, which is a great combination when put to the right kind of application!

search all blog posts using keywords or title, date, categories

Archives

Categories

Related Articles

Thanksgiving Books

I recently got a question from a librarian who had weeded a lot of Thanksgiving books that perpetuate myths about Thanksgiving that are both historically inaccurate and promote harmful ideas about the Indigenous people already here when the colonists celebrated their...

Marketing to Teens

Thanks to Reb for passing along this sound advice from Angela Hursch about marketing to what can be a very tricky audience:  teens.  Take a look at this short video, Boost Teen Library Attendance,  and see how many of these things you are already doing, and if there...

Art to Calm Squirming Bodies and Minds

I attended an excellent webinar yesterday through Early Childhood Education Webinars with Anna Reyner, an art therapist who is also an early childhood expert.  Wow!  So many wonderful ideas.  The Early Childhood Education Webinars are almost always thought-provoking,...