Dear Honourable George Abbott,

I would like to express my praise towards excellence in teaching for an outstanding Ms. Amanda Parent (Zanette), Grade 5/6 teacher at the Forest Grove Elementary School, in Burnaby, BC (SD41). I have had the opportunity to meet her in person and chat with her. Her energy is incredible and her focus towards keeping her class engaged and learning is admiring.

My son is in grade 5 and is a student in Ms. Parent's class. I have never seen my son so engaged in class activities as he is now. Ms. Parent has developed this amazing sims style structure in the classroom that incorporates her subjects while learning within this model. The class is set like a city where the teacher is the mayor, and there are duties/jobs (bank clerk, library assistant, police (checks day planners/hands out fines), etc.) which alternate monthly amongst the classroom students. Each position pays a salary and each student has "rent" to pay monthly for their desks. It's incredible because it incorporates planning, budgeting and math skills towards the financial part of the project, life skills in learning what the consequences are (for example: if you have overspent and had not planned well) and organizational skills. There are perks for extra tasks completed and fines for not completing tasks. This type of teaching module keeps the students responsible for their own actions.

Recently, the school has decided that they would like to run for a contest that will hopefully win them an award by making a movie about their school, their community and their community garden. Ms. Parent's class is spearheading the production portion of the movie. A list of each position of what makes up the production crew (directors, assistant to the directors, casting managers, storyboard writer/artist, lighting, stage manager, make up, actors, etc...) was handed out to the students for them to nominate themselves and do a vote. Each position pays a salary, which will go towards their city module. I think this is so incredible! The students will be in charge of making this happen! My son was so excited for this project, he decided to create a "vote for me" poster last night! He tells me that if he got the position he seeks, and since he had half the money saved up, he would have enough to "buy his desk" which means pay off the mortgage and not have to pay rent for the rest of the school year! This made me mist up. I see here my son has been budgeting well and planning ahead.

This kind of teaching is out of the box. I am truly grateful to have my son in Ms. Parent's class. He is learning so well and is excited about going to class. I strongly believe that when you find a teacher that is as profound as this, they should be recognized and receive acclamation for their outstanding work.

Sincerely,
Amy Lau

“My son is in grade 5 and is a student in Ms. Parent's (Zanette’s) class. I have never seen my son so engaged in class activities as he is now. Ms. Parent (Zanette) has developed this amazing sims style structure in the classroom that incorporates her subjects while learning within this model.”

~ Amy Lau

Parent Letter to the BC Minister of Education

PARENT PERSPECTIVES

WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

  • Lau, Part 1: "My son Drewyn was fortunate to have Ms. Zanette as his classroom teacher for both grades 5 & 6 and participated in the City Game for both those years. Technology is continually evolving and so should our ways of teaching and learning. Teachers today must develop contemporary pedagogical practices in order to capture and hold student’s attention for successful learning. One current methodology would be the use of role-playing in the classroom. With the emergence of the new BC K-12 curriculum towards building student success, tangentially, The City Game brings forward the 21st century learning approach which is by the use of questioning and analysis towards addressing issues, creating or building projects with open-ended answers, motivating students and extending their capacity for learning by incorporating role play into the classroom. This game significantly compliments well with the timing and advancement of our new education system, designed to help students succeed in the current world through inquiry and collaborative based learning. I remember when Drewyn first told me about the game and how interesting it sounded. I thought it was a fantastic idea and I was intrigued as to how it was managed. I wished to hear more so I asked him about it on a daily basis after school. He explained to me the concept of how the game was organized in groups or “cities” which was governed by a City Council, made up of members who held roles such as Deputy Mayor, Police Officers, Planner Checkers, Bank Clerks, Librarians, and other community positions. He continued on how this game showed him how real life worked and how it helped him understand life better. This game taught Drewyn how to think and plan ahead. Their desks were treated as home ownership. He was so good at saving his “job earnings” that he managed to pay off the “mortgage” in order to be the home owner of his desk and then also buying a friend’s desk, which in turn made him a landlord charging rent!" (Continued in the next testimonial).

    ~ Amy Lau, Parent 2012 & 2013

  • Continued.... Lau, Part 2: "I strongly believe that this game has helped him develop skills surrounding his work ethics and learning to work towards rewards and benefits. As he progressed throughout the school year, he showed more confidence the more successful he became in his roles, which consecutively helped him towards his developmental maturity. As identified in Erik Erikson’s (1950) Childhood and Society Theory: Industry Vs. Inferiority psychosocial stage, it is an important period in children’s development in learning rudimentary skills needed to engage in their society. Moreover, children of this group, ages 5-12, feel they need to win approval from their peers, parents, and teachers by demonstrating that they can strongly complete tasks in order to feel valued and develop pride in their work and goal achievements. As a parent, I was moved by how well this game worked within the walls of a classroom and how the skills were easily transferrable to real life. I find it easy to feel compelled to support Ms. Zanette’s passion for teaching. Overall, this game (and book) is phenomenal as it can bring significant learning into a classroom and so much more. Children who take part in this game have the opportunity for successful learning and to gain remarkable, transferrable life achievement skills, through role-playing".

    ~ Amy Lau, Parent 2012 & 2013

  • "I never get tired of listening to my niece, Amanda, talk about her students' learning while using “The City Game “. She has been teaching for 17 years now, using this method, and she is just as enthusiastic now teaching “The City Game “ as she was when she first started teaching it to her students. It is also very intriguing how she is able to adapt the game to the needs of all her students' learning challenge’s. I just love when she shares stories of empathy and respect the students show each other, and how eager they are to take on “The City Game“ responsibilities and jobs in the classroom. Teaching using this method puts ALL students on a level learning field in the classroom. This greatly benefits their education and social skills for life. As a very shy student in the 60’s and 70’s, this method of learning would have been very beneficial to my learning and social skills in school. I have 3 grandchildren in the Surrey Elementary school system, and I wish they were being taught using “The City Game”. I could see the betterment in both their educational learning and social skills, which would take them through school and through life. Our world is always changing. Learning and showing empathy to their fellow students and understanding the importance of social responsibility at such a young age is priceless in this day and age".

    ~ Linda Holbeche

    Amanda Zanette’s Aunt who has listened to many stories about the game for many years!

  • "From the moment I started hearing the impact The City Game was having on Amanda Zanette’s students, I knew it was something special. The City Game classroom model is built around the concept of simulating a real-world city where students work together to solve complex issues, make decisions, and understand how different elements of society interact. It provides opportunities for children to actively participate in shaping solutions to problems, and transforms learning into an engaging, hands-on experience that blends education with real-world problem-solving. What truly stands out to me as a parent is that The City Game goes beyond traditional academic subjects, nurturing collaboration, communication, and empathy. It offers a way to think critically, express ideas, and see the bigger picture in ways that a conventional classroom might not offer. Additionally, Amanda Zanette’s approach is incredibly adaptable and encourages children to take ownership of their learning. I can see how it empowers students to become more independent thinkers and eager participants in their education and frees up the teacher from classroom management to put their focus on where it's needed most. Overall, I highly recommend any classroom using The City Game model to parents looking for a unique, engaging, and effective educational experience for their child. It’s clear that The City Game is not just a way to deliver curriculum, it’s an immersive, transformative learning experience that will stay with a child long after they leave the classroom".

    ~ Kristie Walters, Childhood friend hearing inspirational stories about The City Game over the past 17 years

  • The City Game provided a platform for my son to learn a variety of valuable lessons regarding financial management and the introduction to how money is needed in life. As a result of being in a class using this model, my son has learned the value of money, has been able to save money after each job he has had and when faced with a decision to spend his money, takes the time needed to ensure the money he is spending is done wisely. Will says that because of the game itself, he has a greater appreciation of what money is, how it is used for expenses and how to save for future expenses too. Coincidently too, he is learning that it is not healthy to be attached to money as well as the fact that stuff and things are not all necessary for happiness.

    ~ Barb McMahon, Parent 2014

  • "I love hearing about The City Game and how it creates more community, collaboration and leadership in (and out of) the classroom. These are such important values to learn at a young age! I love empowering our children to have a voice and to know my children would be empowered to use their voice in a classroom like this brings warmth to my heart! With limited classroom resources, this is such an important classroom tool that leaves our children with more independence, empathy, and real life skills than ever before! I am looking forward to ‘gifting’ this to our child’s teacher!"

    Danielle Ferguson, Childhood Friend and Mom of Two