STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

  • "At Forest Grove Elementary School, being an elementary student meant crossing your fingers and hoping to get into Ms. Zanette’s Grade 5/6 class—not just because she was everyone’s favourite teacher, but also because it meant getting to play The City Game! I first played The City Game as a Grade 5 student in a Grade 5/6 classroom. Being one of the younger students, I often felt nervous about stepping into leadership roles. That changed when I was given the opportunity to lead City Council Meetings as a City Councillor. Taking on this responsibility in the classroom helped me build the confidence to embrace leadership at such a young age—a confidence I took with me beyond the classroom. Before playing The City Game, I had never seen myself as a leader. This transformative experience instilled a value I carry with me to this day. As a third-year university student, the fact that I still remember the joys and lessons I learned from The City Game is a testament to how impactful and memorable it was during my early education. I cannot overstate how much I truly loved this game, and I sincerely hope younger students have the same opportunity to play as I had, knowing just how transformative and rewarding the experience is".

    ~ Casey Lo, Student 2014

  • “The City Game was a highlight of my time in elementary school, showing me how communication, empathy, and working toward common goals could create a strong, connected community. It taught us practical life skills like filling out resumes, managing finances, and understanding the importance of incentives for a job well done. Role-playing different jobs made learning engaging and memorable, preparing us for real-world experiences in a fun and supportive way.”

    ~ Drewyn Lau, Student 2012 &2013

  • I used to be a very shy student, that wasn’t able to speak up at all during class, but this game helped me learn how to step out of my comfort zone, and become more comfortable with interacting with others. One of the roles that was assigned to me was “Deputy Mayor”. At first, I was so scared that I would have to lead these class meetings all by myself. Back then, it was almost a nightmare for me to talk in front of the whole class, while all the other classmates were staring at me. However, as Ms. Zanette guided me through how to lead the meetings, I became more and more comfortable with talking in front of people. Although I do still get a bit scared for presentations, I am much better at talking and giving speeches, and I think the first stepping stone to overcoming stage fright was this City Game. Also, because I was so shy, I used to only talk to one or two people in the entire class. The City Game helped me learn how to interact with friends that I hadn’t talked to at all before. Through roles such as police officer or even Bank Clerk and Planner Checker, it gave me an opportunity to interact with others, and learn how to not be so “awkward”. Before trying out these roles, I used to never go up to people first to talk to them or ask them questions. However, this game helped me realize that everyone is a bit scared when talking to new people, and that it is totally fine for me to reach out to people first, rather than waiting for them to approach me. The City Game, was so different than other classroom experiences. After all these years, when I think back to my elementary school, the first thing that I can think of is The City Game. It was so memorable, and in retrospect, helped me get over so many of my fears and some social anxiety. I am so grateful that I was able to participate in this Game, and I hope a lot of children will be able to experience this too :)

    ~ Ariel Park, Student 2014-2016

  • The City Game was an impactful part of my grade 5 and 6 school experience. It brought a certain sort of structure and community that was very crucial in learning about responsibilities and tasks as well as enhancing social skills. I remember trying out several different positions in my two years, the two that have specifically stuck with me to this day are: Deputy Mayor and Bank Clerk. Deputy Mayor was a super impactful job position to experience because of all the responsibilities and leadership you have to take on. I found myself growing so much through leading and facilitating meetings and having to look out for the whole class. They are skills I have taken all throughout the leadership roles I have been tasked with since. The Bank Clerk was also super formative but in a different way. I remember being nervous about the position because I wasn’t very confident in my math skills. Through the position and trying something I wasn’t as confident in I gained so much from it. Trying a new position was always encouraged in the class and I know a lot of people really benefitted from those opportunities. The other really fun aspect of the city game was saving up money for the auction. Everyone got to be proud of how much money they had saved and so many fun strategies on how to spend the money would float around the class. The City Game was such a fun and interactive way to learn about community and responsibilities that start as you grow up. The game is so creative and takes place in a judge free environment that kids can try all sorts of new skills out as well as gain connection to other people in the classroom. The “cities” we were a part of and the jobs we completed with other people broke down so many barriers to allow for genuine connection. I gained so many positive skills and experiences through The City Game and can totally see how valuable it was to get exposed to and have practice with those things years later.

    ~ Benjamin Bosnick, Student 2014 & 2015

  • "I got the chance to play the City Games 2 years in a row and I really enjoyed it. With my classroom job, I got experience with managing finances and work responsibilities at an early age in a very supportive environment. The other jobs fulfilled by my classmates taught me to be more accountable and organized in order to avoid fines. With these skills I felt a lot more confident entering highschool. I think the best part about playing the City Game was that more power was put into the students' hands and we played a major role in shaping our classroom community. We didn't need to rely on our teacher as much for problem solving and we turned our focus towards working together to solve issues and conflicts instead. There was a lot of trust in us which was a nice feeling. Finally, it was super fun to play. I have fond memories of strategizing with my friends about how many desks we wanted to own and how we were gonna spend our saved up money. I would highly recommend this game for all teachers".

    ~ Olivia Pisacreta, Student 2014 & 2015

  • "I was able to see the City Game in action over the course of the school year as a volunteer in Ms. Zanette’s classroom.  It’s a brilliant game that teaches the fundamentals of individual responsibility, accountability, teamwork and problem solving. I saw first hand the student's enjoyment when picking a role and their proudness when they contribute to the wellbeing of the classroom. This game creates a cohesiveness in the classroom between student/ teacher and student/ student. The City Game instills confidence in students and reiterates that they are capable, they are heard and that they can make a difference in their classroom." 

    ~ Kelsey Atherley - Student Volunteer in Zanette’s classroom ~ 2023-2024

    Currently in PDP to become a teacher

  • I found The City Game very educational, and helpful for Core competencies development for children. This game also helps to improve children’s attention by catching their interests in earning money to buy stuff, same as staying responsible for their jobs and things they either rent or own. Working as an EA in a class I can admit that The City Game helps to keep children with diverse needs also engaged and interested and potentially developing their life skills as a goal. The City Game creates a great level of competition among kids and the great desire to achieve more in order to earn money. This game also helps teachers to have some free time to observe the classroom dynamics and children’s progress. The City Game involves skills like Math, Literacy and Value understanding. l find it a very helpful tool used in a classroom for children, teachers and EAs.

    ~ Kateryna Balagura - EA Practicum Student

  • Bei, Part 1: I was fortunate to join Amanda Zanette’s grade 3-4 classroom for one of my first classroom Volunteer experiences. Amanda’s teaching approach was truly inspirational and it had a significant impact on my journey to becoming a teacher. At first, I was unfamiliar with classroom routines, but I quickly noticed how well-organized Amanda’s class was. One of the highlights of my experience was being introduced to The City Game, a classroom management system she developed. Her students were eager to come to school each day, and the classroom environment was incredibly positive. Everyone felt like a valued member of the classroom community. Each student had a role, and I learned about their various responsibilities and schedules, such as the rotation of roles/Jobs each term. Amanda even allowed students to create new roles as needed, making the system adaptable and engaging. The City Game kept students highly motivated and excited. At first, I was hesitant about the idea of using fines, particularly for younger students, but I saw how the system motivated them in a positive way, as bonuses are encouraged. Students were motivated to be punctual, submit their work on time, help each other and take responsibility for their actions and they importance of these, the whys, were always explained. I initially had reservations about reward systems, but the City Game is different—it provides clear, structured ways for students to earn bonuses and rewards. What stood out most to me was how receiving fines didn’t lead to shame or embarrassment. Instead, it became a constructive way for students to understand the consequences of their actions while still feeling empowered to be better versions of themselves. Amanda created an environment where students could make mistakes, learn from them, and bounce back stronger. (Continued on the next testimonial).

    ~ Bei Niu - Zanette’s Classroom Volunteer 2022-2023

    Completed PDP 2024

  • Continued... Bei, Part 2: Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Amanda’s classroom. The students were excited about school, actively participated in city council meetings, and took their roles seriously. For example, the bank clerks diligently tracked deadlines and payments, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Everyone worked together to keep each other accountable, which fostered a strong sense of responsibility and teamwork. Now that I’ve graduated from my teaching program, I can confidently say that if I have my own classroom one day, I would love to implement The City Game. It’s an adaptable system that easily aligns with the curriculum, offering countless opportunities for students to learn various skills like financial literacy, collaboration and accountability. I’m incredibly grateful to Amanda for introducing me to this game and for being such a passionate and dedicated teacher. She brings joy into her classroom every day, and her commitment to her students’ growth is truly inspiring. Volunteering in her classroom not only shaped the teacher I am today but also showed me how impactful creative teaching strategies can be. I highly recommend The City Game and Amanda’s approach to teaching—it’s truly something special and inspiring.

    ~ Bei Niu - Zanette’s Classroom Volunteer 2022-2023

    Completed PDP 2024