The City Game Book

09/11/2026

Before I've even met my new class, students are already asking one question: 'Do we get to play The City Game?

It's the first week back at school, and students are already asking if they can be in my class or if they'll get the chance to play The City Game. Their excitement excites me!

Next week, I'll meet my new class, and we'll begin on Day 1. Because The City Game is already planned and ready to go, I don't spend September worrying about what to teach. Instead, I can focus on building relationships, creating community, and launching an engaging year from the moment students walk through the door.

Check out the recently updated website at www.amandazanette.ca

09/03/2026

Is this the year to make a shift in how you manage your classroom?
~ Start small, or jump in fully. Either way, watch your classroom transform into a self-running, collaborative community! www.amandazanette.ca

This year, consider taking your classroom management to a whole new level with THE CITY GAME ~ a dynamic, real-world simulation that turns your classroom into a thriving community.

Students are “hired” for real-world-inspired jobs that:
1). Reduce the teacher’s workload.
2). Build financial literacy through renting/buying desks and biweekly banking.
3). Strengthen social-emotional skills as Police Officers mediate conflicts and Deputy Mayors lead City Council meetings.

This is more than classroom management ~ it’s a system where students’ voices are heard, responsibilities are real, and learning happens through trial and error in a safe, supported space.

Whether you try the full program or introduce parts of it, you’ll watch students:
~ Take ownership of their learning environment.
~ Practice problem-solving and leadership.
~ Build the confidence and independence they’ll need in the real world, where parents and teachers aren’t beside them every moment.

09/03/2026

What if one classroom activity could teach real-life skills students never forget? Since 2009, The City Game has transformed classrooms into vibrant communities where students build financial literacy, confidence, and a sense of purpose through hands-on learning. The testimonials I’ve gathered from teachers, students, and families aren’t just kind words ~ they’re powerful reflections of growth, connection, and lasting impact.

As education writer Parker J. Palmer said, “We teach who we are.” These voices show what happens when learning is meaningful, real, and rooted in experience.

Visit www.amandazanette.ca and click on Community Responses to read their stories ~ some reaching back over a decade.

Thank you to every educator, student, and family member who has supported and believed in this game. Your enthusiasm is what keeps it thriving.

09/03/2026

Success is built on systems, not just goals—"ATOMIC HABITS" demonstrates this. A 1-degree shift each day sparks real change. Start with one lesson from The City Game today! www.amandazanette.ca

09/03/2026

07/28/2026

We wrapped up the term with our first City Game auction!

One student, who was in my class last year and is with me again this year, volunteered to model how to be an auctioneer as students take turns in the role. With confidence from past experience, he stepped up to lead and support others.

This year, he went even further by creating a brand-new job, gift wrapper, helping classmates wrap items they purchased for friends and family.

It’s powerful to see how experience builds confidence and how students take ownership, show leadership, and create opportunities for others through The City Game.

To learn more about The City Game, visit www.amandazanette.ca

07/28/2026

This term… I finally fixed something that’s quietly bothered me for years about The City Game.
I thought it would be hard to make the shift mid year, but it was such an exciting day as students created their neighbourhoods.
For years, The City Game has built connection, shared responsibility, and community in our classroom. At the same time, I struggled with how each table group was called a “city,” when what was really happening was so much more connected than that.
This small shift made a big difference.
Our classroom is now the city, and each group is a neighbourhood. That language better represents what truly goes on: neighbourhoods working together, relying on one another, and contributing to one shared community.
Students are designing their neighbourhoods for their group poster, and we’re bringing them together on a classroom map so we can name our city together.
Not separate cities.
One community.
Welcome to our city.
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07/28/2026

Looking for a meaningful, engaging way to launch Term 2? December is the perfect time to introduce The City Game! While finishing up your report cards, you can start teaching the lessons and preparing students to play. After the break, students will be thrilled to return ~ getting hired, receiving their new cities, and creating their city posters!

Term 2 is the perfect time for students to step into new responsibilities, while you control the pace of the game so it fits your classroom's needs.

Start your Term 2 adventure now! Snag your copy of the digital book with editable sheets for $20 during our Black Friday sale! https://www.thecitygameamandazanette.ca/thecitygamepurchases/p/thecitygamebook