Pokémon Go Buddy System = Big Improvement?

A Poliwag invaded my classroom!

I am really excited about the upcoming Pokémon Go update. Niantic Labs has officially confirmed that the game will soon feature a "Buddy System," which will allow players to bond with specific Pokémon and receive special rewards for doing so, including additional Pokémon candy. One of the biggest frustrations of the game for me has been the difficulty of farming enough candy to evolve my Pokémon, and only a couple of posts ago I complained that I would like to develop stronger relationships with specific Pokémon in my collection. Now it looks like that will actually become possible! 

This update is also well-timed because Pokémon Go is becoming a regular part of my life now that the school year has started. I put a Team Mystic logo in my classroom window and the response I get from students has been overwhelming—a lot of them play the game, and they are excited to know that some of their teachers play it, too. I've gotten a lot of interest in a weekly Poké Walk, where we all walk on the school's running track so that we can hatch eggs. Now it looks like we'll also be able to collect candy thanks to the Buddy System! If trading also becomes possible in the near future, even more students will be attracted to the game and to the club. Nothing is better for me as a teacher than finding additional ways to connect with students and helping students enjoy the time they spend at school. 

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