Students go back to school in Marion County August 10, and for elementary school students the biggest change not be what they do in class, but what they don't take home.
- Marion Schools says no more daily homework for elementary kids
- Superintendent wants parents, kids to read for 20 minutes instead
- Students to read more books they choose over required reading
- RELATED: Manatee school board member supports no homework idea
Marion County's Superintendent Heidi Maier announced that elementary students will no longer have daily homework assignments starting this year.
Dr. Maier made the announcement during a phone message to parents sent this week.
"Instead of working on classroom assignments at home, we want students reading at home for 20 minutes every evening, and we want you to read with them," Maier said in the message.
The school district wants parents to help their child pick their own books to encourage them to read.
"This is so important for so many reasons, including building relationships and increasing parent involvement," Maier said.
The self-selecting philosophy is extending into the school day as well. Maier says Accelerated Reader programs are going away at many schools, and students will be able to choose their own books more often.
"We know that when students self-select their own texts, they read with deeper meaning, with passion, and that love of reading is inspired in them," Maier said.
Maier is basing the decision on the research of University of Tennessee Professor Richard Allington, who believes that reading to a child is more impactful that homework.