At a Utah charter school, homework is for parents not kids
Nov 19, 2024, 3:03 PM | Updated: 4:37 pm
A school is asking parents to read aloud to their children for 15 minutes every night. (Canva)
(Canva)
VINEYARD, Utah — Visit the Franklin Discovery Academy website and you’ll see a promise that students will receive ‘a unique and innovative experience.’
That can include a flexible schedule and choosing their own classes. And for some younger students, that innovative experience means no homework.
Instead, homework is assigned to the parents.
Related: Dave & Dujanovic: When does homework become too much?
Why give parents homework?
Franklin Discovery Academy Founder Jenn Price said that not assigning homework to Franklin’s K-6th grade students is an intentional choice for that age group.
“From day one we’ve been a no homework school for the kids. It’s been very important to us because at [their] age it’s just not appropriate in many ways, it doesn’t help. There’s no research to back it up that homework helps,” said Price.
So why give homework to the parents instead? Officials say it helps boost the school’s number one academic priority: reading.
Parents are expected to read aloud to their children for 15 minutes every night. And unlike normal homework, Price said there’s tons of research showing the benefits of parents reading to their children.
How do you get parents to do it?
The kids aren’t penalized if their parents don’t read to them, and neither are the parents. Instead, motivation comes from the potential for a party.
Jamie Sarmiento teaches literacy at Franklin Discovery Academy. Every month, she helps plan a party with a theme from one of the monthly book picks.
“We just recently had a ‘Harry Potter’ night. So, we did wands. We made charms, we had the treats and the butterbeer, and things like that. And that was a blast. Last week we had our ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’ night,” said Sarmiento.
They also offer a date night, where parents can drop off their kids for the evening.
Sarmiento said she’s already seeing the benefits, not just as a teacher, but also as a mother.
“… it’s their time to relax, it’s their time to be with each other. It’s created these bonds [from which] I think we’re going to see benefits for years to come.”
