2 Woodbridge Elementary Schools 'De-Emphasize' Homework

Woodbridge, NJ - Yes, you read that correctly.

Incredibly, two elementary schools in Woodbridge Township — Port Reading School and Robert Mascenik elementary — are starting off the school year by participating in a pilot program that actually de-emphasizes homework. By assigning students less "busy work," kids have more time to exercise and play outside, do chores around the house and spend time eating dinner with their families, Robert Mascenik principal Judith Martino said in a letter sent home to parents, according to NJ.com.

"It's not that there's no homework," Woodbridge Township School District Superintendent Robert Zega told NJ.com. "The homework that students will be coming home with is a little bit different."

That means students will see fewer worksheets asking them to fill in the blank or circle the answer. Instead of reading a certain passage, they may be asked to read a book of their choosing. Or, students may only be assigned homework if they were unable to finish the work in school, or if they missed a day of class. Students will still have to study for tests and quizzes, and they still must do long-term projects and keep a reading log, Zega said.

The changes comes as a small number of schools across the nation, particularly elementary schools, try out "no homework nights," and some schools abandon homework altogether.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/4195916777/ Author woodleywonderworks Wikimedia Commons