Paying a Child If They Bring Home A's from School. Would You or Do You?

ROFL... "He'll expect to get paid"

You mean like at a job? Getting paid for work well done? Heaven forbid. No paying jobs for my children. They just need to be satisfied with doing the work. Not expect to get paid for their time and energy.

Read the book "Drive" by Daniel Pink. Paying kids for grades, or giving prizes for schoolwork done, or paying them for completing expected chores is completely demotivating for kids.

Internal motivation is the only kind of motivation that can get us to work hard for what we want to accomplish.

I'm studying for a PhD in Industrial/Organizational (workplace) Psychology. Salary above a certain wage is less and less motivating for workers, too. The satisfaction of doing meaningful work is motivating.

I am a teacher at a community college. Please do not pay for grades. Students need to learn internal motivation. It is as simple as that. They eventually are going to have to learn how to set goals for themselves and achieve those goals because they know how to take responsibility for the workload. They need to learn that becoming educated is a process that requires discipline and a strong work ethic. The reward isn't the grade or the money paid. The reward should be the skills learned, the knowledge gained. The reward should be knowing that by learning well, one has a chance to move forward with larger personal goals. Without this core value, students treat getting an education like getting their ticket punched by a train conductor. They become passive, not active participants in their educations.

Rather than paying a child for good behavior/grades I've always heard you should spend quality time with them. Money shouldn't be the greatest reward you can give your child.
When I was little my parents used to take me and my sister to a special restaurant (that we all enjoyed) whenever we got straight (or mostly) A's on our mid-term or final report card. I still have great memories of this and it helps to emphasize that family is what is important and not money or material things.
I know this might not work for some, but it did for us! I plan on doing the same with my daughter.

I'm responding to this as a mom and as someone who received money when I made good grades. I was consistently a good student throughout my elementary, junior high and high school days and graduated as Valedictorian of my high school class. I always made straight A's and I would literally cry if I had any B's. My grandparents on both sides gave me money when report cards came out, and did the same with my sister (also a very good student). We didn't receive a set amount per A or B that I can recall but instead received whatever amount they gave us in a congratulatory card. My parents would take us out to dinner at our favorite restaurant and we usually got the card with money then. Although I do know that it was kind of a given that this would happen, I still know I was grateful for the money and the dinner every single time. It was my family tradition in a way. I'm not sure how to phrase this...although we knew we would most likely get money, it wasn't something we necessarily expected. We never considered it a bribe but more of a reward for a job well done.

As a mom, my SS absolutely HATES school and has for years. Besides not having a great structure or support system at his mom's, he has very little motivation to make good grades. He was nearly failing last year and was in serious danger of being held back from the 8th grade. My DH and I made a deal with him that if he passed with no D's or F's, we would buy him a PlayStation 3. Graduation day came and I don't know if I've ever been so proud of my SS. He had sent me a pic of his report card earlier in the week...A's and B's with one C!!! He said that having something tangible to work for really helped motivate him! He's now struggling in HS (same thing...lack of motivation and support at home...*sigh*). He's nearing driving age so my DH bought him a '69 VW Bug. It needs some work and is a good project car for them to work on together. It also comes with the understanding that unless he is achieving B's and C's (I don't expect straight A's from him although he is really smart school just isn't his thing) there will be no car for him. So I guess my point is....rewards can work with some kids....but it can also become a pattern. I don't know if there is a right or wrong view. I think the best we can do is what we feel is right for our kids and just hope that it works!

After our hockey game today...I would say avoid the payment plan option entirely. We have a 7 year old kid on our team that when my husband (the coach) was trying to encourage him he said "Hey Logan, go out there and get that goal." The kid replied "I will if you give me $50...otherwise I am not even trying..." Dad pays him to get goals because his dad is always trying to impress everyone with how much money he has, and how he is the "cool dad." It is sad, pathetic, and their kids are obnoxious little beasts.

I spent two weeks last summer chauffering their 5th grader who would DEMAND I stop and buy him treats and snacks at stores and ice cream places on the drive home. He even tried to shoplift some when I refused at one place.

Having my mom do the payment for grades option...I will tell you it didn't change my grades one bit. I was an A/B student and did just enough to get by...and every report card I managed to clear a little cash by doing the same stuff...and just getting by.

I do think you can reward a kid for their efforts, though...No if __, you get ___. It is more of an I am proud of you and your grades so I am suprising you with this ___, that I thought you would like.

All of y'all are CRAZY!!!! I would NEVER PAY my kid for grades...perhaps you should move to Texas.....you MIGHT get paid for chores...(if you do 'em right)....then again, just gettin' a meal is good....paying for grades!?! THAT is just plain STUPID!!!!! Why on earth do you pay for your child to do what they should be doin' from the get go? Just who is waggin' the dog here?

When mine got into jr high (they were straight A students all through elementary), they got a little wrapped up in the social scene of school and brought home some B's and Cs. Dad and I were totally shocked so we told them we would reward them with cash for A's, it worked and we were proud to pay them for a job well done. That's how they funded some of their video games, pooling their A monies.

A provocative question! Even the experts are divided on this one. Several large cities have instigated programs that pay students in poor neighborhoods for getting good grades, in some cases putting the money into educational savings accounts for them.

In the short run, results often seem promising. And in areas where kids tend to fall into crime and selling drugs to make quick money, it seems to provide a workable alternative for some students. They may be more likely to resist temptations and those social and economic stresses that compete for their attention.

In the long run, many educators and psychologists worry that it keeps rewards "extrinsic," which can delay or even block the development of "intrinsic" rewards like love of learning and pride in accomplishment. The counter-argument is that with the social and economic pressures these kids experience, many would be unlikely to develop a sense of pride in their educations anyway.

In the average, economically comfortable home, paying for grades may eventually backfire. Parental engagement and encouragement seem to be terrific motivators for the average child. With that thought, here's an article on praise that may have some useful information for parents wondering about how to best motivate their children: http://nymag.com/news/features/27840/

And here's an article on paying for grades in public schools: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1123...

I do think kids should be rewarded for good grades. Maybe not $5 for every one but something. I think school is your "job" when you are a child so you should be rewarded in some way for doing good work. Plus I'm a big believer in positive reinforcements and rewards.

I'm not a fan of paying children for grades. We are trying to foster a love of learning, not a love of money.:)

However, I do love the idea of parents sitting down with the kids and discussing the homework, getting involved and finding resources to help when it's beyond the parent's level of expertise or ability. Nothing wrong with this.

Some ideas: with struggling kids, consider a tutor. When the child brings their grades up consistently and needs less/no tutoring, then the "tutor money" could go toward a fun family outing.

Or a great GPA could be acknowledged with a special treat: pizza party with some friends, a summer camp or lessons for an activity they love (dance/art camp, basketball camp)...something more personal, which will inspire them to learn more and to strive for their personal best.

Low grades= the family works together to help the child.
Great grades= the family acknowledges this and supports the child in their interests.

Win/win, all the way!
H.

I would certainly give a monetary reward if they are saving for something for report cards or a very large test, or take them out for dinner at a fun place or something.

But not for just an every day grade. It really doesn't teach the child to desire to achieve set goals and accomplishments without a reward system. Children need to develop inner controls and motivation, if they do it for rewards only then it's not going to help their inner compass.

Absolutely would not pay for grades. The goal is for him to develop an internal motivation to love learning and to succeed in life (however he will chose to define this). The goal is not to get an A in school (although it is certainly a step on the way). I do not see how paying for grades will help develop this motivation.

I would never pay for a grade... and guess what some kids just will never get A's (I am one of those, trying my best at best I got a B but usually a C).

Now at bigger report card time my parents did something based on what each child's skills were, if we all did our best they would take us out for pizza for doing our best. In turn we knew that yup if we did our best mom and dad were paying attention. In the end though they did their best to show us it is about doing our best even with nothing in return. To me that is the best thing we can teach a child, good workmenship without getting something in return.

I guess if you can afford it ok, but how about putting that money in a college fund for them. It is good for kids to learn to work for money to learn how to manage that money but to me school is a must (do your best, whatever the grades are) not something you should be paying your kid to do.

i find it really hard to believe that the idea of getting paid will cause a kid to focus and do better at school for three whole months? that's a looooong time to wait, and we all know how kids have such great attention spans. i don't know. my grandparents gave me minimal amounts, like a dollar for all A's or something. but my parents never paid us - it was expected. not all A's necessarily, but that we would do our best. but i guess none of us really struggled with grades, either. i think your answer was right - every family is different.

I won't. Our approach is simply you will make good grades or else. Of course, if he is having trouble we will help him or find a tutor. We do celebrate a good report card but we don't pay for good grades.

yeah, i agree w/the report card grades...i guess we were poor (lol)...my brother & i got two bucks for an A and one buck for a B when we got our report cards. regardless of the amount, we were always happy to receive that money. i don't think it's wrong at all. i'm a grown woman and i don't expect five bucks here or there when i do something good. it's just a thing to do for kiddos, and it's obviously working! :)

I don't think I'll do that for my kids, but I guess I don't see the harm in $5 per A. It's not like they're only going to work hard for $5. It is more like a reward in my mind.

On the other hand, my son goes to a school in an affluent neighboring city. At the 3rd grade spelling bee, I heard one boy whispering to another that "Eli'd better make it, 'cause if he does, his mom's giving him $100!"

I have a HUGE problem with offering $100 to a kid for managing to do something that is quite possibly out of his control. This was a voluntary activity, and talk about putting pressure on a 9 year old! And when he missed a word and was cut, poor little Eli sobbed and sobbed.

I think THAT is what I try to avoid when offering rewards. They should be rewarded for doing their best, whatever that is. And the reward should not be extravagant, or it becomes the motivation for performing, instead of finding joy and satisfaction in learning and performing.

Oh~ I pay for grades. LOL

This is my scale for my 9th grader:

A = $10
B = $5
C = 0
D and F = minus $10

So, if he does really poorly he owes me money. There have been times he made a ton of money, times he has broken even, and one time he owed me money.

I started this in 7th grade and it has worked well for my son and me. It gives him some instant gratification and really doesn't cost me that much as I only do it for report cards only - progress reports don't get paid.

Different children respond to different incentives and I don't think any one way is wrong or right.

I have 2 kids in school and I approach school as it is their jobs. While I go to work, so do they. Getting good grades is a must in my family, if school is your only job, there is no reason not to do good, if you are paying attention and doing your assignments, then the outcome should be good grades. So, I do hand out money on report card day, like a paycheck. I know this sounds kind of hard, but to get my kids to be responsible adults one day, I believe they need to know that with hard work brings the feeling of accomplishment and a trip to their favorite store to buy whatever they want with the money they have earned and I do give them the option of going to the bank to deposit their money into their savings accounts. I hope this helps!

I think it depends on the child. If you have a child who doesn't have to try to bring home As every time, then I don't really think they should be paid for that. However, if you have a child who consistently brings home Bs and Cs, that money might be a motivation to really push to make the A.

Why do you think salespeople have bonuses if they make a certain goal? It's to get them to push to hit that higher expectation. I don't think having bonuses or paying for grades is going to stop people from having internal motivation. Either you have it or you don't. I have the internal motivation to do a good job at work, but I certainly don't have the internal motivation to train for a marathon. Same with school. Some have it, some don't.

We will. We told the boys they will get $5 for As, $3 for Bs, $1 for Cs, $0 for Ds, and they owe us for Fs. it just gives them a little extra incentive.

School is children's work, their job. What they invest shapes their future. Grades can be likened to a paycheck. But....Those top grades don't necessarily indicate the amount of effort a child put in.

For some kids, academic work & success comes easily, for others, they work hard and achieve so much less. Our society rewards people for looks, facial/bodily beauty, and intelligence, but aren't we born with or without these things? Why reward a child that gets A's with very little work? I would want to recognize a child for the effort they put into their tasks, reward them for trying, and staying with it when they found it hard. The child getting the improvement award at school is the one I am proud of. The child with learning disability who masters the times tables or learns to write a good sentence, when it was a major struggle deserves recognition. If you want to reward for achievement, I don't see anything wrong with it, as long as you're rewarding for actual effort.

BTW...our school district doesn't give letter grades any longer. It's 1-5. 1=far below basic, 2=below basic, 3=basic, 4=proficient, and 5=advanced. And the child is given one of those numbers based on standardized test scores. It's a whole different world than when we Moms went to school!

You've gotten TONS of responses on this already... I just wanted to say that my parents paid us for A's and B's... and we turned out ok. It motivated me to get good grades and I didn't expect anything for my efforts once I graduated lol. When my son starts getting actual grades (rather than S's and E's...) then I may do it w/ him too. Every kid is different though. If you think the money will be motivate them, why not!?

I haven't read every response, so sorry if this is a repeat.

I'm a teacher. Many of my coworkers pretty much freak out if they hear that there's a student being paid to get good grades. And I understand that to a point. Yes, there should be internal motivation. However, school, and doing well in school, just isn't motivating for some kids. We send just about 100% of kids to school for 13 years, and expect them all to learn to love learning for learning's sake. But that simply doesn't happen.

Some of them become motivated to learn. Some of them become motivated by the grades. But some kids aren't motivated to learn what we teach in school, nor do grades "mean" anything to them. So we have to find something else that means something to them to motivate them. I think that a _little_ monetary incentive to light a fire under a kid is totally fine. After all, you can't find internal motivation unless you sometimes feel rewarded for working hard. I think that it really becomes a problem when a kid _only_ works for the money and loses sight of what it is that they are actually supposed to be learning. I have plenty of kids that do the same thing for "As" - they'll cheat, complain, etc all in pursuit of the A. But no one is suggesting that we get rid of grades. Other kids can see the A simply as a small reward for a job well done.

I think as long as your friend is also supporting her son in his learning, talks to him about school, helps him find his passions and doesn't make the conversation all about the $5, she's found an effective way to get her child to buy into the system.

Check out this time article:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,###-###-##...

As a teacher, I am against the idea. However, if you do want to try it, I would pay your son for the amount of time he studies each night.

The article explains it.

Of course!, My daughter gets 3 dollars per "a" and 1 dollar for every "b", we give her another 3 dollars for perfect conduct plus a new priviledge, like having a phone, or being trusted on the internet(limited of course). We do this for progress reports and report cards.

I think it teaches life lessons. If you work hard and are pleasant at work you get raises and promotions.

It absolutely works. Major motivator? Maybe not. While kids are young, I expect it to work.
Here's what happened with us. The school my kids go to has at least 3 tests a week (first grade): math, spelling, social studies, science, and religion. They rotate but always have at least 3 tests a week. My kids are very smart. But we had an underlying problem. They got used to getting 5s. They started thinking they will get 5s no matter what (because they know the subjects), so they started not really paying attention, hurrying, and even started competing with other kids as to who will finish their test first. They started bringing 4s (3 is considered on level, 4 is above grade level, 5 is excellent, meaning wayyy above grade level). So it's not a problem if they get 3s and 4s. If that is what they can get. But getting 3s and 4s because they think it's a game (has to do with immaturity), then it's not ok. So I gave them a choice: bring a 5 you get 5 bucks. Anything below 5 gets nothing. Huge motivator. They're getting all 5s in every test. Does that mean they're studying harder? No, not at all. That just means they're concentrating more during the test because they want their 5 dollars. Is it bad? Am I bribing? I don't care. I see a huge shift happening in how they behave during testing. I told one of the moms, who kept complaining how her son was getting 2s and making mistakes in things she knew he knew them. She gave him the same choice, and now the last few tests he has been getting 5s. So, yes, it works for us.

Good question and interesting answers. My oldest son has ADHD and learning disabilities so his school performance is all over the map. When he was much younger (2nd grade) my husband made a deal with him without my consent that if he got a 90 or better on his spelling tests, he would give him a Matchbox car. It wasn't an instant cure-all, but he sure was excited to bring home those tests and the reward was a bright spot in an otherwise miserable school year (this was before he was getting the services that he needed in school). After Matchbox cars lost their pull, my husband converted that to $2.00 per A test and he could save the "good grade money" up for something that he wanted. He didn't get an allowance, so it was a nice way for him to earn some spending money. And with his poor grades, the A tests were few and far between so we weren't going broke with the payout. This deal was largely between the two of them and it's something special that they share. He's in 7th grade now and I think there is some new deal on the table that's probably not realistic - if he makes honor roll he'll get a PS3 or something like that.

Anyway, my first grader learns very easily so I don't imagine that we'll be "paying" him for good grades but we'll probably reward a good report card with a special activity or ice cream or something. My other 7th grader (step-daughter) is also very bright and has been a straight-A student until she switched to our school system, which is harder than her old school system. Her grades are slipping so I think my husband told her that if she doesn't get back on track by her next progress report she loses her phone and if her report card in April isn't great she loses tickets to a concert. That may seem harsh but we know that she is capable of doing better so we expect her to do so.

I think at the end of the day it's all about doing whatever works in your family, and even having different sets of expectations and rewards for children within the same family. My older sister and I were excellent students and I would have been somewhat insulted to get paid for As because that was what I expected of myself anyway. I liked having my hard work be acknowledged but I didn't need to be paid for it. My brothers and younger sister, though, did not have an easy time of things with school so they probably were paid for their best efforts and I didn't notice or care about it. One of my brothers worked harder for his failing grades than I ever did for my top grades so in a situation like that, it's important to recognize and reward effort and not just the results.

As a mom and secondary teacher, I can tell you that no way would I ever do this. Kids whose parents do this, are not intrinsically motivated in any way. Parents feel they are doing the right thing, but what we see in the classroom is that kids will not do what is expected (whether it's grades or behavior) unless they are getting something in return. We even see it in their relationships. Many don't want to do something nice for their friends unless they are getting something in return. It's expected by them because that's what they know. We also found that it caused a lot of cheating on exams and a lot of tears when caught because these students feel more pressures. They want to make the money, and if they have trouble understanding something, they feel the only way to get paid is to cheat. And they feel like they can't live up to parents' expectations. Keep in mind that not all kids are A or A/B students in every subject- actually MOST KIDS are not great in EVERY subject. If your kid is making As 100% of the time, then they are probably not being challenged in their classes.

We praise our kids for anything they do that is expected, and they love the praise. We also reward on occasion, but it's never expected. Our rule is that if you do something expecting a reward, you are sure to not get one. They don't know when a reward is coming or what for. We have found this to work well.

You are right that what works for one family may not work for another, but by offering money, there are so many ways this backfires and can be detrimental to the kid in the long run. HTH

I absolutely pay may daughter for grades. I do not pay her an allowance though. I figure she should contribute to the upkeep of the household since we are all a family and should work together.

I see school as her "job" and just as she will be paid for hard work as an adult, it makes sense to me that she gets a reward for doing well at school. I don't have a set amount though. I expect at least As and Bs every quarter (because she is well able to do this), and if she meets that goal she gets to pick a reward (i.e. a sleepover with friends, a dance class, etc.). For straight As I really "kick down the cash" : ) because that requires more effort on her part, and a significant amount of consistency in homework and maturity in making good choices in how to spend her time. I should mention she is in her first year of middle school, and I only implemented this system this year...

I have always gotten paid for work. Including good grades.
I guess I am in the minority where getting paid for hard work is a big motivator for me.
Annnnnnddddd I will probably try the reward system with my child too. =)

Hunh, well my dad always had a standing offer per A. I always felt a little pride showing him he had to shell out X 5 or 6! But I don't know that it was the reason I made good grades. He always made a big deal about being impressed with my grades which also felt great. So I don't think it is necessarily wrong, although instilling an understanding of the importance of education and pride in accomplishments seems like the important part to me.

We got $25 if we brought home straight A's- other than that it was $1 per A. We let our kids pick out a book if they get straight A's- it's a little less expensive and it's fun to see the books they pick out. I think it's part of the motivation for them to work hard- they all love to read, and it's a nice way for them to build up their "own" library.
~C.

I expect my kids to do their best I know they are very well capable of doing so they show me they truly tried their hardest great but didn't get an A on that subject that is fine we'll keep trying practicing & doing what is needed to get to the understanding of the subject that is causing them difficulty.I'll give my kids good behavior money into their Piggy Banks they get a toy every now & then for overall good behavior at home & school.Since they are still young I try to get them to understand that schooling is their future this is where it all starts to get somewhere in life be what you want to be.They don't get letter grades yet but overall my son has done very well,if & when they get bad grades & need additional help they will get it & apply themselves.It is possible that they will be rewarded with money turning a negative into a positive but first & foremost I want them to feel that they deserved it they worked hard for the better grade & applied themselves.

When you go to work, do you expect to be paid? And if you do an exceptional job, did receiving a nice bonus in appreciation of all your hard work help motivate you to do more of the same. I know that when I was still in the work force, money was a big motivator for me. Children should get good grades because it is expected of them but I do think that if there is a little bit of added incentive for them to bring home A's, then what's wrong with that? Of course, I don't think the reward should be something too excessive but, why not reward them for putting in that extra effort?

My oldest child has high-functioning autism but is in a 2nd grade general ed class. He has the academic smarts but staying on task and handwriting is really, really hard for him. Since he loves going to the aquarium, I told him that if he made it onto the AB Honor Roll, we would take him there as his reward for doing such a great job (he doesn't care that much about money but he loves the aquarium). His sister, who is just a year younger, does not have any learning disabilities. Since I believe in fairness, she gets the same reward as him (thus far, she hasn't expressed a preference for receiving money instead of going to the aquarium), so she receives the same reward for obtaining the same goal. This has worked for us so far. The reward for good grades doesn't always have to be money.

Just my two cents....

Why not? If your household budget can afford it, it certainly could be a component of earning an allowance. I'm a working divorced mom, and the thought of a bonus at the end of a year certainly improves my job performance to some extent. It shouldn't be for reports, quizzes, etc, that's just too frequent. School is in many ways training for being on the job and it doesn't hurt to give your children an idea of what bringing home a paycheck involves. What would you do when a C is on the report? Would that be docked from the allowance? Perhaps a non-monetary reward based on your child's favorite activities would be good. My concern is if your child is having difficulty with a subject it might not be lack of effort. Paying for grades can suggest to the child that you think he just isn't trying enough, rather than he needs help. I wish learning how to raise a child was a more clear proposition sometimes! By the time I figure it out, my son will be grown.

It doesn't work for many kids because the rewards are not very immediate.
But I don't think it's harmful at all.

If most people weren't receiving a pay check, they'd quit their jobs in a minute.

I didn't pay my daughter for grades. She was capable of making A's and B's so it was expected that she would.
When she did, we went out to Baskin Robbins and celebrated with banana splits.

I had that as a reward during my childhood, I did not get a weekly allowance as others did here is the breakdown
10 for an A
5 for a B
0 for a C
-10 for a D
NOTHING if there was an F
In highschool I had some AP classes (college credit) those were paid higher because they were worth more when calculating your GPA.
On progress reports I got HALF of the amount and when finals came around at the end of the year if I passed them all I got a 50 bonus and if I got a B or better on all of them I got a 100 bonus and 150 if I got an A on all of them ... it was well worth it to be a good student. My parents looked at school as it was my job, I also carried a part time job where I was the asst mgr at my Sr year. I will be doing the same with my child when he is of age.

i would never pay for every day grades. one habit that i wish i wouldn't have started is paying $5 per A on report cards. not progress reports, ONLY report cards...so, it's only twice per year and she has a max of 5 subjects.

My mother always gave $1.00 for every A the grandkids got..
They are always making a ton of A's, so my mom is thrilled to give it to them..

I am not so much into A's, as I am into making sure they did their best. Our daughter took all honors, pre AP and AP classes.. It would have been a lot of pressure to expect all A's. The Ap classes are actually taught and tested on a college level. I always told our daughter, I would rather her make a B in an Honors class then an A because it was so easy in a regular class.. .

no way! School is their job and a house to live in, clothes, outings, food, ect is there pay...they get "paid" enough.

We don't pay money, but our son gets rewarded. He knows I'll never tell him 'no' at the book store as long as he brings those good grades home. (He's had straight A's all the way from kindergarten to his current grade (gifted 6th grade)).
He knows his grades are major bragging points for Mom and Dad and he takes pride in that.

Well, I think $5 is a bit high, but then my kids are all still really little. AND - while I wouldn't "pay" my kids for grades, I can see "rewarding" them for really good grades. Functionally, it's the same thing, but how it's presented matters.

One of my children can be postively directed by "positive rewards" (aka bribery) when nothing else works. So....while I might, philosophically, think this isn't a good idea, I can see why someone would do it. In the end, most of us "do what works."

I see nothing wrong with it. I feel it shows them that hard work is what "pays off" Our parents would set a list, $3 for A's $2 for B's $0 for Cs and below. It was a good motivator. However if we got ANY D's or Fs we received nothing.
I agree what works for one family may not work for another. Kids need to learn early that being responsible and working hard is what gets you somewhere in life. I also think that while good grades should be rewarded, bad grades require consequence. Paying back money for good grades or losing privileges etc

I was going to say EXACTLY what Riley said. Yes, I expect my children to do well in school, but I also know that an "atta boy" and $5 may give them some incentive! :)

How old is the boy?

I say $5 for each _assignment_ is crazy huge.
$5 for each A on his report card and/or progress report would be okay.

When I was in high school, my parents "Rewarded" me with $5 for each A and $3 for each B that I earned on my report card (each six weeks).

i would probably do something like this, at progress reports if they have a b and raise it to an a they get 5 dollars a c to a b 5 or c to a 10 (5/per letter grade raised) BUT if they dropped a grade they have to PAY you 5 dollars per letter grade

My parents tried this when I was a child but it got expensive for them to pay me -- school came easy to me even in honors classes -- and it was disappointing for my sister, the one they wanted to motivate. Eventually they quit it and tried to find some other "scale" of success to measure her accomplishments and rewards for IMPROVEMENT rather than As. Not every child will get straight As...that is just not reasonable. That is also the reason why what might work for one CHILD will not work for another even in the same family.

My parents never paid me for grades. I pointed out to them that some of my peers got paid for grades, but they said school is for the learning and that should be satisfaction and motivation enough. I was a pretty good student, mostly As and Bs. Most of the kids I know that the kids that bragged about getting paid for grades were not good students. And I guess I was proud to be in the place my parents expected me to be at in school. I felt good earning my own my money from my part time job once I got into high school.

Now that I am a parent, I do not pay for grades either. My girls are good students, overall. Certainly not perfect. I tell them what counts in that they put in their very best effort, not the grades. So is a B a good grade on a test or assignment? Yes, if you put in your best effort and a good amount of study time in to it, a B is a good grade. No, a B is NOT a good grade if you rushed through the work carelessly just to "get it done" or avoid bringing home homework, or failed to study. In other words, if a better grade was very attainable, but the effort was just not made, a B is not a good grade. So how do you put a dollar amount on letter grades? In my opinion, you really can't. You just need to follow your child's school work diligently to make sure they are putting in their best effort each day.

Grades are not everything, it is working hard and doing one's best work that determines success. I loved the phrase my daughter's kindergarten teacher used, "do your personal best" and that is what I expect of my kids.

I don't see this as a bribe - I see this as a reward.

Each family handles it differently. If my son brings home straight A's this year - he'll get a cell phone. He hasn't brought home straight As...he's working hard on it - but hasn't achieved it. I told him if he WANTS it - he will EARN it.

I TOTALLY agree with you - if it works for YOUR family - do it.

For example - if my boys behave during a drs visit or something else - they get to play a game on the XBOX. If they don't - no electronics what so ever. I just need to remind my boys what is at stake and they get to deal with the consequences of their actions - good or bad - this is what works for MY family.