Your thoughts Kids getting A for effort in class.

TamTam624 · February 2009

I know we are far from this point, but they were talking about this on the Radio and I really have issue with just getting an A on an assignment just for trying.

I really think that you should be graded based on the directions and criteria of an asignment. I really do not want them to go easy on DS, I want him to have to go above and beyond to get that A.

What do you think about this?

jenifairies · February 2009

A for effort is bullshiit.

lanie26 · February 2009

Absolutely absurd.

SoxChamps · February 2009

Perhaps it would be good for an effort grade to be separate? Or a small percentage of the grade? I don't think that kids should be able to use "but I tried!" as a cop out, but I also don't think we should forget the importance of trying your best. Even as adults it sucks to try hard and not have our efforts recognized, but you can not use it as an excuse for poor performance either.

Heather R · February 2009

I'm a teacher, so I definitely think A for effort grade is lame.

KKM · February 2009

I think it depends on the grade, child, and assignment. In general though I think you need to put in the work for an A

Amrice78 · February 2009

As a teacher of special education, I think it's bullsh*t

citygirl_ · February 2009

Well, how old are the kids we're talking about here? If it's a first grader who was confused by an assignment, sure.

Brookie-Cookie · February 2009

maybe as a percentage of the whole grade but I think it's lame, it's a disservice to the kids who do a good job and deserve the A

Luckystar2 · February 2009

Ridiculous! Quite frankly I think that type of attitude is just a huge disservice to our children.

An A is for outstanding work. It completely devalues the work of those that truly deserve As.

I don't think someone should get a failing grade if they really did try hard, but there are other grades besides F and A.

Crazycrustacean · February 2009

I don't believe in the a for effort.?I think it's healthy for kids to have something to strive for and to suffer consequences if they fail to get an assignment correct.?

I also think it's healthy for kids to suffer some disappointment if they get a c, even though they tried their hardest. That will teach them that life is not always fair & will teach them how to live with disappointment. It teaches them how to lose gracefully as well.?

Their boss won't give them an a for effort when they lose a million dollar deal or something like that. Ya know? ?

?

Amrice78 · February 2009

Luckystar2:
Ridiculous! Quite frankly I think that type of attitude is just a huge disservice to our children.

An A is for outstanding work. It completely devalues the work of those that truly deserve As.

I don't think someone should get a failing grade if they really did try hard, but there are other grades besides F and A.

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. I would never fail one of my students who tried but I believe grades are earned, not given and if you don't earn an A you don't deserve an A

Lizzie.Bee. · February 2009

jenifairies:
A for effort is bullshiit.

This. It gives kids a false sense of entitlement.

preacherswife04 · February 2009

i am a school counselor and i give "A for effort" an F!! if the kid really tried his/her best, studied hard, etc. and doesn't merit an A then they are probably missing something and will be falling behind if they don't get some extra help/tutoring/something! so don't give an A and let them keep muddling through....they'll end up drowning!

Buckets of Moonbeams · February 2009

For what age? Yeah, I do think first graders should get an A for effort. I have problems with how much work they make such young kids do anyway, to the point I'm seriously contemplating home schooling, at least until 5th grade or so.

Now if we're talking about high school aged kids, that a different story.

lanie26 · February 2009

It's all part of the big "everyone's a winner, no competitive games. No one ever loses, everyone always loves each other alallaallalalala" nonsense that does nothing to prepare children for a reality outside their parents homes.

Amrice78 · February 2009

lanie26:
It's all part of the big "everyone's a winner, no competitive games. No one ever loses, everyone always loves each other alallaallalalala" nonsense that does nothing to prepare children for a reality outside their parents homes.

exactly, kids are in for a rude awakening when they realize the real world just doesn't give a damn if you tried your best and there are losers/winners in life

the "everyone's a winner" thing annoys me to no end, why is it so wrong to teach children how to win and lose with grace?

loveybear · February 2009

Lizzie.Bee.:

jenifairies:
A for effort is bullshiit.

This. It gives kids a false sense of entitlement.

all of this.

abonner11 · February 2009

i teach kindergarten and our report card has a spot for a writing grade and an effort in writing (we use numbers 2-5) I definately have students who work hard during writing time but are still falling short of the requirements for a trimester, so they might get a 3 in writing but a 4 in effort. i think it depends on the grade/subject/criteria.

KGsky · February 2009

As someone who never got an A for effort, I guarantee you I probably would have put forth far less effort if this was the standard!? That's my first take.? But, what I saw when I was teaching (substitute, so I didn't grade) was that due to overcrowding, understaffing, etc...not all kids in a class had the same ability, and grading the ones who were not as academically well-developed with a D or an F could be very damaging to the self-esteem and willingness to try harder.?

So long as you're not giving an A for not making an effort, while it's probably not the greatest thing you could do, but I understand why educators would find this a better alternative.? I think if you're talking about a gifted class or even a room full of students that are pretty much all "on grade level" in terms of testing--take the gloves off.? But with limited resources, I think they have to find ways to encourage students who may be having difficulty.

thomas&lynn · February 2009

Assessing effort is way too subjective, even if only a small percentage of the grade. I was a teacher's assistant for college freshmen (but taught and graded the recitation singularly) and was astounded by how entitled some of those students could be. I can't imagine having to battle thier cries of "But I tried SOOOO hard, doesn't that deserve an A???"

'Um, no, you wrote a paragraph and the assignment called for 2 full pages!'

proudarmywife08 · February 2009

A for effort = garbage

I don't want DD to just be given A's. I want her to work hard and earn those A's.

longhorn14 · February 2009

Stupid.

I spoke with my brother's teacher recently and he was telling me the district is going to prevent kids from failing. How you might ask? Never giving zeros. Even if you didn't do the assignment, you get a 50. WTH? This teaches kids that they will be "handed" grades without working for them and that they can just "get by" in life.

Amrice78 · February 2009

KGsky:
As someone who never got an A for effort, I guarantee you I probably would have put forth far less effort if this was the standard! That's my first take. But, what I saw when I was teaching (substitute, so I didn't grade) was that due to overcrowding, understaffing, etc...not all kids in a class had the same ability, and grading the ones who were not as academically well-developed with a D or an F could be very damaging to the self-esteem and willingness to try harder.

So long as you're not giving an A for not making an effort, while it's probably not the greatest thing you could do, but I understand why educators would find this a better alternative. I think if you're talking about a gifted class or even a room full of students that are pretty much all "on grade level" in terms of testing--take the gloves off. But with limited resources, I think they have to find ways to encourage students who may be having difficulty.

I understand your sentiment, but I disagree with the assessment. I teach special ed, therefore the curriculum is modified and the teaching strategies are differentiated to accommodate different learners. Kids are graded on what they do with that material. I have a senior (19) who is very cognitively limited, giving her an A is not going to change that fact, nor prepare her for life outside of our sheltered program. The problem I have with giving an A for effort is it is unrealistic and ultimately more detrimental to the child than giving him or her the B,C, or D that they actually deserve. As I said before, I have only ever given F's to students who do not put any effort in at all (not doing the assignment, sleeping through class, etc)

MNheidi · February 2009

I don't think grades should be given until 4th or 5th grade. Simple checks, check + and check - is a great system when they're young. As for effort is silly - that's not how the real world works.

beckys96 · February 2009

I completely agree. Just grading an assignment just based on turning SOMETHING in is nuts. My sister is a history teacher for 10/11 grade. She goes thru all their stuff with a fine comb. That is how it should be.

nbjenni · February 2009

The lowest grade my district allows on report cards is a 61. So the kid who sits in the back of my room and does jack sh!t nothing all year, and makes a 12 (I kid you not), will see a 61 on his report card. And double bonus, if he can make a 100 on his final exam (20% of yearly grade) he could almost squeek by with a 70.

BULL HONKY

Want a personalized experience?

Your thoughts Kids getting A for effort in class.

Re: Your thoughts Kids getting A for effort in class.

Choose Another Board

Search Boards