For some kids, A's really pay

In some homes, the perks fade when the grades do.

Some of Jessyca Tucker's students have had iPods taken away or been told they can't send "instant messages" to their friends online. It happened because they brought home C's or D's.

Tucker, who teaches middle school in Ramsey, N.J, likes to work with parents on ways to help their kids improve. Ultimately, though, parents set the rewards and punishments.

"It is a real-world practice," she said of awarding bonuses for excellent work. "But if you start it at a young age, it can take away from the value of learning — learning to become a more cultured person, someone who adds value to the world. It's a tough issue."

Reg Weaver used to gives his kids a dollar for each A. It's a personal choice, nothing wrong with that, said Weaver, president of the National Education Association.

Taking gifts for granted
His concern is that some children take gifts for granted.

"I see little kids going into stores with cell phones," he said. "You might say, 'I'll give you $5 for an A,' and the little kids will say, 'So?' They don't recognize how easy they have it. And as adults, we don't make it much better."

Even kid-friendly companies grant report-card rewards.

Krispy Kreme offers a free doughnut for each A (no more than six per student.) Crown Theaters gives out two free movie tickets for straight A's (all B's is worth a medium popcorn.) Sbarro recently offered kids a free pizza slice and a soda for good grades, if they said the secret phrase: "A's and B's — pizza please!"

The National PTA has no official position on rewards for grades. But it gives parents tips from Virginia Shiller, a clinical psychologist and author of "Rewards for Kids!"

Shiller suggests that rewards should be based on weekly progress, not long-term report cards. That forces parents to pay more attention to how their kids struggle and when they make small victories. The system ends up rewarding good study habits, not just good grades.

"You can focus on the exchange of gifts and money, but it's really about the engagement," Shiller said in an interview. "If you just hand out the cash, it won't help in the long run."

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