The school year is well under way and the first report cards are due soon. As the kids get older, I find it harder to keep up with their academic progress. This is especially true of my son in middle school, where the students are expected to be more responsible for their own learning. While I keep in regular contact with my second grader’s teacher and so find few surprises when the report card comes home, I am never sure what surprises (good or bad) await in the middle schooler’s report card. How many telling papers are stuffed far in the locker?

Well, soon the truth will be told, but then what? I always wonder whether I should reward good grades with a monetary payment. Last year, my husband made our son an all or nothing offer: All "A"s would yield $100. Anything less would be $0. I made a different offer: $10 for every A, $5 for every B. Nothing for Cs or less. He accepted my terms, but I wasn’t happy with that arrangement, as I think our son earned too much for less than stellar report cards. This year, we haven’t made an agreement and I’m tempted not to. What do you think?