Academic Effort Rating Guide

Recently, I was struggling trying to explain the difference between time and work effort.  I found myself repeating the same thing with little results.  Trying to explain that looking at your notes for 10 minutes is not studying.  After finding little on the web about academic effort I decided to create my own rating sheet to help children and adults realize how much effort they may or may not be putting in.  Since creating this Academic sheet, I have noticed a positive change in numerous students.  Please feel free to share this.  It can also easily be modified to discuss efforts within sports as well as employment standards.

Academic Effort Rating Guide:

This rating is based on a scale from 0-10.  0 being no effort and 10 is going above and beyond what is expected.

Sample ranges of scores and what the score looks like.

0-3    Somebody who does little to no work.  Only a little bit of effort is put into an assignment, test or project.   For example, if an assignment should take an hour to complete. This student would finish in about 20 minutes, with only a portion completed.  (Out of the 20 minutes of work 10 is spent setting up, goofing off or trying to find the assignment) Typical grade achieved would be failure.

3-5    In this range a little bit more effort is put into the work. There is about 40 to 50 percent effort.  On an hour assignment there is about 30 minutes of work completed.  Students will sit down and begin to focus a little quicker.   Typical grade is a D to C-

6-7    This is where you begin to see some interest and effort put into an assignment.  A student would spend up to 50 minutes on an hour project.  The focus and attention on their assignments is greater and typically there is an investment in not only completing an assignment but a willingness to learn the material and lesson as well.  There is a lot less procrastination in starting the assignment and less fidgeting throughout.  (time wasters).  Typical grade range for this effort would be B- to C. 

8-9. My hope is that this is the minimum stage all children strive to meet. The effort put into an assignment is much greater and is on par with the teachers expectations of the assignment.  There is some pride in their sense of accomplishment.  On an hour assignment there is a full hour of effort put into the work.  The work is neat and organized.  This student is usually prepared with all the proper material needed to complete the assignment and is typically  There is no to very little loss of focus throughout the assignment.  The effort on this assignment matches the outcome.  Typical grade range for this effort is A to B quality work.  This Student is usually self motivated and driven

10.     Here is your over achiever.   Not only are they focused and into the assignment, but they go above and beyond what is expected.  The work is neat, organized and presented in a timely manner.  Work is usually double checked for accuracy.  Assignments with this effort are usually in a grade range of A to A. 

Special Note:  It is important to recognize that time and effort go hand in hand.   Just because you spend an hour of time does not mean that your grade will be good.  The effort you put into the time being spent is more important than time being spent.