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Should Class Participation Be Graded?

March 13, 2023

When your teacher asks a question, do you raise your hand or hide behind the person in front of you? For the kids in Tomika Lamb’s fourth-grade class, raising their hands can raise their grades. Lamb is a teacher at Twin Hills Elementary School in Willingboro, New Jersey. She’s one of many teachers across the U.S. who counts class participation toward students’ grades.

Lamb says taking part in class discussions keeps students involved. And it helps her see areas where students need extra help.

“It gives the teacher a chance to hear students’ ideas and to check their level of understanding,” explains Lamb.

But some people argue that it’s unfair to grade kids on participation. They say quiet kids are actually more focused in class. Plus, kids might speak only because they’re expected to, not because they have something useful to add.

Here’s what two of our readers think.

Students who are willing to participate in class discussions should be rewarded for it. Raising your hand and answering questions shows your teacher that you studied and understand what is being taught in class.

Receiving grades for participation helps kids build confidence by teaching them to speak up and share their opinions. It also helps build important life skills like being able to speak in public and communicate ideas.

Just because someone doesn’t speak up in class doesn’t mean they are a bad student. Kids can show their teachers that they understand their work in other ways, like doing well on projects, written assignments, and tests.

Some students are shy and may not be comfortable speaking in front of all of their classmates. And sometimes kids aren’t sure of the answer to a certain question. Their grades shouldn’t depend on class participation.