Friday, August 22, 2008 --- 6 a.m.

We are your official back to school station! We are wrapping up our week long series with a top 5 list. As NBC 15's Michelle Riell reports, here are the top 5 things parents and students can do at every grade level to make sure the school year is as successful as possible.

Kathryn Burns says, "I really like the fact that it's their first year in school, so I can kind of get everyone off to a good start." But kindergarten teacher Kathryn Burns can't do it alone. Here's her list of the 5 things parents can do to help make their child's early school years add up to success. Number one. Get excited about the start of school. Burns says, "Be excited about the start of the school year, because your excitement will transfer to your child."

Number two. Talk to your student. Talk about what they can expect and what they're looking forward to. You might even uncover some anxieties your child has about school.

Number 3. Take an interest. Burns says, "Going through the back pack together, looking at the things that are coming home, asking questions about well, what was this all about and spending some time, like if your child brought home a book to read."

Number 4. Set a firm bed time.

And number 5. Get involved. Burns says, "For some parents that's coming into the classroom and volunteering, for others it might be attending a meeting once a month that's a parent/faculty meeting." You can even volunteer to do things from home.

For parents of middle schoolers, 6 year veteran teacher Eric Goelzer has his own list. Number 1. Be prepared on the first day with pens, paper and pencils.

Number 2. Get your student involved. Goelzer says, "Ask the student what they'd like to do that's new, you know, join a club or two, um venture out into a new part of the building, try something different."

Number 3. Talk. Goelzer says, "What do they expect out of themselves for the school year, what do you expect out of them, keep that communication open." And talk with teachers. That's number 4. Goelzer says, "Nothing scares a middle schooler more than when a parent says what did you do today and they say "um, not much." And then you say really, I thought you were working on the science of nature and the kid just looks in horror at you because now they really have to say something." Which leads us to number 5. Don't make the mistake of doing the homework for you child or making too much of a focus at home.

High School students also face new challenges. Number one on Steve Somerson's list, a math teacher at East High School is get involved. Somerson says, "You don't have to be into the details of every assignment, just asking how things are going."

Number 2. Have a positive attitude toward all subjects.

Number 3. Learn time management. Somerson says, "If you're going to be working, try not to load a lot of hours during the week, but if you work too much you're not going to have time for school." That means also managing extracurricular activities.

Number 4. Create a good atmosphere at home. Somerson says, "To be able to set aside you know, here's our study area here's our study time, being able to have a regular routine I think is very helpful for kids to be able to get back into school and be successful."

And number 5. Know where your child can get help with their studies if they need it.

All great advice that equals a successful learning experience. Now, the teachers we talked to at each grade level also agreed on the importance of proper nutrition and adequate sleep. And the point that seemed to be driven home the most was just talking with your child as much as possible.