It's a brand-new school year! Our little learners are tasked with more educational responsibility and meeting higher expectations than last year.

As they ease into their new grade levels and begin the exciting journey ahead they'll need lots of support and encouragement.

Teachers Michelle Gross of Mount Pleasant Academy, Megan Overstreet of Porter Gaud, Erin Bianco of Mt. Zion Elementary, Corinne Tkacz of Sangaree Intermediate, and Jennifer Hilligas of Laurel Hill Primary offer us an overview of what students will do and learn in their classrooms this year and how parents can help their children succeed.

Kindergarten

Reading is a huge part of the day for kindergartners.

They regularly practice the vowels a, e, i, o and u.

Get familiar with the term "sight words," which are some of the most frequently used words in the English language. Your child will learn 45 of them this year. Word rings key rings with flashcards attached are often used to teach sight words.

Most books geared toward this age group have pictures that go along with the words to help give the child clues. The big focus is trying to get each sentence perfect.

Phonemic awareness is also an important aspect of kindergarten. Children will learn the sound each letter makes.

The main goal in kindergarten is to make learning fun. Learning centers are placed throughout the classroom where students can do puzzles, write and work with blocks to improve counting, fine motor skills and number recognition.

A typical day in kindergarten includes a morning meeting, a song and a morning message usually something that applies to what they are learning, such as punctuation.

Lunch trays may be preset in kindergarten, depending on the school.

Homework: Steps up after winter break. The year starts with one sheet, then moves up to two sheets. Your child should read at least five minutes per day.

How you can help: Encourage and build your child's confidence level by giving him the responsibility to do his own thing and let him read books on his own. Work on number recognition even and odd numbers and where numbers are located in sequence (before, after and in between). Your child will see this a lot in first and second grade.

Helpful Web site:

www.opencourtresources.com

First grade

Reading continues to play a big role in first grade but at a higher comprehension level. This year, the books won't have as many picture clues. As your child's confidence level grows he'll learn combinations such as a/o and o/o and how to blend letters to make the correct sound. He also will learn to apply what he reads to real-life situations.

He'll read longer, decodable books and will double the number of sight words he knows.

Handwriting precision is very important this year. He'll write three-sentence mini stories and will have spelling tests.

First-graders have a new level of responsibility and will begin to take ownership of their choices and what they are doing. In first grade he gets to go through the lunch line and pick out his lunch all by himself. It's a big deal.

Homework: Subjects such as spelling and math are added to required reading.

How you can help: Read with your child daily. This will not only increase his vocabulary but also help reinforce letter and sound relationships. Don't forget to write daily, too.

Second grade

Math is important in second grade. It becomes more complicated with more addition and subtraction borrowing, regrouping, etc. This can be difficult for second-graders. Your child also will touch on multiplication and division, which also can be tricky.

Reading is similar to first grade but gets harder by extending upon chapter books. The words aren't harder, but stories are longer and concepts become more in-depth. Reading requires a longer attention span and more comprehension skills.

In second grade your child will be expected to be more self-sufficient and spend more time on tasks.

Homework: Differs by school, but no more than 20 minutes.

How you can help: Foster independence by gently backing off and letting your child do his own work. This is the only way to gauge how much your child actually knows. Be there, but don't actually do the homework. If you feel the work is too time-consuming, be sure to talk to the teacher.

Third grade

This year your child must buckle down and study. Third-graders learn a lot of information, and time must be put in at home as well as in school. There isn't a lot more written homework, but a lot of studying is required.

Your third-grader will take notes in class and bring home study guides.

Math steps up a notch. He must practice and know multiplication facts 0 though 12 by fourth grade.

This is the year the transition from learning to read and reading to learn happens. He must be able to understand what he's reading. He'll read a variety of text, both fiction and nonfiction, and will experience magazines, newspapers and online articles as well.

He'll also study South Carolina history all year in social studies class starting with the Native Americans and continuing into the Revolutionary and Civil wars and the 20th century.

Standardized testing also starts this year. One big change is tests aren't read aloud by the teacher anymore. Students must read the questions as well as know the answers.

Homework: Differs by school, but usually 20 minutes of written homework, plus at least another 30 minutes of studying facts.

How you can help: Make time, provide a quiet space and quiz your child at home. A lot more responsibility is required and time put in at home is much greater than what your child has encountered in the past. Parents really need to help.

Fourth grade

Your fourth-grader will learn critical thinking skills this year and how there are different ways of arriving at the same conclusion.

He'll learn to multiply two- and three-digit numbers and also be introduced to long division.

Social studies is very interesting this year. History lessons start with the explorers and the New World. He'll sail with Columbus and learn about the discovery of the Western Hemisphere and the development of America. He'll explore and study the 13 colonies and learn all about the Westward Expansion.

Science is fun this year as well. He might have a little ecosystem on his desk to observe a frog, snail or some sort of underwater life. He'll learn about weather and the solar system and will probably complete a science project with a partner. He'll also study electricity and might build a circuit and learn how to light a light bulb.

Even more independence and personal responsibility in learning is required this year. Fourth-graders must be a little more outspoken if they need help. They are responsible for writing down their own homework assignments because teachers no longer do. This grade involves more student-directed learning. A number of projects will be assigned and your child needs to stay on top of them by using time wisely.

Homework: One hour, including 30 minutes of reading/journaling and 30 minutes of other subjects.

How you can help: Let your fourth-grader choose his own books. If it's a subject he's interested in, he will read more. Your school or local librarian is a great resource to help find subjects he will love. Remember that praise goes a long way and builds self-esteem. Recognize his hard work.

Fifth grade

As your child gets ready for the transition to middle school, he'll be held more and more accountable for his actions, including staying on task and keeping up with homework and projects.

Fifth-graders work heavily on science and are introduced to chemistry. He'll investigate the properties of simple solutions and mix elements together to see results. He'll be required to do a science project this year, this time solo, and will have the chance to participate in an exciting science fair. There will be more study of living things, ecosystems and landforms.

Social studies picks up where the fourth grade left off. He'll learn all about the Reconstruction after the Civil War, as well as World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, Cold War and terrorism to the present day.

Vocabulary words get tougher. Your child will learn all about antonyms, synonyms, homophones and analogies. Grammar and parts of speech play a big part of fifth grade as well.

Like all other subjects, math gets more serious this year. He'll master adding and subtracting fractions and geometry. And there are no limits to division.

Homework: 1.5 hours maximum, includes 45 minutes of reading/journaling and 45 minutes of other subjects

How you can help: Try to relate homework to life at home. Ensure your child understands the directions, and be available if he needs help but don't do the work for him. Go over his work when complete. If necessary, use a timer to help him stay on task.