LEWISTON — Early morning traffic will be heavier Wednesday as Lewiston-Auburn schools, and many across the state, open.

Twin Cities elementary schools open Wednesday, the same day freshmen at Edward Little and Lewiston high schools begin classes. Sophomores, juniors and seniors begin Thursday. St. Dominic Regional High School is already open.

More than ever before, parents drive their children to school. Those who do should allow plenty of time and slow down, said Lewiston School Superintendent Leon Levesque. And all morning commuters need to look out for buses and students and slow down, especially in school neighborhoods. “We’ll have the speed reduction signs on in school zones,” he said.

Besides getting an earlier start Wednesday, parents can take a few steps to ensure their students have a good start to the new year, educators said. One is make sure their students get plenty of rest the night before, Levesque said. Another is to remember to check backpacks that come home, especially during the first week.

“Everything from the menu to forms they have to sign, there’s a paper trail. It’s helpful if parents stay on top of it,” he said.

More students come to school with cell phones. It’s important that parents communicate with their children, but students cannot talk or text in class. That takes away from learning, Levesque said.

Auburn Superintendent Tom Morrill recommends parents talk to their children about college, even in the early grades. School and learning becomes more relevant to students when they understand they’ll continue their education beyond high school. Parents can help with that by talking about college at home.

Maine Education Commissioner and grandmother Sue Gendron recommends parents establish a relationship with their child’s teachers. Find out the teachers’ e-mail address for easy communication.

And talk to your child about what he or she is expected to do for work. After the first day or two of school, ask what are his or her teachers’ expectations for class and homework, Gendron said. When it comes to homework, students need a quiet place to do it, “not in front of the television,” Gendron said.

Laptop orientations

All Edward Little High School students will be given laptops they can take home after their parent attends a laptop orientation. Those sessions will be held at 1, 2, 3 and 6 p.m. Sept. 8; at 7:15, 8 and 9 a.m. Sept. 10; and 9 a.m. Sept. 12.

“We live in a technology age. When we want to know something what do we do? We Google it,” Principal Jim Miller said. Kids have cell phones, iPods, and are on Twitter and Facebook. “Let’s start using that to teach,” Miller said.

Kids are interested in Facebook, texting and Twitter. “Instead of saying, ‘No you can’t,’ Let’s take that energy” to enhance learning, Miller said.