Longhorn Loop
Vol. 8 Issue 20 | December 19 - January 7
The Lanier Gardening Club is looking to cultivate new members. If you are interested in growing your gardening skills, please sign up today!
Encourage your teen to use an assignment checklist before going home.
Students can't complete their homework if they have forgotten the information or resources necessary to do it. Eliminate the "I forgot it" excuse by having your teen create a checklist to complete before the end of the school day. It should contain questions such as:
- Do I clearly understand all assignments and due dates?
- Do I have all the needed books, materials and supplies?
- Have I talked to all the necessary people?
The Importance of Critical Thinking and User Empowerment
The responsibility for a healthy online environment doesn't lie solely with tech companies. Developing strong critical thinking skills is paramount for users. Here are some key practices to cultivate:
- Source Evaluation: Check the source of information. Is it a reputable organization or a random website?
- Evidence-Based Approach: Does the post provide credible evidence to support the claim? Can you find the same information elsewhere?
- Language Awareness: Beware of overly emotional language, sensational headlines, and a lack of nuance.
While user vigilance is crucial, there are tools and initiatives that can support a more robust information ecosystem:
- Fact-Checking Websites: These websites can be helpful resources, but users need to actively seek them out and verify the information.
- Browser Extensions: While some extensions claim to detect fake news, their effectiveness can vary. They might miss new tactics or perpetuate existing biases.
- Media Literacy Education: Integrating critical thinking skills into educational curriculum equips future generations to navigate the online world effectively
from: Don't Trust, Verify: Why AI Safety Requires a Shared Responsibility for
a Healthy Online Environment
By: Anthony Autore
CEO at Revolution 4 Technologies
June 28, 2024
When guiding students on assignments, emphasize the importance of validating all information they encounter, especially when using AI tools. A useful approach is to limit AI assistance to one aspect of an assignment at a time, such as:
- Brainstorming
- Outlining
- Researching
- Evaluating drafts or context
- Summarizing
Throughout the year, rotate these components to ensure students engage with every part of the project or assignment. This practice encourages them to validate and revise AI-generated information with their own insights and perspectives.
The theatre department at Lanier High School will be performing a community preview of Mary Poppins at the Eagle Theater in downtown Sugar Hill on Monday, October 28th beginning at 7 PM. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults and can be purchased via GoFan.co or by using the QR Code.
This version is a One Act cut and lasts about an hour, making it perfect for younger audiences.
We would like to urge you to disable the digest option in your Parent Square account settings for Lanier Middle School. Many of our communications are time-sensitive, and we don’t want you to miss any important updates. Your attention to this matter will ensure you stay informed and connected with all school activities and announcements.
Thank you for your consideration!
Parents now have the option to be notified in the ParentVUE mobile app if their student’s grade fall below a preset threshold. Follow this link for more information.
Keep up to date with all the great things happening at Lanier Middle School by joining our social media platforms. See the Bottom Banner of this newsletter for Links to our Twitter, Facebook pages OR see the "Let's Be Social" section of the Lanier MS Homepage for links to all our social platforms including Instagram and our YouTube Channel. It is here you will see many more pictures and videos of all the activities and events happening here at LMS!