The Academic Resource Center at Cannon School creates opportunities for students to learn how to learn.
Imperative to a student's success in the Academic Resource Center program is a willingness to engage
fully with all available resources and learning opportunities, including academic coaching and academic labs. This model encourages
the individual student to drive aspects of their educational experience and empowers them to take ownership of their learning.
Academic Coaching
Academic Coaching at Cannon supports student growth and the development of executive functioning skills and lifelong learning strategies through intentional, research-based programming.
Our Academic Coaches work in a relational 1:1 environment with students during each coaching session to build and strengthen executive functioning (EF) skills. These include planning, organization, task initiation, flexibility, attention, self-control, metacognition, and more. Our academic coaching sessions are customized based on identified areas of greatest need for each student, following an initial conversation between coach and student.
![Structure, Support, and Success: Leighton's ARC Story]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1757519467/cannonschoolorg/wyj1ycg1llvcvlovqdr3/leighton_frame.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1757519467/cannonschoolorg/wyj1ycg1llvcvlovqdr3/leighton_frame.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757519467/cannonschoolorg/wyj1ycg1llvcvlovqdr3/leighton_frame.jpg","width":600}])
![10 Executive Function Skills]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1757099796/cannonschoolorg/mphbectocipbkazqsgsb/executive_function_thumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757099796/cannonschoolorg/mphbectocipbkazqsgsb/executive_function_thumbnail.jpg","width":360}])
![A Video: What is Academic Coaching?]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1757099551/cannonschoolorg/j4pn0bjxk9pyklbxcbtj/coaching_video_thumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757099551/cannonschoolorg/j4pn0bjxk9pyklbxcbtj/coaching_video_thumbnail.jpg","width":360}])
Academic Labs
The Academic Lab Program at Cannon School offers faculty-facilitated, peer-led tutoring in writing, math, and science to Upper School students. The goal of the Academic Lab Program is to provide students with additional support outside of the classroom, in addition to meeting with their teachers for extra help. Available at consistent times and locations during the school day, our trained Academic Lab Fellows use friendly curiosity to engage their peers in the process of learning.
The Writing Lab at Cannon encourages, guides, and assists student writers as they work through the writing process. We believe learning to write is a lifelong pursuit and all writers benefit from focused feedback.
Through personalized, collaborative support, we empower students to refine their writing abilities, gain confidence in their writing, actively reflect on their work, and achieve their writing goals. Writing Lab Fellows act as thought partners and inquisitive guides rather than scribes or editors.
The World Languages Lab provides a welcoming space where students can practice and strengthen their language skills with the help of peers who are enthusiastic advanced language learners and/or native speakers. Tutors are eager to support others through a low-pressure, student-driven environment where learners can build confidence, ask questions, and engage in meaningful language practice across the three modes of communication: interpersonal (interactive conversations), interpretive (listening and reading comprehension), and presentational (speaking and writing for an audience).
The Science Lab at Cannon offers a dynamic space where students can explore and expand their understanding of physics, chemistry, and biology through hands-on investigation and discovery. With the guidance of teachers and peers, learners are encouraged to ask questions, test ideas, and engage in meaningful experimentation that connects classroom concepts to real-world applications. The lab fosters a student-driven environment where curiosity and creativity are celebrated, helping students build confidence as problem-solvers and innovators while strengthening their critical thinking skills.
The Math Lab at Cannon provides a welcoming environment where students can strengthen their mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills. Tutors and teachers partner with learners to break down challenging concepts, explore multiple approaches, and develop strategies that build both confidence and independence. By focusing on understanding the “why” behind the math as well as the “how,” the lab helps students deepen comprehension, sharpen critical thinking, and apply their learning in meaningful ways inside and outside the classroom.
Lab Fellow Selection Process
Each spring, interested Upper School students participate in an extensive application and interview process and are vetted by the Faculty Lab Coordinators and members of the Math, English, History, and Science departments. In addition to demonstrating excellence in and passion for the subject matter, ideal Academic Lab Fellow candidates also embrace curiosity, friendliness, and responsibility in this academic leadership role.
The ARC has been my go-to space since the middle of my junior year, and it has been fantastic. I love the support I get from all of the ARC faculty, and it just is a great work environment for me.Class of 2024 Graduate
Recommended Resources
Articles:
- Executive Function & Self-Regulation, Harvard University, Center on the Developing Child
- What is Executive Function?, Understood
- What’s Executive Function - And Why Does It Matter?, Edutopia
- Self-Management Skills for High School Students, Beyond BookSmart
- Stress Tolerance as a New Executive Function
Books:
- Outsmart Your Brain, Dr. Daniel T. Willingham - Academic Lab Workshop book study for 9th grade
- Smart but Scattered Teens: The “Executive Skills” Program for Helping Teens Reach Their Potential by Richard Guare, PhD; Peg Dawson, EdD; Colin Guare
- Thinking Differently: An Inspiring Guide for Children with Learning Differences by David Flink
Meet the Academic Resource Center Team
ACC and ARC teams have impacted my daughter tremendously. Their extensive compassion, understanding, encouragement, accountability, structure, and advocacy allowed my daughter to feel strong when weak, confident when overwhelmed,
and seen and valued...Parent of a 10th Grade Student