Academic Resource Center

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Academic Resource Center Mission

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) at Cannon School creates opportunities for students to learn how to learn. Guided by the core values of teamwork, respect, passion, kindness, courage, and integrity, the ARC partners with students on their journeys of academic and personal growth through academic coaching, peer tutoring, and the development of lifelong learning skills.

The ARC at Cannon School is committed to enhancing student learning through individualized academic support and collaborative peer tutoring in writing, math, and science. By fostering essential academic skills and promoting effective study habits, the ARC empowers students to achieve their full potential. Believing that accountability, consistency, and collaboration build connection, we aim to cultivate a community of confident, adaptable, and lifelong learners through relational partnership.

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 at Cannon (ACC)

ACC Mission and Overview

Academic Coaching at Cannon (ACC) 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.

What is Academic Coaching? (Video)

Executive Functioning Toolbox

Academic Labs

Academic Lab Program Overview

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 Labs

Writing Lab

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.

Math lab

The Math Lab at Cannon provides an encouraging environment and engages with students in the learning process to reinforce mathematical reasoning and problem solving skills.

Science Lab

The Science Lab at Cannon aims to support and further students’ ability to explore and understand topics and concepts in physics, chemistry, and biology.

Academic 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.

By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn.

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

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