Oakwood School
Friday, July 9th, 2004
Oakwood School
7210 Braddock Road
Annandale, VA 22003
703-941-5788
703-941-4186 (fax)
www.oakwoodschool.com
Sanford Shapiro’s Review of Oakwood School
Schools with Services for Language-based Learning Disabilities (LLD)
Schools with Services for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
We are thinking about where to send my (LD) daughter when she begins middle school next year. We live in Arlington VA. I’m particularly concerned to find a fairly protective environment. Can anyone comment on the Oakwood school in Annandale?
Just returned to this site after 18 months. My 12 yr old non-verbal learning disabilitiy daughter is now attending Oakwood School (an LD school in Annandale Virginia) and it seems to be a good fit. She is working a year or so below grade level in maths, near grade level in reading — and believes very strongly she is GREAT at math. Her social skills are developing, in large part because she is in a class with kids who are a year or so younger and more forgiving of slightly immature/awkward social behavior. She is learning, albeit more slowly than many other kids, how to behave socially. She is also seeing a psychologist to help her deal with anxiety, develop better social skills — also speech and OT/PT. And the school has social skills classes every week. I think (and hope) that a lot of the later problems others are talking about here on the list can be helped by early intervention. Social stuff is so difficult anyway!
A question: I am thinking about what would be the right school for Tooie in a few years (Oakwood ends after 8th grade). For those who are older and have struggled with NVLD: any suggestions? Given your strengths and constraints — what would have been a good career choice, what would have helped you get there better?
Thanks!
Valerie, sounds like you’re adding a lot of appropriate support for your daughter concerning social learning. One of the best things I’ve seen for kids with social weaknesses is Michelle Winner’s Social Thinking curriculum (www.socialthinking.org). If you can find one of her presentations I recommend you attend. I bet you’ll learn practical strategies and get useful insight.
Of course Tooie may/will change her level of skills and need in a few years. That type of development will change her school needs don’t you think?
You mention her belief in her math skills…I take it this is another way of saying that she struggles to get an accurate picture of her own leasrning profile (strengths and weaknesses). Is that true?
Oakwood School is the greatest school in Virginia for LD and has the greatest people I’ve known anywhere in Virginia or elsewhere. They loved every student whether the easiest or the hardest and all the students are wonderful. I was at Oakwood on and off from 1987-1997 and there is no where I was more accepted then Oakwood.
Does Oakwood consider students on the spectrum?
Ann: Did you call or write them? Asking them directly would be the best thing to do.
Ann, you should read my review of this school here at this site. If you haven’t yet, just click on the link above at top of page.
Mostly they’re for kids with language-based LD, but as Richard suggests, give them a call and go over your child’s profile with them.