Revealing Minds: Assessing to Understand and Support Struggling Learners

This book is refreshing! As might be expected, it applies the latest understandings in neuroscience/neurodevelopment to the issues of assessment of learners, children specifically, who present with "learning differences." Pohlman has written a book that should be used in all Educational Psychology courses in colleges and universities--yet is entirely approachable as a resource for parents who may not have a background in this field. (Note for parents who may have felt intimidated by the lingo of the experts: pp. 23-29 on "A Neurodevelopmental Framework" and "Selecting a Framework" plus the whole of Chapter 3 on Task Analysis and Chapter 4 on Making Linkages are so understandable that these sections alone would make the purchase of the book worthwhile! And the Glossary should be required reading for all parents.) Later chapters on assessing Attention, Memory, and Language are so clear that student, professional, or parent alike would benefit from a close reading. Of particular interest is Chapter 12 on "Demystification"--the process that addresses the need of students to have a meaningful understanding of how their minds work, both academically and in real-life tasks. This involves briefing students honestly about their assets as well as their weaknesses, and what could be called "normalizing"--in the process, helping students understand that all human beings have weaknesses in some aspect of cognitive processes. For parents, the Glossary is invaluable for a clearer understanding of many of the terms used by professionals in the field. For parents and professionals alike, the clarity of the "Index of Potential Findings" in Appendix C is one of the richest contributions to the field of assessment. All in all, this book is an invaluable resource; grounded in thorough research and deep professional experience, Dr. Pohlman has offered a book that is incisive and refreshing in its clarity. -Andrew Matthews

As a parent, I could sense Dr. Pohlman's sincere desire to help children and their families. If more professionals would use the "Revealing Minds" approach, more children would get meaningful assessments with effective learning plans, while being treated with dignity and respect. Thank you, Dr. Pohlman!

This is the most insightful assessment book I have ever read. It should be required reading for all education students as well as anyone who works with children. I only wish it were even longer!

Revealing Minds offers educators a new way of looking at assessment which has been sorely needed in the field for too long. There are so many struggling students who are misunderstood and would benefit from the insights offered by Dr. Pohlman. It is very well-written and accessible - parents also would learn a great deal from this user-friendly book.

This is one of the best books about assessment that I have ever read. This is a must read for all clinicians and teachers working with children with learning difficulties today. A totally fresh perspective on assessment.