Experiences of Elementary Pre-Service Teachers in an Urban Summer Enrichment Program‪.‬

Introduction Preparing teachers for diverse urban school environments is a challenge that all teacher preparation programs face. With today's changing demographics among student populations in public schools, teacher education programs realize that their candidates need more than a "one size fits all" general education curriculum. Tomorrow's prospective teachers need a "specialized knowledge of the lives a--nd learning styles of urban children--first hand experiences in urban schools and an understanding of the community from which the child comes" (Reed & Simon, 1991, p. 32).