This section is dedicated to helping pre-service teachers understand "the urban child." In order to find success and be truly effective, teachers must be conscious of the influences, characteristics, and needs of children in urban and impoverished communities. Teachers must also develop a deep appreciation and knowledge of their students' culture and personal backgrounds.

Below are articles that examine the realities of urban youth.

• In order for urban teachers to be successful, they must understand the students they are teaching. This article examines the urban student, and mainly discusses how violence is one of the greatest influences in their lives. The article also discusses the five forces that influence young students in poverty. After understanding the student, the article suggests “gentle teaching” as an effective practice. It offers definitions, provides examples, and finally gives tips for how to implement gentle teaching.

• This article discusses the differences between rural and urban school districts. It also explores the relationships between student backgrounds and the location that a school resides, and how that may affect student learning. Within the article, there are also two graphs that compare characteristics of the urban and rural school districts, as well as the background characteristics for students that live in both communities.

Below are links that examine current statistics in urban areas and their schools across the United States.

Crisis Report - Children in the Inner City

• This website provides information regarding youth and the influence of gangs, violence, and children involved in the drug trade.

Fact Sheet - Council of the Great City Schools

• The Council of the Great City Schools is an organization comprised of 67 large city school districts. The fact sheet provides an overall demographic of urban students. This link can also be used to navigate through the 67 large city schools with direct links to their home pages.

Below is a graphic organizer that illustrates the five main influences on impoverished youth along with the resulting attribute. The information for this organizer is gathered from the article, Gentle Teaching in a Violent Society, by Martin Haberman.