Teacher Preparation and the Education of Immigrant Children

This article looks at the issue of teacher preparation in light of changing demographics as a direct consequence of increased immigration. It begins by describing the current context in which many new teachers will find themselves. It then moves to a review of the teacher education literature over the past two decades to ascertain how the profession conceptualizes immigrant children and the education of those who will teach them. Using this review as a foundation, the article then outlines key issues that must be taken into account when preparing teachers to work effectively with immigrant children. The article concludes with recommendations for teacher educators.