Series foreword / by James A. Banks -- 1. Challenges here, now, and ahead. A note on difference and diversity ; Where we've been and what we know about constructive engagement with difference and diversity ; Prologue: a university teacher certification program ; The main stages: two urban schools ; The new teachers and the supporting cast ; Overview of Chapters 2-7 -- 2. Getting started at an urban school. Pre-encounter ; Encounter ; Emerging concerns, challenges ; Conclusions -- 3. They say, they keep telling us. "Messages" as a way of influencing new teachers ; General negativism from external sources ; Mixed messages ; More constructive messages ; N/Either constructive n/or negative messages ; Emerging and diverging response paths ; So, what's the message? -- 4. Radical individualism. Dante and Kirk ; Sylvia and Ethan ; The downsides of radical individualism ; Conclusions -- 5. Worlds apart. Ken: "Very different from me" ; Lynn: Culture as culprit ; Conclusions -- 6. Bridging different worlds. Culture shock and accommodation ; Building bridges from different access routes ; Building and maintaining bridges ; Conclusions -- 7. Where do we go from here? Implications for teacher education and teaching ; Concluding note -- Appendix A. Methodological note and theoretical perspective -- Appendix B. The prospective teachers at Royalton and Charter schools.