ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some examples of curriculum design work that highlight the importance of collaborating with practitioners, conducting multiple iterations, and using multiple sources of data in design-based research. Starling Middle School has a formal partnership with the local university, cultivated by a faculty lead at the university who coordinates with the leadership team of the school. Starling Middle School has a diverse student population, with 52% categorized by the state as economically disadvantaged, 13% categorized as English learners with a wide range of languages spoken, and many more multi-lingual students. Starling Middle School recognized the inequities and wanted to better support their students. Students with diverse academic skills benefit from a range of supports that can provide access to the meaning of texts and open the door to critical thinking in the disciplines. As students work with sources and central questions, they benefit from opportunities to share and discuss their emerging interpretations.
