Dear Friends,At the end of May, eKitabu piloted the most recent iteration of our teacher professional development approach in Kenya with 21 teachers in mainstream, inclusive and special education schools. The approach is based on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and attempts to meet, engage, support and sustain teachers where they are, not just as teachers but as learners too. The sessions targeted gaps in accessing and utilizing curriculum content and in tandem applied UDL principles in classroom teaching and learning: 1) Engagement through multiple means to recruit and sustain learners’ interest; 2) Representation of knowledge through multiple means to meet learners’ different abilities, disabilities and learning preferences; and 3) Action and Expression through multiple means to help learners internalize and actualize what they are learning.One teacher, Pauline Okach from Nyasare Primary School in Migori County, expressed the essence of UDL from the teacher’s viewpoint this way: “UDL is a way to connect every student to the learning experience regardless of their ability. It allows teachers to make decisions based on emotion and motivation. It guides the design of learning environments that are safe, relevant and support students' motivation and resilience.” For teachers or anyone who has questions about how to get involved with these activities, please email your questions to us at support@ekitabu.com.In June, we were glad to join Storymoja Publishers in their record-breaking effort to get more Kenyan children than ever reading aloud together at the same time. This year on 16th June, the International Day of the African Child, at schools all across Kenya, children read aloud from the storybook Attack of the Shidas by Muthoni Muchemi. Pongezi Storymoja! We believe, as you do, in the power of reading together, we celebrate your initiative, and this year’s event gave us even more ideas for how to grow reading and readers everywhere.Warmest regards,Will[su_button url="https://mailchi.mp/ekitabu/ekitabu-tunaenda-digital-newsletter-july-2021" target="blank" background="#e80904" color="#ffffff" size="5" radius="0"]Read the entire newsletter here[/su_button]