English-language learners, according to research, learn best through instruction that draws upon their strength in their first language. It is unlikely that any teacher would have knowledge of even a fraction of the languages that are spoken by students in American classrooms, particularly since some large school districts report as many as a hundred different home languages. In this excerpt from their new book "English Language Learners: The Essential Guide" (Scholastic, 2007), the authors share 10 simple and effective ways that teachers can support ELL students by drawing on their first language--even if they do not speak those languages or teach in a school with a bilingual program.