FWS students received systematic training in
early reading instruction and practiced applying their newly
acquired skills in the community under careful supervision.
For Spanish - language speakers, this
early emphasis on their home language enables them to «expand their vocabulary and build literacy in their first language; study a highly academic curriculum in their first language; successfully transfer Spanish
reading and writing
skills to English in later grades;
acquire high levels of self - esteem by becoming bilingual and playing a supportive role for their English - speaking classmates.»