I've learned that it's easier for students to write about matters of the heart than about the economy of a country. Also, when my students write about a subject they know, it gives them a sense of worthiness, a balance to the sense of having no family, no money, and no future. I also make sure that the language I use is simple enough so that most of them can understand it without having to translate, and that is a boost to their confidence. Unbeknownst to them, my students have just written an essay. For most of the students, it's an exciting month.
Leaves change their colors.
The temperature drops. Our topics this month are differences, descriptive language, and simile. We study about different shades of colors, different weathers, and different feelings. We learn comparative words. The students describe their leaves in the simplest way, using shapes, colors, and textures.