Language arts thoughts

Well, I've been pondering lately (read: obsessively reading about, thinking, ideas churning in my head) about language arts for my girls.

We were using Sonlight's Language Arts 4. I should have listened to other homeschoolers when they said they just didn't like it, but I wanted something all set up for me, and something integrated with our reading. Well, SL LA *is* that, but it is also all over the place - too little instruction on what they are learning and too little follow through (for us). Too hard in some areas and too easy in others.

So I've been asking around (read: whining and moaning and looking like a total homeschool newbie) about what to do now that I've ditched SL's language arts, seeing that I *still* want something easy, natural, and integrated with our reading.

The winning suggestions were to return to Charlotte Mason methods of narration and dictation/copywork, while looking for what they need to learn by using some sort of scope and sequence like the Core Knowledge books.

I think I can do this.

(if somebody would just come kick me into gear once a month or so)

This will definitely necessitate me getting more organized with our paperwork, however! No more putting it all in one pile to be sorted twice a year! LOL