An attack of Language Arts Anxiety

Hi,

Long time reader, first time post-er.  I’m having Language Arts anxiety. (this happens periodically:) )  I have used Learning Language Arts through Literature with all of my girls (currently entering 3rd,5th and 7th grades) and have, for the most part, liked it.  But… I look at other things, many things, and think would that be better? Between narrating orally and creating notebook pages or lapbooks (written narration) with Bible, history and science, by the time we get to language arts lessons, I feel like “Haven’t we already done this today?”  My dream is to dispense with separate language arts lessons altogether and pull our dictation/copywork, even basic grammar lessons out of the content subjects.  But I’m not sure how to do it in a time-efficient manner for three different students.  All three girls are very good readers, decent writers for their ages (although my oldest struggled emensely with writing when younger,but last year was better- I don’t credit LLATL with this progress but lay it more on her maturity and good literature both read and heard.) but have struggled with grammar.  I’m considering adding Great Editing Adventures and possible Wordsmith (7th grader) for writing to our curriculum.  Or maybe not!  I am afraid to let the “safe” packaged curriculum go- afraid of the dreaded “GAPS”, but would like to simplify and condense the “academic” portion  of our days.   Anyone have any suggestions?  Do you use separate Language Arts lessons?  Do you pull daily copywork or dictation from content subjects?  Help!