Lap booking for Language Arts?

I just recently read a post here (month old) about using lap booking for language arts.  How many here have used this as an alternative to strictly written narrations?  As of right now, my two older (12 and 14) kids are doing a daily quote for copywork (into their Book of Mottos). Then we practice (daily) 5-10 vocab words and spelling words each (they must master 3 times orally before check off and new words added to stack). Finally, my dd does a Easy Grammar page (or two daily), and my son does daily typing “copywork.”  We have tried written narrations for him, and it just doesn’t seem to work.  I hoped that maybe by copying literature (more than just a 2 sentence quote) he might see and absorb good writing skills as he reads/types a passage.  He is in the 9th, and should be much further along in “writing”, but we have amny learning challenges with him in particular (spelling, dysgraphia etc.).