Reassessing my LA schedule…would appreciate input re: using Writer's INc.

I am trying to finalize my purchasing decisions and I have less money than I thought (which wasn’t much to begin with…)

I am having to push a little stronger in the area of compositon than I was originally going to do; a year earlier. My son is having his Bar Mitzvah and my dd her Bat Mitzvah in two years from this Fall, after 2 yrs. of study. She is 10, he is 11. In the program, they will be required to do book reports, so I was planning their LA around what they’ll need to know how to do over this next year (and two). Up till now, I’ve only required a couple of written narrations from my son and both have done PLL and my son has started ILL.

Bear with me, I’ll try to be succinct, but I need to give some info. Originally I was going to use Meaningful Comp. (MC), Grammarland (inc. worksheets), Spelling wisdom (SW) and continue with ILL. Then I realized that there’s a lot of overlap and also MC is expensive, though I like the incremental teaching style. So, I think I may do this instead:

Since ILL covers everything, continue with it. (CM style LA)

Continue with SW (dictation)

Use Grammarland with the worksheets (living grammar concepts with concrete reinforcement)

Have them (dd-10, ds-11) do more written narrations next year (normal CM LA)

Continue copywork (CM LA)

and to top it off, use Writer’s Inc. as my “teacher’s guide” to teach from and let them use for self-check. Mainly my son to self-check, which he LOVES to do.

So how does that sound? I feel comfortable with Writer’s Inc. as a resource for me to teach from after seeing samples. I like the ILL series. I just need them learning a little more, a little faster.

They both know what extra writing will be expected of them in their class; are highly motivated and extremely excited about the class. I’ve already discussed witht hem the fact that I will be teaching them alot about writing next year to prepare for what they will need to know to do well, am expecting more writing from them and have received positive attitudes.

Mainly requesting from moms with older children who have gone thorugh this stage and beyond, but appreciate any comments:

1. How do you think I could use Writer’s INc. in a way to give me that incremental teaching of writing so we don’t “miss” anything?

2. How can I incorporate this into my day/week and their existing compositions expected via narrations and ILL?

I kind of have a hunch, but would appreciate other’s input. I want them to develop their writing capabilities.

Thanks,

Rachel