Spelling/Grammar…Planning

I am new to this forum and my free trial for the CM on-line organizer, and I am loving it!!

My boys 9 and 7, and daugher almost 4, are great inquizative kids, and quite smart.

I want to challenge them enough, but don’t want to “burden” them with heavy study either.

With CM if I focus on the literature, narration and good copy work, will that cover the spelling/grammar basics enough in the beginning?

The last 2 years we have done spelling lists and grammar books, but they are light and I am happy with a page of completed work everday.  I don’t yet focus on the “spelling test”.  Is that still fine with my 9 yr old?  I am wondering about next term for him.

My 7 year old is just as bright as his older brother but balks at even one page 3 times a week.  He balks at reading outloud too….I go slow and steady, and try to find windows of opportunity to challenge him.  I am thinking about more copy work, less word lists, and more narration whether it is a picture he draws or we just talk as we read.

My 4 yr old, just has fun with us!  She loves books and doodling, dancing and talking!

Like I said the resources I am using are light and I’d say CM friendly, but I am wondering if we just need to change it up a bit this coming year?

I need to get rid of the moan and groan….that never used to happen in this house and it is happening now…too much.  I went wrong somewhere…and yet I don’t know??  They are very clever children.  Maybe we have just hit one of those “growth/discipline” stages where it just takes more reinforcement?

You ladies just seem so organized, and I used to love planning.  This spring…not so much.  Perhaps I’m distracted by other things?

Any help is much appreciated, like I said I am loving what I am experiencing here on SCM so far!!