Though I am using Primary and Intermediate Language Lessons with ds#2 and ds#1 respectively, I have gathered several other resources to use during out Math/LA block to enhance what we have done in Language Lessons, or if we want to take a break from it.

Living Books

World of Language series by Ruth Heller

 Word Fun series by various authors

Alma Flor Ada's books in which storybook characters are writing letters to each other.

Activities

I stocked up on Mad Libs and Mad Libs, Jr.  They love doing these together.  You can even do a few online at their web site.

I bought this Parts of Speech game from EducationalLearningGames.com

I've ordered The Great Word Race.  I also have Spelling Beez, which is a bit slow, and of course we have Scrabble, too.

I picked up the Magnetic Sight Words and Sentences board for 50 cents at a library book sale, though it had no words.  I was able to pick up the sight word set from Christian Book Distributor

I really thought I was going to be without a good Language Arts spine for the fall until the folks on the Mater Amabilis Teacher Training forum talked about Emma Serl's Primary Language Lessons and Intermediate Language Lessons, both available in beautiful editions at Hillside Education.

The books were written in early 20th century America.  They contain a wonderful mix of instruction, picture study, narration, dictation, poetry, and composition broken down into many short oral and written lessons, enough to cover 2 to 4 years of instruction depending on how you use it.  The style is much more learning by doing rather than drilling on a concept.  Hillside's version is a beautiful color version, spiral bound, and updated, including a touch of Catholic content.  Straight reprints of both Primary Language Lessons and Intermediate Language Lessons are available through Amazon.

There's much more content compared to Simply Grammar, yet flexible enough to add in other sources and concepts with it--just like a good spine should be!