I would venture to think most homeschool parents are often on the lookout for quality curriculum. Am I right?
We spend hours pouring through catalogs, reading reviews online, maybe attending conferences, and definitely chatting with friends about the ULTIMATE question:
So, what curriculum do you use? 🙂
Today, I’d like to make that work a little easier in two ways:
First, be sure to hop over and check out our article on Choosing Middle School Homeschool Curriculum
Second by sharing about a wonderful, most helpful middle school writing curriculum we’ve been using for a few months.
Introducing Cover Story Writing Curriculum
Cover Story Writing Curriculum is a complete language art program for middle schoolers.
I’ll only share a quick peek; I have a more detailed review with my daughter’s thoughts on what she loved over at Domestic Serenity.
Cover Story is a DVD-based curriculum taught by a professional writer. The HUGE benefit is that it’s a complete language arts program with a strong writing component .
Over the course of one school year, your child will use all of the skills learned to create their own magazine, a process my 11-yr old is thoroughly enjoying.
What Cover Story Curriculum Includes
Cover Story Writing includes:
- 6 DVDs with 72 lessons ranging about 15-20 minutes each – these are anything but boring, each of the 70+ lessons is often presented complete with costumes and props to explain a certain concept. I’ve heard my girl laughing, though she says ‘some things aren’t really all that funny, but that’s why you laugh!’
- 1 DVD of grammar lessons – Twelve additional video lessons on grammar are included in the set. The grammar component is optional, and designed to be used as needed to supplement the other instructional materials. Cover Story‘s approach to grammar de-emphasizes memorization of Latinate terms and emphasizes true comprehension.
- Student Book – after each video, there is a corresponding lesson to further focus on writing strategies. Find sample video lesson and pages from the student book here.
- Teacher’s Guide
- A Journal
Once you own the kit, only the consumable student book and journal need to be purchased again for repeated use with another child. Cover Story lifts the need for Mom or Dad to do the actual teaching of creative writing, and gives the student autonomy in this area.
Benefits of Using Cover Story
• Taught by an award-winning writer
• No prep work required for teacher
• Class is taught for you through video
• Students create content for their own magazine
• Humorous skits illustrate concepts
• Self-motivating materials
• Step by step and easy to follow
More Cover Story Reviews
If you’d like a bit more personal view of how Cover Story Writing Curriculum is working out for us — check out my post!
And you can check out what Eva Varga has to say here: Cover Story Opens Door and Builds Bridges
I'm a Mama to five kiddos living among cows and corn in central PA. Our curriculum choices reflect Charlotte Mason with a Classical Ed flair, and we'll throw in anything else that works! Come on over and visit us - hope to see you there!
I’ve been looking for non textbook style LA curriculum and I believe this would be perfect!
I would love to try this with my kids….one of them loves to write!!!
My oldest will be Middle School aged next school year and I wanted to make an extra emphasis on writing. This looks perfect!!
I’ve been looking at this since it came out. I think it would be perfect for my kids.
My daughter LOVES to write and we have been talking about all the careers that are available to writers. I think this would be a fun way for her to learn about what would be involved in writing as a career.
I have two in Jr High and this would be perfect for us!! Just what I have been looking for!
We are looking for a complete, non-traditional language arts for my dyslexic son who is heading into 7th grade.
I think my oldest would love the fun dvd aspect as well as making a large project over the course.
This is our worst area. My son absolutely hates to write. I’d love to find something that would work for him.
I think she would really like the DVD part. The whole concept is just great. Thanks for the giveaway!
I have been giving this serious consideration for my 2 middle school girls next year! Sounds so great!
My daughter would love that SHe gets to make up the story instead of just studying someone else’s writing.
My daughter loves to write stories, but is bored to tears over grammar. This looks wonderful!
We are planning to use this and the One Year Adventure Novel over the next few years!
I think my daughter would like the dvd format and being taught by a professional writer.
I am so looking forward to using this curriculum with oldest. He will be in 6th next year, is that too young to use this curriculum with or should I wait until the following year?
My middle school daughter loves to write! This looks like an amazing curriculum to help her realize her potential!
A friend has highly recommended this! I think my daughter would love working towards a completed magazine!
Our VERY reluctant writer son would enjoy this curriculum a lot. He would benefit greatly because this Momma is grammar and writing challenged…wink!
I’ve been looking for an interesting writing program for my son, and this sounds great!
Can’t wait to try this out next year for my 7th grade son, looks right up his alley!
I believe the challenge, purpose and instruction methods would be most appealing to my daughter.
this would be great for my daughter. she was just saying that she needs something else to do with her English.
I think my kids would love this. They would love watching the lessons and writing about things they are interested in. The fact that they will be able to turn it all into a magazine is so fun.
I am planning on getting this for next year. It would be awesome to win it!
My son would love the fact that I wouldn’t be hovering over him. He can do this program his way.
All of my kids love writing stories. I want to introduce them to newspapers and other journalistic avenues first. Then, if they love this, we will do their program in high school — the novel.
My son would love that it is not a textbook curriculum.
This sounds great and I would love to win! Thanks for the giveaway!
My 11 year old daughter and I would love to try this curriculum! I love the idea of DVD lessons and creating a magazine as a long-term writing project.
This sounds like it would be just the thing for my son. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I have been looking for a good writing program!
English is the subject that I am most picky about. This curriculum seems comprehensive with a flair of fun. The completed magazine will give my boys a sense of accomplishment to see the finished project!
My girls love creating books, so I think this would fit in perfectly for them as a curriculum!
I think my kiddos would love that they end up creating their own magazine by the end of the course.
I am planning on using this! Just waiting for the needed funds to get it….so this giveaway would be very much appreciated. Thanks for the chance!
My kids have been so excited to get this curriculum!!
Winning this giveaway would be Incredibly Fabulous!!
This curriculum looks like fun, I had never heard of it. We have tried so many LA curriculums already. As I was watching the videos my daughter said lets get that one! She liked the video sample. I would love to win this.
My daughter sits for hours on end typing stories on the computer. She would absolutely love something like this as a curriculum. I think it would give her a lot of what she needs to do what she loves most. 🙂
My daughter would enjoy the humor the most!! 🙂
I would LOVE to win this. I can see how much the DvD’s would grasp my sons’ attention.
My aspiring writer daughter would love this! It also looks like it would help her less enthusiastic sister get on board too! Thanks for the chance to win!
My rising 7th grader would most appreciate the DVDs… I think we both benefit from me not being the “teacher” for every subject : ). This curriculum looks great, and I love the journal.
I have had this curriculum on my wish list for months! It looks so fun, engaging, and comprehensive.
My 13 year old daughter would love the finished product to show off!
I think my son would appreciate the humor this curriculum provides! Thanks for the opportunity!
This has been on my wishlist since I first heard about it last year. Maybe for the fall?
Making a magazine sounds like something my child would TOTALLY enjoy. He is always writing stories to share with others, and this would give him an ultimate goal to accomplish.
I think she would appreciate being able to write something everyday, she is so focused on writing her book that she doesn’t take a break to write in other ways.
I have one who wants to be a journalist.
My son is not a fan of writing, but loves being creative. Would like to combine the 2.
I have 4 adopted special needs boys at home. They’re age ranges 6-16yrs. My two eldest boys would be the ones to use this curriculum. I have one reluctant writer and one writer that needs more direction. I know that both of them will benefit. I love this idea. I think their other program for high school is pretty neat too.
Yes, I am looking and looking for curriculum for middle school student. Thank you for your review!
I just saw this in one of my new homeschool magazines and planned to research more. So glas I found your post and site. Think I just found our LA curricula for next fall. Thanks a ton!!!!!