Cover Story is a creative writing curriculum by Clear Water Press for grades 6-9. Students create content for their own magazine while learning various writing styles.
Most homeschool families report completing core academic subjects in 3-4 hours per day for elementary students, compared to the 6-7 hours typical of traditional schools, due to the one-on-one instruction and absence of classroom management overhead (NHERI, 2024). A peer-reviewed study published in Peabody Journal of Education found that homeschooled children are typically well-adjusted socially and score above average on measures of social skills, emotional development, and daily living skills (Richard Medlin, 2013).
What is cover story?
Cover Story is a fun writing program by Clear Water Press, aimed at grades 6-9. Created by award-winning author Daniel Schwabauer, this curriculum has students spend an entire year making a magazine. They learn to write poetry, stories, articles, and more. With video lessons, parents have less prep time. Schwabauer teaches through engaging videos while students follow along in their workbooks.
How the program works
Cover Story lasts 24 weeks. Students work three to five days a week. On three days, they watch video lessons and complete workbook tasks. They write in journals every day. The program has six units, each with twelve lessons. It covers grammar, poetry, interviews, editorials, stories, and magazine layout. Students can choose any magazine theme—like sports or cooking—making it personal and engaging. This approach often gets reluctant writers excited.
What's included
The complete package has video lessons (available on DVD or streaming), a student workbook, a teacher guide, a guided journal, and optional grammar lessons. The DVD set is $149, while streaming access is $129. For families with multiple kids, each needs their own student book for $55, but the video lessons can be reused. Parents find grading is quick—about an hour a month—since the videos handle most of the teaching. Most students can work independently after setup.
Who it's best for
Cover Story is great for creative, independent middle schoolers who need motivation. The magazine project gives purpose to their writing, and the variety of genres keeps things fresh. Curriculum reviewer Cathy Duffy points out that even kids who struggle with writing often enjoy it because the methods are so different from normal programs. However, older or more advanced students might find it a bit easy. Parents should check the materials first since some historical references could be upsetting for sensitive kids.
The bottom line
Cover Story changes the game for middle school writing. Instead of boring assignments, students create something they care about while mastering different writing styles. The video format works well for busy parents and independent learners. If your middle schooler is reluctant to write or needs some motivation, Cover Story might be just the thing. Just make sure the content is right for your family before you buy.
