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Understanding Alpha Omega publications for homeschooling

Learn about Alpha Omega Publications and their homeschool materials, perfect for different learning styles.
Lisa Thorsen
Written byLisa Thorsen
3 min read
Key takeaways
  • Alpha Omega Publications offers a range of Bible-based homeschooling materials, including print formats like LIFEPAC for mastery learning and Horizons for a more interactive approach, as well as the online Monarch program for grades 3-12
  • Families can choose the best fit for their child's learning style, but all materials integrate a Christian worldview.

Alpha Omega Publications (AOP) is a publisher that offers Bible-based educational materials for homeschooling. They provide various formats, including print and online options, to suit different learning preferences.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population. Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests.

What is Alpha Omega publications?

Alpha Omega Publications has been creating Bible-focused educational materials for homeschool families since 1977. Unlike other publishers that stick to one curriculum style, AOP offers several formats to match different learning styles. Their print options include LIFEPAC, which uses mastery-based worktexts, and Horizons, which features spiral-learning workbooks. For older students, Monarch provides interactive online courses for grades 3-12. This way, families can choose what works best for their child.

Lifepac vs. Horizons

LIFEPAC is all about mastery. Students go through self-contained worktexts at their own pace, finishing each unit before moving on. This is great for independent learners or families who want less teacher involvement. On the other hand, Horizons uses a spiral approach. It introduces concepts and revisits them with more complexity, needing more teacher interaction. Plus, it has colorful workbooks that younger kids usually love. Both options are print-based, so no tech is needed.

Monarch online learning

Monarch brings AOP’s curriculum to life online. It includes videos, audio, text-to-speech, and even automatic grading to save parents time. Students in grades 3-12 can learn independently while parents track progress on a dashboard. The subscription model keeps material up to date, but families need a reliable internet connection. Monarch took the place of the old Switched-On Schoolhouse software in 2021.

The bottom line

AOP is unique because it offers flexible formats within a Christian framework. Families can pick the right program based on their child’s learning style instead of making the child fit a rigid curriculum. However, this means you’re committing to a Christian worldview across all subjects, with no secular options available. For families wanting that integration, AOP offers quality materials and choices between self-paced print, teacher-led workbooks, or engaging online courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lisa Thorsen
Written by
Lisa Thorsen

Co-founder, BetterSchool

Lisa is the co-founder of BetterSchool and a homeschool mom of three. BetterSchool administers the largest independent homeschool community in the country — over 350,000 families across all 50 states.

When COVID hit, Lisa and her husband pulled their children out of school and hit the road. Homeschooling wasn't the plan — it was a necessity. But somewhere along the way, the family fell in love with it: the time together, the ability to tailor lessons to each child's interests, learning at their own pace, the freedom to travel, eating healthy on their own schedule, and the countless other benefits that come with homeschooling.

As they traveled, Lisa kept discovering incredible hands-on learning experiences that most homeschool families had no way of finding. She built BetterSchool to make it easy for every family to find and book the experiences that make learning come alive.

Through her community, Lisa has helped hundreds of thousands of parents navigate homeschooling, while also helping local businesses find and serve the homeschool community. She is the former managing partner of a law firm focused on business law and mergers and acquisitions — BetterSchool is her second technology startup. She holds a J.D. from California Western School of Law and a B.A. from Penn State.

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Table of Contents

  • What is Alpha Omega publications?
  • Lifepac vs. Horizons
  • Monarch online learning
  • The bottom line
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