Saturday, April 26th
2025 Homeschool Supply Company Reviews
Alpha Omega Publications
- "A+” BBB rating
- Offers Monarch (online, $399.95/year), Horizons (workbook, up to $315/set) and Lifepac (workbook, up to $315/set) curricula
- Horizons emphasizes spiral learning; Lifepac focuses on mastery
- Free placement tests help identify the right educational level
- Ignite Academy offers teacher support and peer interaction but at a higher cost than some competitors
- Teaches creationism, which might not suit all families
- Some course materials, like Economics, may not be up-to-date
- Ignite has a compressed 18-week schedule and charges for extensions
- No extra educational materials; free shipping on orders
Alpha Omega Publications is known for its Christian educational resources, from kindergarten up to 12th grade. It's been highlighted in homeschooling guides and has won awards (including Cathy Duffy's 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum) that acknowledge its quality and appeal to homeschool families. Its materials cover a broad spectrum of learning levels and integrate faith-based principles.
Four options
AOP offers four primary options for a homeschool education:
- Monarch: Monarch is a comprehensive online homeschooling program for grades 3-12, offering courses with electives and six key subjects - history, language arts, geography, science with a Christian worldview, math, and Bible. It's convenient for families with features like automatic grading and a customizable learning experience. The subscription is $399.95 per year or $39.95 per month, with a free 30-day trial available without needing a credit card.
- Lifepac: Lifepac provides workbook-based education from K-12 with a focus on mastery learning and a Christian perspective. It's flexible, allowing purchases of full grade sets or individual subjects. Prices range from $18 for single books to complete sets at $315.
- Horizons: Horizons offers a visually engaging, workbook-style curriculum with a spiral learning approach for Pre-K to 12th grade. It's parent-directed and includes subjects like math and reading, with prices from $16 to $120.
- Ignite Christian Academy: Ignite Christian Academy (formerly Alpha Omega Academy) allows for a customizable learning experience with both full-time and single-course enrollments. It provides continuous teacher support and options for college-level courses for high school students. The academy also offers the possibility to use state education funds for tuition.
Mastery vs. spiral method
At first glance, the Horizons and Lifepac homeschool programs can seem pretty similar (both are workbook-based), but there are a few distinctions. Horizons starts kids on a higher level early on, making it more demanding from the get-go, and it keeps parents involved throughout the learning process. It uses a spiral method, circling through different topics quickly, which suits kids who catch on fast and get bored without constant stimulation. Lifepac, however, lets kids concentrate on one subject at a time, encouraging them to master each area before moving on and becoming more self-guided as students advance.
Placement tests available
Alpha Omega Publications offers placement tests to help homeschooling parents teach more effectively. For example, if you're teaching a fifth grader, these tests could reveal that they're on track with science and history, but they might need a third-grade English program or a sixth-grade math level. This prevents any learning gaps and ensures your child isn't bored or overwhelmed. It's a handy tool for customizing education to your child's strengths and areas for improvement.
Ignite program includes student-to-student interaction
Ignite Christian Academy, in comparison to another accredited Christian academy featured in our review, offers a more interactive and teacher-supported approach to accredited homeschooling. According to a seasoned homeschooling parent, Ignite provides direct access to licensed teachers and peer interaction for students, which contrasts with the other program where support often came from front-desk staff. Like that other program, Ignite also relieves parents from the burden of grading, but it also offers a variety of extracurricular activities like art, music, and drama. Although Ignite is more expensive (almost twice the cost for a full year of curriculum), this parent's testimonial and others indicate that the extra investment may provide a more complete and supportive educational experience, along with better overall customer service.
Ignite is creationist - but maybe not creationist enough for some
Ignite Christian Academy teaches science from a creationist point of view, maintaining that God created the world in six days as described in the Bible. They suggest that scientific evidence across fields like biology and geology fits better with creationism than with evolution. Ignite will therefore suit families seeking a Christianity-centric education, but its religious emphasis, including required Bible courses, will be off-putting for non-religious families. They may also not be religious enough for you, depending on your beliefs. For example, one reviewer complained that the "beginnings of life” were taught about through examining fossils instead of reading Genesis, and that there weren't enough mentions of God and scripture in their courses.
Courses may not be up-to-date
Another concern to consider is that Ignite's curricular updates aren't always frequent. While some subjects like Spanish remain fairly unchanged over time, others, particularly Economics, could suffer from outdated materials, making the content less relevant. This issue tends to affect higher grade levels more, so it may not be a significant worry for those teaching very young children.
Ignite is fast-paced with few breaks
Ignite expects students to keep to a tight schedule - squeezing a typical 20-week semester into 18 weeks. This leaves little room for the unexpected, and there's been frustration over additional fees for extensions: $85 for a week's extension per class (even if only a day is needed) or $300 for a month.
No other homeschool materials and supplies
At Alpha Omega Publications, you won't find a stock of homeschool supplies like craft materials or science lab kits; they focus solely on curriculum offerings, and you'll need to look elsewhere for those extras. However, they do provide free shipping on all orders, which can ease the cost of getting your educational resources.
Ranks well
Alpha Omega Publications has a great reputation, demonstrated by an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. It offers a wide range of curriculum formats, from online to traditional pen-and-paper options, suiting different learning styles. But they only teach from a Christian perspective and don't have supplementary materials like art supplies, so they might not have everything you need for homeschooling. For these reasons, they don't snag our top spot, but we'd recommend them if their philosophical views align with your own.
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The 10 Best Homeschool Supply Companies
Where Can You Find the Best Homeschool Supplies?
In recent years, homeschooling has seen a remarkable rise in popularity. It's no wonder, given the wealth of websites offering homeschool supplies and curriculum options for families. This idea has captivated the attention of parents seeking alternative educational approaches for their children.
Traditional educational systems often struggle to cater to the diverse needs and learning styles of individual students. Homeschooling provides a flexible and customizable framework, allowing parents to tailor the curriculum to match their child's unique strengths, interests, and pace of learning. This personalized approach can foster a more engaging and effective learning experience.
Homeschool Supply Company FAQ
Continued from above...
Homeschool platforms on the internet can be grouped based on how they approach education and how they structure their payment systems. In one corner, you've got the curriculum providers that package everything up neatly, resembling what you'd typically find in a traditional school setting. These all-inclusive bundles usually come with textbooks, workbooks, teacher guides, and assessments. The deal here is a one-time payment that covers the entire curriculum - a straightforward and wallet-friendly choice.
On the flip side, there are websites that thrive on flexibility. They empower parents to cherry-pick individual resources from different publishers to craft a tailor-made curriculum. This is like a buffet where you choose what suits your educational goals or your child's unique learning needs.
Maybe you're teaching history from a textbook you bought from one homeschool provider, and it occurs to you that your child would benefit from a fascinating historical documentary. Supplementary homeschool resource websites offer exactly that. They provide videos, worksheets, and interactive activities to complement your existing curriculum. These resources, such as videos, worksheets, and interactive activities, can give your homeschooling experience an extra kick. Enhancing your educational toolkit this way usually comes at the price of a monthly subscription fee.
In another arena, you'll find platforms that champion the power of the collective. They're all about group buying, letting homeschooling families unite to score the discounts on curriculum materials that public school districts enjoy. This privilege usually requires a membership fee.
Online learning homeschool platforms allow kids to learn while still getting the screen time they might crave. For a monthly or yearly fee, you gain access to a virtual world of learning. It's an enticing option for those who prefer a high-tech homeschooling experience with the convenience of online access, or for those parents who would prefer their iPad Kid be exposed to something more educational (or wholesome) than YouTube's algorithm.
When it comes to homeschooling materials and curriculum websites, you've got plenty of options to consider. To make a smart choice, take these factors into account:
- Cost. Is the curriculum or resource within your budget? Think about the overall price and whether it's a good deal for what you're getting.
- Teaching style. Does it match your child's learning approach and your teaching philosophy? Does it offer the flexibility and customization you need?
- Ease of use. How much time and effort will it take to set up and use the materials? Is it user-friendly or complicated?
- Support and assurance. What kind of support or warranty is provided? Does it cover not just the curriculum but also potential issues with other resources or services?
- Returns and adaptability. Are there any return conditions or restrictions if the curriculum doesn't work for your family? Can you adjust it as your child's needs change?
Before making your final decision, it's wise to read reviews, explore product descriptions, and, if available, watch demo videos or sample lessons. Keep in mind that choosing homeschool materials is an investment in your child's education and growth. The right choice should align with your educational goals, your child's learning style, and your family's lifestyle. Top Consumer Reviews has ranked and reviewed the best homeschool supply and curriculum websites, and we hope our evaluation helps you make a confident decision about the next step in your child's educational journey.
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