Perhaps one of the most important ways to motivate children to learn at home is to provide them with an inspired teacher: you. Enthusiasm is contagious, so greet each day with a positive outlook and cheerful attitude. Be careful of making statements such as, "We'll never get finished at this rate," or barking commands to hurry up. Make a list of the reasons you decided to home school and review them frequently to keep yourself inspired. That will help you transfer that excitement to your children. Be an example of self-motivation at work.
Most kids work better, harder and more thoroughly when they know exactly what you expect. One way to achieve this is through creating a daily schedule and sticking to it. Children tend to get tired if the morning lags on, unstructured, so begin school time soon after breakfast. Take a short break between subjects and be careful to not let lunch drag on too long. Knowing that they can look forward to a fun activity or free play time after completing their work also helps kids stay motivated to finish their assignments.
While sticking to a basic daily schedule is important, having something different to look forward also can provide a powerful dose of motivation. If you've mostly used a textbook and workbook type of curriculum, switch things up. Plan for a week of open unit study, where kids choose something they want to know more about, and guide them through reading, crafts and writing about their chosen subjects. Take study time outdoors when the weather permits, or do school at the park or library one day a week.
When motivation feels seriously lacking, often all a family needs is a break. One of the benefits of teaching kids at home is that you can choose your own days off, so don't be afraid to take a spontaneous "mental health" day -- or even a week, if needed. Use this time for the natural learning that takes place while reading, playing games and simply spending time observing nature. Encourage your kids to develop educational hobbies so that learning takes place even while they think they're only having fun.