We have found that limiting television time is the single most effective tool for getting the most out of homeschooling. Try limiting TV watching,video game playing,and Internet surfing to two days a week.
We found that earning TV time or game play time motivates them not to just do their work,but care about what they do. They no longer take for granted of the small things like watching TV. They feel good about earning their time.
We start them out watching a 30 min show once a week of their choice(approved of course) and 1 movie a week. They would then have to gradually earn air time. I know;it sounds like they are auditioning for a spot in a movie,but this really works for us. If grades are kept up and they have earned enough,they can now watch 30 min.shows a night before bed time.
If they slack off,days decrease!
Try a one month-sabbatical. If you conduct the experiment during the summer,it won't seem like a punishment associated with homeschooling,and most of the shows are reruns then anyway. Such rules cause fewer hard feelings,are easier to enforce,and are less draining than negotiation on a day-by-day basis.
