By JACOB SEAMAN

Special to The Press

Sunlight streams through the kitchen window, illuminating the counter top that serves as an 8-year-old’s classroom desk.

Her feet barely touch the crossbar of the stool as she watches her teacher on her iPad.

This scene played out across the Lehigh Valley for students of all ages this school year.

For many children, education this past school year was presented and received at dining room tables, in kitchens, basements, and bedrooms: the new “school house.”

But when school buildings shuttered their doors in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Jehovah’s Witness families turned the challenges of remote learning into an opportunity to expand their children’s education through spiritual activities.

“There was a moment of panic at first. I’m a single parent, working full-time. I had no idea how I was going to deal with this,” explained Crystal Callisto, who has three children in the Parkland School District. “In addition to helping them with their schooling, I had to figure out how to cover the additional expenses of child care and increased internet usage.”

Some families have found that the best education happens beyond the walls of their “school house” with what educators call authentic or project-based learning.

This learn-by-doing approach “requires developing skills in critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and various forms of communication,” according to PBLWorks, a nonprofit organization focused on project-based learning.

“I used our challenges as opportunities to show my children that the Bible has practical advice for us. JW.org has featured articles on managing finances, coping with pandemic fatigue and making a success of virtual learning. We worked as a team and applied what we read,” Crystal added.

JW.org has proved to be a valuable resource for many Witness parents in the community.

Warren and Janelle Behr have three kids who were enrolled in Northern Lehigh’s virtual program.

“Our kids love music and that’s one subject that is hard to replicate in a virtual environment,” explains Warren Behr. “We’ve been able to use the simplified sheet music found on JW.org. Learning a fun, uplifting song benefits the whole family.”

“We found that having a relationship with their Creator helps our children keep things in perspective and not become overwhelmed with challenges,” says Janelle Behr.

“Simple things can help make that connection,” explains Warren. “Our area is full of beautiful outdoor places. A hike on a local trail can easily lead to a spiritual discussion, in addition to learning about our environment.”

Ainsley, the Behrs’ ninth grader, agrees.

“I miss going to school in person. But, this experience has helped me learn a lot about what’s really important in life. Plus, I don’t feel isolated. I connect virtually with friends and family. We’ve even hosted game nights and talent shows.”

“While this has definitely been a challenging year, taking an active role in education has helped us all learn and grow as a family,” says Janelle.

Despite the challenges, the new circumstances have prompted parents to think of ways to incorporate spiritual activities into their day.

“We always had a spiritual routine, but now we can make it part of the academic day,” says Ryan Kovalchick of Emmaus. “Since we’re not all rushing out the door every morning, we’ve used the extra time to discuss a Bible topic. The kids read a Bible story or verse and comment on how they think it applies to us.”

However, adding spirituality into the daily routine has more than academic benefits.

When the pandemic surged, many parents recognized that maintaining children’s emotional health was just as important.

More information on how families can succeed at distance learning and on the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses is available at jw.org, with content in over 1,000 languages.