“Captain” Ed Beutner and his son, John Beutner, love reading. And they have spent the school year sharing that love with a special group of students at Barker Middle School.
Twice each month, Captain Ed (owner of Captain Ed's Furniture Showroom in Michigan City) and his son visit Ms. Laurie Abbey’s Barker Middle School classroom, which serves students with special needs. Captain Ed first presents a reading challenge based on a special theme, then returns to present rewards to students who have met reading goals. In true Captain Ed fashion, the themes, costumes, classroom decorations, and rewards have been truly “over the top” on the creativity scale.
The partnership with Captain Ed and the reading program itself was one element that helped Barker meet requirements for STEM certification, which the Indiana Department of Education granted to the school earlier this month.
“We've been having a blast with Captain Ed and the reading program!” says Abbey. “The kids work really hard, love the topics, enjoy the character portrayals, and of course, they love the candy and free books. They very much look forward to the end of the month awards ceremony and the surprise gift that Captain Ed brings them.”
Themes this year have included:
- “Read like a Pirate” - featuring a ship’s log of reading, pirate stories, a pirate medallion and bandana rewards for “Barker Buccaneers”
- “Explore More Books” - featuring special guest “Buffalo Ed” the French Trapper, Trader, and Explorer with faux raccoon tail rewards
- “Discover the World of Reading” - featuring special guest Dr. Readmore, who visited the class to perform experiments and encourage reading about science
- “Readers are Leaders” - featuring special guests General Grant and President Grant, a special Presidential library, American flag rewards, and a voting machine demonstration
- “Conquer Reading Like a Viking” - featuring special guest Lothair of the Library, who helped students create runes, a huge cardboard viking boat, and shields
- “Read to Succeed” - featuring a visit from Thomas Edison and Henry Ford and discussions about inventions (show-and-tell with a restored Model A is planned!)
The school year will conclude with “Reader Rock,” centering on a nature theme with a visit from Rocking Ranger, who will lead a nature walk and kick off the Captain Ed’s Summer Reading Program.
Beutner says he has been inspired by the children’s book, Junkyard Wonders, by Patricia Polacco. “I am so impressed that Laurie Abbey is emulating the teacher in this book,” he says. “Her students have special gifts and talents, and what she is accomplishing with them is remarkable. The small role I play in it is rewarded by watching them grow.”