The Wow Boy

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/orchestra-austism-wow-child-ronan-mattin-boston-classical-concert-a8909391.html?fbclid=IwAR0hMHSohkZyM88LQ3mqpL8Fk7RTnoyd3YFEh7Ah8SaiHDD9pDGg7T-26w4

A nine year old boy went with his Grandfather to see a classical music concert by the Handel and Haydn Orchestra in Boston USA. Ronan Mattin is autistic and does not often use speech but loves music. He rarely expresses himself in words or talks about how he feels.

Ronan listened to the orchestra play Mozart's Masonic Funeral Music and as the piece finished, he exclaimed, "Wow!" The hall was silent and everyone in the audience and on the stage clearly heard Ronan. There was a pause, a ripple of laughter and then the audience applauded.

Ronan's Mum said, "We don't hear words often from him so such a genuine, unprompted response like that was really, really special."

In the days following the concert, the orchestra mailed all their supporters and put a message on their website asking to find the "Wow boy." The president of the orchestra, David Snead said he had, "Never heard anything like it in more than four decades of classical music performing. It was one of the most wonderful moments I've experienced in the concert hall."

When Ronan's family saw the messages they contacted the orchestra and now Ronan has been invited to meet the conductor next time they play in Boston. A recording of the moment Ronan says wow has gone viral. Ronan's Mum says, "We're glad Ronan is providing so much joy to others because that's what he does for us every day."

What do you see in the picture?
what is happening?
where is it taken?

explain the story

- what is autism? (I asked a child with autism how to describe what autism means. Oliver told me, "autism is your brain wired differently so you see the world in a different way. It' just a different view of the world." Oliver says some things are harder for him but but also he better at some things than other children.)
- when people usually attend a classical music concert, what is the expectation for the audience?
- Why do you think Ronan shouted, "Wow" at the end of the music?
- why did everyone else hear him? What was everyone else doing?
- Why were Ronan's family so overjoyed to hear him say, "Wow"?
- how do you think Grandfather first felt when Ronan shouted out?
- Why did the audience laugh?
- The audience then applauded, who were they applauding?
- Was Ronan right to shout, "Wow"?
- Do you think the rest of the audience also loved the music? Why didn't they shout "Wow"?
- How do you think the musicians felt when they heard Ronan?
- "It was one of the most wonderful moments I've experienced in the concert hall" why?
- Why aren't the musicians cross with Ronan?
- why has this story gone viral? What does this show about people around the world and their view of autism and difference?
- what can we learn from Ronan?
- what can we learn from the Handel and Haydn Orchestra?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

Thanks again to Oliver for his brilliant explanation.