It sounds like he might be a kinesthetic learner. They learn best by moving while learning. If you've ever seen "Akeelah and the Bee," the movie about the girl who becomes a spelling bee champion, you have a good idea what kinesthestic learners might look like. Movement helps their brains to work better.
I used to tell my kids to stop making noises and/or jumping around when they were doing math or whatever. Then I realized that the fidgeting was actually a sign that they were concentrating. They don't always fidget while thinking, but it's pretty common. It usually stops once they really get absorbed in what they're doing.
Sometimes I need to have two things going simultaneously. If I'm going through data, I like to play music. It helps me sit still. If I'm watching TV, I MUST do something else, like play cards or do a puzzle. I actually don't watch TV so much as listen to it!
Val
