Two things came to mind in reading the original post.
First - like the PP said, kids will come up with creative ways to make the work less boring. Trying to make their work look like another kids' would qualify. My concern would be that if this creative coping takes over, it is a sign that the class is a bad fit. A little bit of this is good - too much means things aren't working well.
Second - like my grandmother always said - kids go through stages. Even if he is hiding his skills, it is likely just a stage and not something to worry about. He'll grow his way out of it.
Deal is - kids do have to learn how to be themselves and not hide their abilities, and yet balance that with not being obnoxious either. They will overshoot one way and then the other before they finally hit the right balance. All of those mis-steps are just stages that they have to grow throug on the path to becoming themselves.
Now.... if he starts to hide his abilities from you, that is a different thing. If that becomes a habit, then you have something to take more seriously.
Mary
