Just a thought: have you tried to determine whether it's the actual material or its presentation-- or even the environment?
Environment: Is he sensitive to sounds, smells, sensory stimuli in general? Is he distracted: by visuals, other children, etc. How does he generally handle sitting at a desk? Could there be anything about the classroom environment that distracts him?
Presentation: How would you rate his overall auditory processing/attention/learning? How does it compare to how he takes in info/processes info via other channels? Does he generally do better if he sees/reads material or if you tell him, read aloud, discuss it? Does he typically move around a lot while he's learning at home? Maybe try an experiment... Maybe he does hear blah blah when his teacher talks. Maybe he'd do better with visual presentation, or some hands-on, or kinesthetic experiences. Or maybe blah blah is a little boy describing his teacher (the charlie brown grown up talk version) or it's a cover for something else.
Anyway, could be many many things, but just wanted to toss these out there as a few possibilities.
Good luck!
Thanks for all your thought provoking questions!
School has just been running about a month or 2 and I have never been in the classroom to actually watch the teacher teach. I have met the teacher and she seems pretty well spoken and organized. There are only 12 kids in the class and a teachers assistant. From what I could tell most of the kids are generally well behaved and the classroom isn't too cluttered. Ds is generally very attentive in class and has very good receptive skills. He doesn't need to have visuals or hands on things to stay focused. They don't spend too much time at their desk but do a combination of group work, small work, discussion but sometimes they do have to just listen to the teacher.
The funny thing is that the text book he is referring to his teacher using is one that teaches 1st grade phonic skills. DS reads at a 2-3 grade level so I doubt the material is too hard for him.
If I had to hedge my bet I would guess that he is just being sarcastic. It's his way of pointing out that 5 year olds shouldn't be doing 1st grade work. Yesterday I just told him to go to bed but I feel like I should have a "wiser" response for him next time. What is a good way to explain why he is doing more advanced work?
I am going to get his hearing checked next week too!
