Reading is one subject that is very easy to accelerate in the current classroom if he is that opposed to it. Go down the hall and get the 2nd grade book and let him use that, while staying with his current buds. If he was across the board ready for more challenge, I'd say, send him down the hall to 2nd for reading, but if he is opposed, why not send the material to him? Send in harder books for him for times when he can read by himself too.