Advanced Learner Characteristics
Leadership, Creativity, and the Visual & Performing Arts
FREQUENCY and INTENSITY of these characteristics help define advanced learner needs.
Displays Curiosity & Creativity
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Questions, explores, experiments
Asks unusual, provocative questions
Is curious. Asks how, why, and what if?
Tries to discover the how and why of things
Enjoys doing things in new ways
Puts unrelated ideas and materials together in
new and different ways
Offers unique responses
Has an active imagination (likes to pretend)
Assumes another persona during activities or
conversations
Has trouble distinguishing fact from fiction
Does not follow or wait for directions (makes own
rules)
Refuses to follow rules unless they see “why”
Is seen as “deviant” or non-conformist
Develops and tells elaborate “stories”
Music
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Leadership and Service
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Organizes materials and activities
Accepts and carries out responsibilities
Is sought by others (influences others, positively or
negatively)
Adapts readily to new situations and changes
Is a positive and compassionate guide to others
Prefers adult company
Is seen as manipulative and strong-willed
Is seen as “bossy” (wants to be the center of
attention)
Dominates others (may not be a good follower)
Makes strong contributions to community
Sees a need and takes responsibility to fill a role
within a group
Perceives subtle differences in how people
respond to change and conflict
Demonstrates an ability to communicate ideas
with confidence
Visual Arts
Is keenly aware of sounds and listens with
focused concentration
Senses small differences in melodies, rhythms,
sounds – recognizes patterns
Discriminates rhythmic differences and physically
responds to rhythm in a fluid manner
Discriminates differences in pitch and
demonstrates a high level of tonal
memory/audiation
Extends, manipulates, and experiments with
sound or movement
Spontaneously and creatively responds to the
aesthetic qualities of music
Is eager and imaginative in expressing shaping
and refining musical ideas
Works thoughtfully and perceptively in revising
musical ideas
Performs with a fluid sense of rhythmic pulse
and/or keen awareness of pitch, tone, melody,
and harmony
Works to improve performance capabilities
through focused attention and skill practice
Projects advanced musical expression beyond
age or grade level
Applies knowledge and skills to create musical
compositions
Shows persistence and perseverance in musical
tasks
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Is a keen observer (spots details others miss)
Recognizes patterns
Creates interesting shapes and patterns
Prefers hands-on experiences to learn
Self-motivated and works well independently in
artistic activities
Consistently performs at a high level
Shows imagination in presentation
Draws/designs images from memory and/or
imagination that show higher level creativity
and/or realism
Enjoys spending free time creating or analyzing
art
Uses other ideas to create their own unique
material as opposed to copying/recreating
Draws/designs with a high level of detail and skill
Uses a variety of colors, values, sizes, textures,
and shapes for desired effects
Quickly grasps art instruction and applies it to
own work
Shows high sensitivity to art and media
Sources:
U-STARS Plus - Coleman, Shah-Coltrane, and Harrison:
Council for Exceptional Children (2010)
Music Identification Handbook for Educators, Coordinators,
and Administrators in Wisconsin Public Schools: WMEA and
WI DPI (2009)