Social-Emotional Learning & Well-Being

The Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted (WATG) is proud to offer Summer Scholarships to support gifted students in pursuing enriching educational experiences beyond the traditional classroom. These scholarships provide financial assistance for students to attend summer programs, camps, and other specialized learning opportunities that align with their unique talents and interests. Whether exploring STEM, the arts, leadership, or other advanced studies, our scholarships help ensure that all gifted students have access to meaningful growth experiences. WATG is committed to fostering the potential of Wisconsin's gifted youth by expanding access to high-quality learning opportunities.


As part of the application, students must submit either an essay or a video/multimedia presentation, along with one reference letter from a teacher or a non-family member. The essay or presentation should address the following:


  • Personal background and advanced enrichment needs.
  • A description of the summer program or class you wish to attend and the reasons for your interest in it.
  • An explanation of why you believe you are a strong candidate for this scholarship.

Student Summer Scholarships

Logo Contest

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

Description: This book introduces young children to essential life habits – like responsibility, empathy, and teamwork – through engaging stories and illustrations.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It supports social-emotional learning and moral development, which gifted children sometimes struggle with alongside advanced intellectual skills.


Ideal for: Ages 4 to 8


Link:  https://amzn.to/3Y6dkWV

13 Things Strong Kids Do

Description: This is a kid-friendly guide to building resilience, confidence, courage, and healthy emotional habits.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It addresses common gifted traits like anxiety, sensitivity, and overthinking.


Ideal for: Elementary and middle school students


Link: https://amzn.to/3K7WOCD

The Anxious Generation

Description: The Anxious Generation explores the rise of anxiety and stress in youth due to technology, social media, and cultural pressures.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It helps explain societal stressors that often amplify anxiety in highly sensitive or gifted learners.


Ideal for: Parents, educators, and adolescents seeking insight into mental health and modern pressures


Link: https://amzn.to/3K9aqgV

Best Brain Ever

Description: Best Brain Ever is a practical, science-backed guide with strategies to boost focus, reduce stress, and build healthy thinking habits.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It helps gifted learners manage perfectionism and cognitive intensity, sharpen attention, regulate stress, and optimize mental performance.


Ideal for: Gifted middle school, high school, and college students


Link:  https://amzn.to/4aazdvP

Gratitude Journals

Description: Gratitude journals are designed for children to reflect on daily things they are grateful for.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: They encourage emotional regulation, mindfulness, and positive thinking, which is helpful for intense or highly sensitive students.


Ideal for: Ages 6+


Links: 

Grit in the Classroom

Description: Grit in the Classroom explains how perseverance and resilience develop and how adults can help students build long-term motivation and healthy persistence.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: Gifted learners sometimes avoid challenge due to fear of failure. Learning healthy grit supports growth mindset without pressure.


Ideal for: Teachers, parents, counselors


Link:  https://amzn.to/4rtuNWN

The Invisible String

Description: The Invisible String uses a gentle, comforting story to teach children about the invisible connections of love that exist even when people are apart.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It supports emotional security and resilience, especially for children who may struggle with separation anxiety or intense emotional awareness.


Ideal for: Ages 4 to 8, particularly sensitive or empathetic kids


Links:

A Kids Book About Anxiety

Description: This is an age-appropriate book that explains anxiety in simple terms, with strategies for coping.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: Gifted kids often experience heightened anxiety; this resource provides validation and coping tools.


Ideal for: Ages 6 to 12, children experiencing worry or stress


Link: https://amzn.to/3JX6KPl

A Kids Book About Empathy

Description: This storybook is designed to teach children the concept and practice of empathy.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It promotes social-emotional growth, perspective-taking, and understanding peers’ feelings.


Ideal for: Ages 6 to 12


Link: https://amzn.to/3JPgUBA

Mindfulness Cards

Description: These cards provide prompts that guide breathing, grounding, self-awareness, and emotional reflection.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: They support emotional intensity, anxiety, perfectionism, and stress management.


Ideal for: Grades 1 to 12, counseling sessions


Link:  https://amzn.to/3KhyZsa


Overachievers: The Secret Life of Driven Kids

Description: This book examines the pressures on high-achieving students, exploring the risks of stress and burnout.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It offers insight into overachievement and encourages balance, resilience, and self-care.


Ideal for: Parents, educators, and gifted adolescents


Link: https://amzn.to/4o76prg

Perfectionism

Description: This guide explains the roots of perfectionism and offers practical strategies to help students manage unrealistic expectations and performance anxiety.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: Many gifted learners struggle with perfectionism, fear of failure, and high personal standards; this book provides concrete tools for healthier thinking.


Ideal for: Parents, teachers, counselors, older elementary through high school students


Link: https://amzn.to/48cDPju

The Perfectionism Workbook for Teens

Description: This workbook offers practical exercises, reflection prompts, and strategies for managing perfectionistic tendencies and self-criticism.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It helps gifted teens who often set unrealistically high standards for themselves to develop self-compassion and healthier goal-setting.


Ideal for: Ages 13 to 18


Link:  https://amzn.to/4p541CA

The Survival Guide for Gifted Kids

Description: This guide provides practical advice and strategies for gifted children to manage school, peers, and emotions.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It addresses social-emotional challenges specific to gifted learners and promotes coping strategies.


Ideal for: Ages 8 to 14


Link: https://amzn.to/3KalCtH

What to Do When “Good Enough” Isn’t Good Enough

Description: This book explores the emotional side of perfectionism and provides strategies for overcoming self-criticism, anxiety, and fear-driven achievement.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: Greenspon’s approach helps gifted learners build emotional resilience and detach self-worth from performance.


Ideal for: Parents, therapists, teachers, teens struggling with anxiety or perfectionism


Link: https://amzn.to/4p6jrGF

Yoga Pretzels

Description: Yoga Pretzels is a set of cards illustrating kid-friendly yoga poses and mindfulness exercises.


Why It’s Great for Gifted Students: It helps reduce stress, improve focus, and support physical and emotional regulation.


Ideal for: Ages 4+


Link: https://amzn.to/4idaAk2