Happy 2026!

New year, same learner—wiser questions.

Happy New Year, Friends!

The rush of the holidays is over, and here we are in the quiet space between, “Wow, what just happened?!” and “How many days until Spring Break!” I learned long ago that we can absolutely love our jobs as educators and still look forward to downtime. There is no guilt in that!

I am not a huge #OneWord fanatic. Several years ago, I worked for a principal who had each of us choose a word at the beginning of the school year. And yes, as with many opening day rituals, my attitude toward participating was not stellar. However, I noticed (reluctantly) that I would catch myself reflecting on that word as various challenges, successes, and situations occurred throughout the year.

So, in January of 2024, the year of my upcoming retirement in June, I selected the word REIMAGINE—all on my own, no mandate! I was excited to reimagine myself after 32 years as an educator. It was an exciting time. I even had the amazing illustrator of my Emersyn Blake series, Jillian DuBois, create a piece of art which I hung on my new “I Am Now A Writer” bulletin board!

Little did I know that I would be reimagining myself as a breast cancer survivor. I still look at this beautiful reminder every day and am thankful for my journey and that Jillian serendipitously chose the pink color of hope!

Heading into 2026, I have chosen CLARITY. I was torn between FOCUS and CLARITY. With so much “noise” coming at us constantly, I thought FOCUS might be a good choice. As my Magical Mayhem critique partners know, I recently tried to wean myself away from the suffocation of constant social media (I was not entirely successful, by the way). But then I read Jeremy Jorgensen’s "Why Edify" blog post, and my word found me!

Here are the main reasons CLARITY feels right to me. Focusing on CLARITY will hopefully:

• foster a deep understanding of thoughts, feelings, and goals, allowing me to make more informed decisions.

• promote effective communication, allowing me to express my ideas more fluidly.

• allow me to see situations from various angles and viewpoints, opening new opportunities and pathways.

• simplify things that appear to be complex, making it easier to navigate frustrations and challenges.

• and most importantly, help me maintain a strong vision for the future, aligning my actions with the goals I have set for myself.

Speaking of Goals!

One of my main goals continues to include supporting those of you who are integrating STEM into your lessons, as well as providing those of you who are KidLit writers a glimpse into the world of the elementary STEM educator.

This month’s edition of The Tide includes:

• Lessons, ideas, slide decks, and materials for standards related to the human body.

• A shoutout to Emily Dunckle and her incredible debut picture book, The Most Amazing Machine, an inclusive kid-friendly introduction to our unique and amazing brain! A must-read even if you’re not studying the human body!

• A shoutout to #STEMCobb teacher, Kaitlin Torado, and her meaningful integration of the picture book Stellaluna with a gray bat conservation project.

Grab your copy at the link below! You can also always find past editions on my website collazocove.com

I hope 2026 brings each of you grand new adventures, great joy, and clarity!

All the best,

Kim