WEEK 1 - RECONNECTION

 

This week began as a journey of rediscovery. From the very first session, I felt myself reconnecting with the essence of who I am as a future teacher. Sharing where we are from and a meaningful aspect of ourselves made me reflect deeply on why I chose this path. I realized that my passion for teaching was ignited by a teacher I admired, Belén. Through her dedication, care, and genuine vocation, I discovered the path I wanted to follow—a path that requires heart, patience, and persistence. This week, I felt that spark again, that core of my teacher-self, reminding me why I love this profession.

SESSION 1:

In our first session, we introduced ourselves and learned about the structure of the subject. Professor María Isabel Rodríguez Martín explained attendance, the syllabus, and the evaluation system, emphasizing the importance of consistency due to the number of assignments. She guided us on forming groups and introduced platforms like Procomún for finding teaching resources. Beyond logistics, she shared her personal journey through a beautifully crafted album—her children, her passion for teaching, her love for music, and her travels across Europe.

This session reminded me how essential collaboration and group support are in teaching. Working together strengthens learning and builds a sense of community. But more importantly, it reconnected me emotionally with my vocation. Seeing María Isabel’s dedication reminded me of Belén and how teachers shape students’ lives not only through knowledge but through passion, care, and example. We are role models, and this responsibility is both humbling and inspiring.

I left the session feeling motivated and inspired. The professor’s approachability and enthusiasm created a welcoming environment, reinforcing my commitment to this profession. Her passion is contagious, and it reminds us that teaching is a journey of heart and dedication.

SESSION 2:

The second session focused on group cohesion and the importance of working as a community. We discussed how collaboration, shared responsibility, and mutual support are key to effective learning, both for us as students and for the future classroom. This session reminded me that teaching is not only about individual effort but about creating an environment where everyone feels included and valued.

Through this session, I learned the importance of building cohesion and trust within a group. It also reminded me of my teaching practice and my own strengths as an educator. Reflecting on my journey, I was inspired to create a short video highlighting my qualities as a teacher—my relational skills, patience, and dedication—which helps me reconnect with my vocation and share my vision of teaching. 

Watch this video: My qualities as a teacher - https://youtu.be/7rlYwjylZ1g

Additionally, I included a video from my teaching practice, as it illustrates the real application of my learning and the classroom dynamics I aim to foster. These resources not only document my growth but also serve as a motivational reminder of why I teach.

Watch this video: My teaching practice in action - https://youtu.be/t4X2aRbXbhU

This session was deeply motivating. Focusing on cohesion reinforced that teaching is as much about fostering relationships and community as it is about academic content. I felt inspired to keep learning, sharing, and contributing to the group while nurturing my own growth as a future teacher.

In conclusion, this first week has been more than an academic start—it has been a reawakening of my teaching soul. I reconnected with my vocation, my purpose, and the reasons I chose this path. I was reminded of the teachers who inspired me, the experiences that shaped me, and the importance of being a role model who guides, encourages, and connects with every student.

Looking back, even the photo of me as a child serves as a powerful reminder of why I am on this journey. It symbolizes the spark of curiosity, care, and love for learning that has been with me since I was small, and how that early inspiration, combined with experiences like Belén’s guidance, continues to shape the teacher I aspire to be. This week reinforced that teaching is about heart, passion, and persistence, as much as it is about knowledge. I feel energized, motivated, and ready to embrace the challenges and joys of this course, carrying with me the lessons, inspiration, and emotional connection from these first sessions.

REFERENCES:

Ausubel, D. P. (1968). The psychology of meaningful verbal learning: An introduction to school learning. New York: Grune & Stratton. 

Azañón, M. (2023). Aptitudes como maestra [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/7rlYwjylZ1g

Azañón, M. (2025). Memories that mean learning [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/t4X2aRbXbhU

Instituto Nacional de Tecnologías Educativas y de Formación del Profesorado (INTEF). (s. f.). Acerca de Procomún. Recuperado el 20 de septiembre de 2025, de https://procomun.intef.es/es/contenido/acerca-de-procomun

Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. (s.f.). Facultad de Educación. Toledo. Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. https://www.uclm.es/toledo/educacion

Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha. (2022). Decreto 81/2022, de 26 de julio, por el que se establece el currículo de Educación Primaria en Castilla-La Mancha [Normativa]. https://docm.castillalamancha.es/

Microsoft. (s.f.). Bing. Microsoft. https://www.bing.com

Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes. (s.f.). Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes. https://www.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es/portada.html

Pixabay. (s.f.). Pixabay – Free images & royalty-free stock. https://pixabay.com

Some images included in this post are my own (Images by the author).

Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. (s.f.). Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. https://www.uclm.es