Aula após aula: à descoberta do ser professor

Abstract

This school placement Report, entitled Lesson after Lesson: Discovering the Teacher Within, was developed as part of the Master's Degree in Physical Education Teaching in Basic and Secondary Education at the Faculty of Sport, University of Porto. The document presents the professional journey of a preservice teacher (the author) throughout the 2024/2025 academic year, integrating the personal, professional, and research dimensions of the practicum experience. The pedagogical intervention was guided by the commitment to promote a quality Physical Education, tailored to the needs and interests of the students. Within this framework, particular emphasis was placed on the implementation of a programme grounded in Participatory Action Research with Youth, applied to the curricular component of physical fitness. This approach enabled students to take on an active role in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of their own training plans. The process fostered meaningful improvements in both physical fitness and physical literacy, while simultaneously strengthening autonomy, critical thinking, and shared responsibility in students' learning trajectories. From a formative standpoint, the school placement served as a vital bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application, characterised by challenges, adaptations, and continuous moments of critical reflection. The experience was instrumental in consolidating my professional identity as a teacher and reinforced the belief that Physical Education, when guided by the principles of participation, inclusion, and reflection, can serve as a transformative space for the holistic development of students.