When I decided I was going to do a PBL that was pre-made and that had nothing to do with the content area that I teach, I got very scared. It wasn't very clear to me how I was going to adapt it to Spanish, or how I was going to deliver the PBL period. The urge and need to start with a PBL right away gave me the courage to move forward with it, as I was already 100% bought into the teaching and learning philosophy behind doing a big project. I felt like I was about to go down a rollercoaster, and the thought of not knowing what the outcome was going to be was killing me!

First week started and I launched my first attempt, as I remembered everything that we did at the Boetcher Mansion with our mini PBL and I took that experience and used it with my students in my classes. I am relieved to say that everything was okay! Students worked in groups, groups were collaborating with ideas, everyone in the group was speaking and contributing. My biggest surprise as I was observing my students work throughout this whole process, was looking at my most shy students come out of their shell in their groups. Watching this entire process happen slowly is an amazing thing because it happens right in front of your eyes. I invited administrators, teachers and even district coaches to come and watch my students present and participate and be panelists of the "Shark Tank" that I put together for my students to present. My students were very nervous, they were reluctant to do it, but as time passed they were more and more invested and committed to their group. After they presented, the next day in class we had a small celebration and debriefed about the entire experience.

I speak now from experience and say that PBL is a great way of teaching. There will be challenges, but don't we always have challenges regardless even when we're not doing projects? I encourage all my fellow colleagues to try and do at least one PBL throughout this school year because it will be the only way that as a teacher can let go of the fear to teach differently and let go of the control of the classroom, but pass that control over to the students. My students' grades got better, my students' attitudes were better and my students' work quality became also better. As a teacher, more could I ask for?

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