Today I release a Pop-Up video for No Voy a Levantarme.
These Pop-Up videos are a hybrid of the 1990s VH1 videos that provided fun tidbits about the creation of the videos, along with TPRS-style pop-ups that teach grammar in very short bursts.
Throughout this year, I will be releasing pop-ups for most videos in my catalog. These pop-up videos are currently available:
New additions for Wednesday, March 13, 2013
1) New Subtitles Option
You can now view my videos with English and Spanish subtitles at the same time!
To the right of each video, you will see a box that contains multiple subtitles options:
2) Improvements to both video players
Some users have told me that the video player has not been very reliable lately. I take matters like this very seriously, and I therefore spent a lot of time working on it this week. Here is what I did:
Please know that if you ever experience any problems with my website, you are always welcome to write me. I answer all emails personally, and I’m happy to do it.
3) Updated Videogame for No Voy a Levantarme
I finished updating the No Voy a Levantarme videogame so that it uses the newly recorded track that was created for the music video.
Review Packet: ¡PAN!
Today I release a supplementary review packet for ¡PAN!.
The review document is an 11-page packet containing multiple pre, mid, and post activities to use with the video. It has writing activities, vocabulary prep, cloze activities, and crossword puzzles. Some of these activities are designed for beginner classes, and some for advanced classes. Pick and choose what works for you and your students.
This packet is only available to subscribers. Join today for only $25 a year.
To download this packet, go to the ¡PAN! video page and look under “PAN Resources”.
Please note that I intend to make frequent additions to these documents. The document you download today will be different than the one you download next year. Therefore, be sure to download the latest versions before using them with your classes.
I have now released review packets for the following:
Today I release a short story that loosely relates to my very first music video, Me Duele.
It tells the story of a son who gets hurt while playing with his father in the park. The boy is in a great deal of pain, and immediately asks to go the hospital. However, his father has other plans.
It is a humorous and original story that contains many of the same phrases and vocabulary as the song Me Duele.
Like most of my stuff, it’s weird and a little unexpected. I think you and your students will enjoy it.
To download the lectura, go to the Me Duele video page, and look under “Me Duele Resources”.
Like most of the supplementary materials, this new document is available to subscribers only. If you do not have an active subscription, please purchase one.
NOTE: This lectura is roughly targeted at the Spanish 2 level.
Lecturas now available for:
I am well aware that my video La Dentista is not for everyone. It’s dark and more than a little disturbing. What were you thinking, Sr. Wooly?! This is supposed to be an educational website!!
But for those of you who not only liked La Dentista , but actually want to warp your students’ minds even more, then I highly recommend my newest lectura.
In this two-part short story, the evil dentist returns and decides to take on a second job — that of a substitute teacher! Hijinks ensure when the students make the mistake of treating the substitute poorly.
If you enjoy the horror-comic sensibilities of La Dentista , I think you and your students will love this story. Personally, it’s one of my favorite stories created in this lectura series. It’s humorous and original, and it contains many of the same phrases and vocabulary as the song La Dentista.
To download the lectura, go to the La Dentista video page, and look under “La Dentista Resources”.
Like most of the supplementary materials, this new document is available to subscribers only. If you do not have an active subscription, please purchase one.
NOTE: This lectura is roughly targeted at the Spanish 2/3 level.
Lecturas now available for:
Today I release a Pop-Up video for Billy y Las Botas.
These Pop-Up videos are a hybrid of the 1990s VH1 videos that provided fun tidbits about the creation of the videos, along with TPRS-style pop-ups that teach grammar in very short bursts.
Throughout this year, I will be releasing pop-ups for most videos in my catalog. These pop-up videos are currently available:
Review Packet: La Confesión de Víctor
Today I release a supplementary review packet for La Confesión de Víctor.
The review document is an 15-page packet containing multiple pre, mid, and post activities to use with the video. It has writing activities, vocabulary prep, cloze activities, and crossword puzzles. Some of these activities are designed for beginner classes, and some for advanced classes. Pick and choose what works for you and your students.
This packet is only available to subscribers. Join today for only $25 a year.
To download this packet, go to the Confesión video page and look under “Confesión Resources”.
Please note that I intend to make frequent additions to these documents. The document you download today will be different than the one you download next year. Therefore, be sure to download the latest versions before using them with your classes.
I have now released review packets for the following:
Sr. Wooly’s seventh activity is a unique take on the jigsaw puzzle. Unlike other activities in this series, this one requires very little explanation. Although there is nothing particularly ground-breaking about this puzzle, I think you’ll find that it’s simple, easy-to-administer, and valuable. I hope you like it.
Activity 7: El Rompecabezas
Also, I have developed extensive resources for this activity. For each of my music videos, I have created six puzzles, which means you have over 80 puzzles that you can print out and use immediately. These resources are only available to subscribers. If you are not a member, I hope you’ll consider joining. It only costs $25 for an entire year.
As always, please leave your own comments below. The more we talk, the better a resource this video series can be for everyone.
Here are all of videos in the series so far:
Upon looking back at the content I have released over the past few years, there seems to be a recurring theme — insane and maniacal parents.
I have no idea where this comes from. To be honest, my parents are two of the most wonderful people I know. However, there’s just something so innately satisfying about crazy parents inflicting psychological torture upon their kids.
Today I release a lectura for Las Excusas that gleefully continues this trend.
In this short story, a daughter argues with her father who is also her schoolteacher. At her wit’s end, she complains about his treatment of her, and of the unjust blurring of lines between pupil and daughter. However, I have to stop there since telling you more would be to give away what is a very humorous and strange tale.
If you enjoyed the twisted humor of No Voy a Levantarme, then I think you will love this new lectura. It is a perfect companion to the Las Excusas music video. Although it tells an independent story, it contains many of the same phrases and vocabulary.
To download the lectura, go to the Excusas video page, and look under “Las Excusas Resources”.
Like most of the supplementary materials, this new document is available to subscribers only. If you do not have an active subscription, please purchase one.
NOTE: This lectura is roughly targeted at the Spanish 2/3 level.
Lecturas now available for:
The videogame for Billy y las Botas is now complete.
One of my main goals when creating these games is to ensure that each time a student plays, their experience is 100% unique and randomized. This Billy y las Botas game has over 7,000 lines of different possible questions and answers.
I also highly recommend that both students and teachers read these tips on playing the videogame.
And just because you can never have too much Billy, here is a class in Aspen, Colorado enjoying their Billy scarves.
Dear Spanish Teachers,
See that large empty space on your classroom wall over there? You know the one I’m talking about. The one with the sun-faded, slightly-torn construction paper filled with staples and tacks from old student projects? Your plan is to fill that space with student work as the year progresses. And maybe you’ll eventually get around to that*.
In the meantime, what is that empty space communicating to your students? How can you expect your students to learn Spanish when they’re distracted by that massive wall of nothingness, calling to them, demanding their attention and loyalty?
You have a responsibility to fill that void. You have a responsibility to save your students’ fragile minds from that emptiness. And, fortunately, Sr. Wooly has something to help you.
Sr. Wooly has posters!
I have been working with a talented graphic designer named Jennifer Kwan to create posters for each of my major music videos.
Currently, there are two available:
Not only are these posters an awesome way to bring color to your classroom, they’re HUGE! Each poster is 24″ x 36″ inches. So if have wall space to fill, these will do the trick.
The posters cost $12.50 dollars (including free shipping within the US), However, you can buy both for only $20 dollars.
More info about the Billy y Las Botas poster
More info about the ¿Puedo ir al baño? poster
If you guys like these posters, I will continue to put out more of them.
What poster would you like to see next? Please let me know what you think in the comments below.
* On the day before parent/teacher conferences
It’s September, which means it’s just time for the Sr. Wooly season to begin!
Here are seven reasons why you should be a subscriber to SenorWooly.com for the 2013-14 school year:
#1
I will release my newest music video, Los Quehaceres on Wednesday, Sept 11. It’s a great video for teaching tener + que, along with chore vocabulary. Even if you already know the song, the video has some very entertaining surprises.
A still from Sr. Wooly’s upcoming video, Los Quehaceres
#2
More pop-up videos! Like the ones released last year, they teach grammar while entertaining with fun tidbits about the creation of the video. Soon-to-be-released: Pop-ups for Guapo and ¿Puedo ir al baño?
Pop-Up video for
Las Excusas, available only to subscribers
#3
Last year I created a handful of video tutorials to train teachers on activities that have been successful in my classroom. This year I will continue this series with one new tutorial video each month. In case you have never seen one, here is a sample video tutorial.
A still from one of Sr. Wooly’s video tutorials
#4
I will continue to release new original short stories. Coming soon: the prequel that explains how Víctor became…guapo. There is more to the story than you realize!
A mini-story that details the further adventures of Las Botas
#5
There are already extensive support materials for each major video, including pre, mid, and post activities. This year, I will release new downloadable packets as well as refine the ones already on the site.
A downloadable boardgame for La Dentista.
#6
Coming in the 3rd week of September is the long-awaited (and long-delayed) student monitoring system that allows students to create individual sub-accounts underneath the umbrella of your teacher account. The teacher will then be able to assign homework, see the results, and enable/disable access to specific songs and videos.
The upcoming improved student account system
#7
New videos! New songs! I know that what you all really want is more videos and songs. And they’re on the way. In fact, my next one is already in development.
Me working on a new satirical song about Spanish teachers
To Sum Up
My goal is to create the most comprehensive and entertaining story-based resource for Spanish teachers. All of my materials are available for only $35 a year ($2.92 a month) per teacher.
My site is completely independent. Everything on the site, from the music, videos, games, and even the web design is done by me. So I hope you’ll consider giving your support and, in the process, getting access to some really fun and useful content.
If you are interesting in buying a subscription, please follow these steps:
1) Go to this link.
2) Purchase a 1-year subscription through PayPal for $35.
3) I’ll take care of the rest. Within 24 hours, I will update your account.
And be sure to check back next Wednesday for the release of my newest music video!
Hi everyone,
My newest music video, Los Quehaceres, is now available for subscribers.
What is the video about?
It’s a simple song about a boy who has to do chores, lots of chores, and how no one else ever has to do anything!! As with a lot of my material, the video is full of angst coupled with a little bit of a dark edge (though I promise that it’s appropriate for all ages).
What is the grammatical focus of the song?
Los Quehaceres is perfect for teaching tener + que + infinitive, along with chore vocabulary. If you have a chores section in your curriculum, you absolutely need this song and video.
However, even if you don’t teach that particular grammar or vocabulary, I hope you will still consider using it. When I create materials, the most important thing to me is story. If there is a good story that can be communicated through simple Spanish, then it’s worth telling. If you teach a beginner class, the story will make the material comprehensible. If you teach an advanced class, they still need review of basic Spanish, and the story will make that material palatable.
New version of the song
The song Los Quehaceres has been around for a long time. It was on my first album from 2007, Billy la Bufanda y Amigos. However, in preparation for this new video, I completely re-recorded all instrumentals and vocals. A few lyrics are different, and everything has a much fuller sound. If you already know the song, I think you’ll be impressed by the new recording.
Watch Sr. Wooly’s new music video, Los Quehaceres.
A big thank you
At the end of the last school year, I put out an all-call for Chicago-area Spanish teachers to help me film a very short, 3-second scene (which you will see in the video). I wasn’t quite sure who, if anyone, would show up. In the end, 25 teachers spent their entire Saturday morning helping out. In fact, A few teachers even drove in from Michigan and Wisconsin to take part. Please know that I was very humbled by the patience and enthusiasm of all the participants. Thank you very much for your help.
After you watch the video, feel free to come back here and let me know what you think.