How does asking questions during a book walk facilitate formative assessment?

Asking questions during a book walk is an effective strategy for facilitating formative assessment because it prompts deeper thinking and insight into understanding. This method encourages students to engage actively with the text before they read it in its entirety. By asking targeted, open-ended questions about illustrations, potential themes, or characters, educators can guide students to make predictions and connections based on their prior knowledge and experiences. This engagement helps students to internalize concepts and enhances their comprehension skills.

By fostering a dialogic environment where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and predictions, teachers can gauge students’ readiness to tackle the content, assess their prior knowledge, and identify areas where they may need additional support. This interactive process creates a dynamic learning atmosphere, allowing teachers to adjust their instruction based on the insights gathered during the discussion. Thus, the practice of questioning not only promotes critical thinking but also serves as a valuable tool for ongoing assessment of student understanding.