Saturday, December 1, 2012

Book Walks & Text Features

A few weeks ago... I met with my latest mentor teacher and she asked me to do a book walk. After a few minutes of internal shaking, I looked at her and said "What's a book walk?"

< insert me turning pink here >
This is the image that popped into my head


Totally not what she meant!

So she explained it to me, told me I would be find, and sent me on my way to plan. I was BEYOND nervous but I returned 2 days later ready to do my first every book walk. (I taught a different lesson in between). 

Guess what!!?? 
It was a huge success! I loved it and so did the kids. 
I learned so much! 
I will do better next time even though my mentor said I was brilliant. 


I am now in a new class and guess what we are learning how to do... BOOK WALKS! Could have used that last class! But anyways... my professor sent this great link on how to do a book walk that I wanted to share with all of you. Just in case you ever find yourself turning three shades of pink when asked to do one. 

Book walks are great for building schemata and informal assessments. 

Check out Guiding Students Through Expository Text with Text Feature Walks. This is a skill/strategy that is recommended and used a lot with the Common Core. So if you aren't using it yet, you soon will have to be. 

If you need help with anything to do with reading... check out the Reading Rockets website. Four out of Five professors will ask if you have searched this site for your answer before knocking on their office door or sending them an email. At least that has been my experience. 

Do you use book walks? What are your tips for success??

2 comments:

  1. My students do a book walk/story walk prior to reading ALL stories. I try to do something different with each one. For example: locate a text feature and teach your shoulder partner how it will help them read the story or find a picture that you can connect to your own life and share your connection with your shoulder partner. You can also use them to generate questions for a KWL chart or to generate vocabulary questions.

    Hope your kiddos enjoy their upcoming book walks!


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  2. I love using book walks too! Great way to work on making inferences too!

    - Sasha

    The Autism Helper

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