What is the difference between Ella va poniendo la mesa mientras yo termino de cocinar. and Ella está poniendo la mesa mientras yo termino de cocinar. ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

I learned that way too but there was an example in a lesson as;

Ir [conjugated] + gerund of second verb [-ing form]

Ella va poniendo la mesa mientras yo termino de cocinar.
She is laying the table while I finish cooking.

Los estudiantes fueron terminando las últimas preguntas del examen.
The students were finishing off the last questions of the exam.

Nosotros iremos pintando los huevos de pascua para la fiesta de los niños más tarde.
We will be getting on with painting the Easter eggs for the children's party later.

Carmen ha ido llamando a los clientes mientras yo hablaba con el jefe.
Carmen has been calling the clients (one by one) while I was talking to the boss.

Es bueno que hayas ido despidiéndote de todos antes de tu viaje a Brasil.
It is good that you have gradually said goodbye to everyone before your trip to Brazil.

**Bear in mind that, although this usage is very similar to the progressive tense with estar + gerund, using verb ir + gerund is more emphatic.

@hernandez10