Building Executive Function Through Hour of Code

Coding is exciting to students: You write the commands to make something happen. What control! Coding also requires a high level of executive function skills. What a great way to build these critical skills! " Hour of Code " is an annual event to let students experience what it is like to create a computer program that accomplishes something. Students might program a motorized object to move, create a video game, create an animated card, and more. Coding helps build executive function skills, which are critical to academic achievement. This resource offers a list of executive function skills for you to consider when having students engage in coding, whether it's for "Hour of Code" or any other time. Use the rightmost column to check off those skills that will be addressed in the activity. For those not specifically addressed, consider how you might modify the activity to include them. For example, if students are designing a video game, rather than a "trial and error," have them attemp