Thinking Before Typing: Building Executive Function Through Coding

Right now, we are working with a 10-year-old 5th grader who loves math, puzzles, and computers. They are eager to jump straight into coding, especially hacking the Chrome Dino game, but slowing down to read and plan first can feel challenging.

Instead of beginning with the keyboard, we are beginning with thinking.

We start each session by reading a short tutorial from JavaScript for Kids and talking through what the code is supposed to do before typing anything. At first, waiting is hard. The impulse to dive in is strong. So we read a story together about how waiting can feel uncomfortable — but can also be helpful. That conversation becomes our bridge into planning.

Now, before coding, they explain their thinking out loud. We practice organizing ideas using review words like main idea, detail, summarize, and sequence, and new coding vocabulary like function, variable, loop, and output. Only after the plan is clear do we begin building.

This “think → say → write → code” process is strengthening more than programming skills. It is building executive functioning — planning, sequencing, self-monitoring, and task initiation.

We are seeing growth already.

Instead of rushing to trial and error, they are learning to pause, explain, and revise intentionally.

At Maker Mindset, we believe literacy and executive functioning grow together — especially when students build something that works. And right now, thinking first is becoming just as exciting as coding.