About This Course
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- 5 minutes read - 876 wordsC++ Learning Sessions - Complete Overview
File Organization
cpp_lessons/
├── phase1_foundations/
│ ├── session_01_what_is_programming.md
│ ├── session_02_getting_input.md
│ ├── session_03_variables_datatypes.md
│ ├── session_04_numbers_math.md
│ └── session_05_text_strings.md
├── phase2_control_structures/
│ ├── session_06_if_statements.md
│ ├── session_07_advanced_conditions.md
│ └── session_08_intro_loops.md
└── README.md (this file)
Learning Path Overview
Phase 1: Programming Foundations (5 Sessions)
Goal: Build basic programming skills and understanding
| Session | Type | Duration | Topic | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weekend | 1.5h | What is Programming? | Basic program structure, cout |
| 2 | Weekday | 1h | Getting User Input | cin, string variables |
| 3 | Weekday | 1h | Variables and Data Types | int, double, char, bool |
| 4 | Weekend | 1.5h | Working with Numbers | Arithmetic operations, math functions |
| 5 | Weekday | 1h | Working with Text | String manipulation, getline() |
Phase 1 Completion Milestone: Students can create simple interactive programs that get user input, perform calculations, and display formatted output.
Phase 2: Control Structures (6+ Sessions)
Goal: Learn decision making and repetition in programs
| Session | Type | Duration | Topic | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Weekend | 1.5h | Introduction to Decision Making | if, else if, else statements |
| 7 | Weekday | 1h | Advanced Conditions | Nested if, logical operators, switch |
| 8 | Weekend | 1.5h | Introduction to Loops | for, while, do-while loops |
| 9 | Weekday | 1h | Nested Loops and Patterns | (to be created) |
| 10 | Weekday | 1h | Loop Applications | (to be created) |
| 11 | Weekend | 1.5h | Control Structures Project | (to be created) |
Session Structure
Each session follows this consistent format:
Weekday Sessions (1 hour)
- Warm-up (5 minutes): Review or concept check
- New Concept Introduction (20 minutes): Theory and examples
- Hands-on Practice (25 minutes): Progressive coding exercises
- Challenge/Quiz (10 minutes): Independent validation exercise
Weekend Sessions (1.5 hours)
- Warm-up (10 minutes): Review and reinforcement
- New Concept Introduction (30 minutes): Detailed theory and examples
- Hands-on Practice (40 minutes): Extended coding projects
- Challenge/Quiz (10 minutes): Comprehensive validation exercise
Using the Validation System
Each session ends with a challenge and a Validation Prompt Template. Students should:
- Complete the challenge independently
- Copy their code solution
- Use the provided prompt template with ChatGPT or Claude
- Get feedback on their solution
- Fix any issues and re-validate if needed
Example Validation Prompt:
I'm learning C++ and just completed Session [X]. Here's my solution to the [CHALLENGE NAME] challenge:
[PASTE THEIR CODE HERE]
The challenge was: [CHALLENGE DESCRIPTION]
Please check if my solution:
1. [Specific criteria 1]
2. [Specific criteria 2]
3. [Specific criteria 3]
4. [Specific criteria 4]
If there are issues, please explain what's wrong and give me a hint to fix it (don't give me the complete solution).
Next Phases (Planned)
Phase 3: Functions and Code Organization (6-8 sessions)
- Function basics and parameters
- Return values and scope
- Function overloading
- Code organization best practices
Phase 4: Arrays and Collections (6-8 sessions)
- Array basics and manipulation
- 2D arrays and matrices
- Introduction to vectors
- String arrays and text processing
Phase 5: Intermediate Concepts (8-10 sessions)
- Pointers and references
- File input/output
- Error handling
- Debugging techniques
Phase 6: Object-Oriented Programming (10-12 sessions)
- Classes and objects
- Constructors and destructors
- Inheritance and polymorphism
- Real-world OOP projects
Study Tips for Students
Daily Practice
- Aim for consistency: 30-60 minutes daily is better than 4 hours once a week
- Type code by hand: Don’t copy/paste examples - type them out
- Experiment freely: Change things and see what happens
- Comment your code: Explain what you’re doing in plain English
When You Get Stuck
- Read error messages carefully - they usually tell you what’s wrong
- Use simple debugging - add
coutstatements to see what’s happening - Take breaks - sometimes stepping away helps you see the solution
- Use the validation system - AI can help explain concepts differently
Working Together (For Both Kids)
- Pair programming: Take turns being the “driver” (typing) and “navigator” (thinking)
- Explain concepts to each other - teaching someone else helps you understand better
- Compare solutions - there are often multiple ways to solve the same problem
- Celebrate successes - getting a program to work is always an achievement!
Parent Notes
Supporting Your Kids
- Encourage experimentation - let them break things and fix them
- Don’t rush the process - understanding is more important than speed
- Connect to their interests - relate programming concepts to games, apps, or hobbies they enjoy
- Be patient with frustration - programming can be challenging, and that’s normal
Progress Indicators
- After Phase 1: Can create simple interactive programs
- After Phase 2: Can create programs that make decisions and repeat actions
- After Phase 3: Can break complex problems into smaller functions
- After Phase 4: Can work with lists of data and create more sophisticated programs
Technical Setup
- Recommended: Visual Studio Code with MinGW-w64 compiler (Setup Guide)
- Alternative: Online option (Replit.com) or Code::Blocks IDE
- File organization: Keep all programs organized by session
- Backup: Consider using Google Drive or GitHub for code storage
Estimated Timeline
- Total Duration: 8-12 months for complete curriculum
- Weekly Commitment: 3-5 hours spread across several sessions
- Flexibility: Some concepts may take longer - that’s perfectly normal!
The goal isn’t to become expert C++ programmers immediately, but to develop strong programming fundamentals and logical thinking skills that will serve them well in any programming language they learn later.
Status: Currently Available
- ✅ Phase 1: Complete (5 sessions)
- ✅ Phase 2: Partial (3 of 6 sessions created)
- 📝 Remaining sessions can be created following the same format and progression
Each session is designed to be completely self-contained, allowing students to work independently while having clear validation criteria for their progress.