More Textbooks & Curriculum

If your district did not adopt textbooks/materials, or if the adopted textbooks/materials are not meeting your students' needs, consider reviewing some of the resources below.
FREE Resources During COVID-19
  • WeTeach_CS for HS C​urriculum - appropriate for any introductory programming course at the high school level (i.e. high school Computer Science 1). To support schools that are suddenly faced with moving to online instruction, they have modified the licensing agreement so that any license purchased after March 15, 2020 can be used both for the rest of the 19-20 school year as well as the entire 20-21 school year at no additional cost. The year-long curriculum is aligned to the Texas state standards for CS 1 (TEKS).
Textbooks & Resources Created by High School Computer Science Teachers
  • O(N)CS Lessons by John Owen, a former Computer Science teacher in south Texas
  • A+ Computer Science by Stacey Armstrong, a Computer Science teacher in the Houston area
  • Exposure Java by Leon Schram, a Computer Science teacher in the Dallas area
  • Blue Pelican Java by Charles Cook (deceased), a former Computer Science teacher in south Texas
Free Textbooks & Resources Created by Non-Profits, Computer Science Professors, and Universities
  • WeTeach_CS YouTube Channel - contains over 200 videos related to computer science learning concepts and skills. Covered topics include programming language concepts, OOP (Object Oriented Programming), number base conversion demonstrations, how loops work, and more. These videos were originally produced to support teachers seeking content knowledge and preparing for certification in computer science at the high school level. The channel is a readily available and free resource for your classroom. The videos support content knowledge in computer science fundamentals and AP level study.
  • Google Computer Science for High School - Custom Search, Find lessons, tutorials, and activities for K-12 computer science education
  • Code.org Resources for Educators
  • iJava by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst - online, interactive basic Java textbook
  • Think Java: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist by Allen B. Downey, Olin College
  • CLOUDES - Learn, Build, & Play with Simulations by Old Dominion University - Overview video & User Manual / Lesson Plans
  • Computer Science I by Dr. Chris Bourke, University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Topics discussed in a general, language-agnostic manner, with subsequent sections devoted to language-specific syntax and idiosyncrasies. Covers C, Java, and PHP. Published under a Creative Commons license, free for use and adaptation.
  • Learn Java in N Games  Collection of game-based activities (including POGIL-style activities) for learning about Java programming. Can be used individually or as a complete curriculum.  CS2 level.
Online Curriculum
Curriculum for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Courses
Some of My Favorite Java Textbooks for Reference
All-Around Great Resources
  • Google's Computer Science Education website - Includes Learn Computer Science (Student Learning, Educator Resources, Coding Tools and Technology), Participate in Academic Opportunities (Diversity Outreach, Scholarships), Access Career Opportunities (Contests, Internships and Residencies), and Meet Our Partners (Community-Focused Programs, Community Partners)
  • CS Teaching Tips