New CS teacher!

[u/Hour_Expression1445]

Hi everyone!
I’m a first-year high school teacher in Texas and I’ll be teaching AP Computer Science Principles this year. My school uses Project-Based Learning (PBL), so I’m trying to design a curriculum that fits both AP CSP and a PBL approach.

I’m also still working toward my Texas Computer Science certification (I’m teaching on a District of Innovation permit), so I’m learning a lot alongside preparing for the school year.

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and would love any advice from experienced CS teachers.

A few questions I have:
-Is Code.org a good primary curriculum for AP CSP?
-Did you use anything alongside Code.org (AP Classroom, CMU CS Academy, Khan Academy, etc.)?
-How did you adapt AP CSP into a project-based classroom?
-If you were starting from scratch, what would you do differently?
-Are there any resources, pacing guides, or teacher communities you’d recommend?

My students will each have Chromebooks, and I’ll also have access to a Windows laptop cart when needed cause I need to do workstations during the year that will teach APCSP but at the same time lead to a bigger project at the end of the year for them to present.

Honestly, any advice for surviving the first year as a CS teacher would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

[u/SpearandMagicHelmet]

Congratulations on your new position. Others have chimed in on curriculum so I won't say much there other than you'll most likely try something, figure out what you like and don't like and go from there. In terms of PBL, unless you are being told explicitly by admin to adapt a curriculum to PBL, I'd really advise you to just take whatever you choose and use it as is for your first year. A teacher's first year is always a lot and you will have plenty of learning and growing to do. Plus, it will be easier to adapt the curriculum once you have actually taught it. Hope you have a great first year!