Workman Publishing - Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook Review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.




I will admit that I am constantly looking for ways to make my lesson planning easier, especially since I still have three kids with various educational needs and Joey still has a lot of medical issues. So I was excited to get a chance to review the latest release from Workman Publishing, Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook.

We are all HUGE fans of the Everything You Need to Know in One Big Fat Notebook series. This series includes titles in American History, Science, Math, and even English. The pages are inviting to kids of all ages with their full-color illustrations and "notebook" feel. It feels like they are reading notes and not just a textbook format book. The pages even have lines to appear as if they are a composition notebook.

Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook features eight units with thirty-nine chapters. The book starts out with very basic knowledge about what computer science is. Some students, even though they have been working with a computer or device, they still do not know what computer science truly is. There is more to a computer than just playing apps. 

The Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook has chapters on

• How data is stored on computers and then how it is used 
• How computer systems are designed
• What Algorithms and programming languages are
• Variables, loops, events, and procedures
• Programming with Scratch
• Programming with Python
• Web Development - including Cybersecurity, Basic web page design, and CSS 

I really like the full colored illustrations and simplicity of the pages. When you are teaching easily distractible kids, too much on a page can be overwhelming. But the Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook keeps it basic and understandable.

At the end of each chapter, there are questions to Check Your Knowledge with. You have permission to copy for within your classroom, but I simply had Brayden write his answers on notebook pages.

And since I am not reading the book with him at the same time, this is awesome....the answers are available also so I can verify what he has written. If writing overwhelms your student though, you could easily discuss this material verbally and still get the same effect.

Each chapter takes roughly 20 minutes for him to complete, the max time is around 30 minutes. That is with extra research or if he has questions about what he is reading. Brayden is able to work independently through this book. I am using it as a basis for him to get started on more Cybersecurity type of classes he will be taking in the future.

Brayden said he is enjoying this study so far, and he is a little over half way through the book. He does 2-3 chapters a week as part of his studies. I plan on both girls going through the study also. 

This book does teach very basic coding with Scratch and Python. This more basic knowledge can then be expanded on if the student wants to explore it more. That is another thing I really like about Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook. It is a great introduction to all topics. Some kids love programming and coding, while others have no interest in material at all. Using this book can help introduce and you can find out your child's interest level in whether or not they want to explore more advanced areas of interests in the computer sciences.

Thanks Workman Publishing for another great title in the Everything You Need to Know Notebook series!!

Several members of the Homeschool Review Crew were given the opportunity to review the new title Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook.  Click on the link below to see how they used this product in their homes and what they thought of it.