Project Euler有许多有趣的数学问题，可以为初学者提供很好的材料。问题开始很简单，然后难度逐渐增加，网络上充满了各种编程语言的示例解决方案。

http://tryruby.hobix.com/">试试Ruby(在你的浏览器)

我曾经教过编程，你哥哥有一个主要的优势，他比我的大多数学生都想学:)

如果你决定使用C语言，一个朋友有一个网站，上面有一些老一代使用的程序，被认为是基本的输入程序。其中更复杂的使用ncurses，这在某种程度上否定了它们作为教学辅助的作用，但其中一些是很小的东西，你可以在没有教的情况下学到很多东西。

我个人认为Python和Ruby会是很棒的第一语言。

编辑: 一夜之间出现的初学者编程作业列表可能正是你正在寻找的。

在我的偏见看来，C是最好的起点。语言很小，它的高级功能无处不在，低级功能让你学习机器。

我发现C Primer Plus第5版对于一个几乎没有编程经验的初学者非常有帮助。它假定没有编程经验，读起来很有趣，并深入介绍了C语言(包括最新的C99标准)。

我推荐Logo(又名乌龟)来了解基本概念。它提供了一个具有即时图形反馈的良好沙盒，您可以演示循环、变量、函数、条件等等。这个页面提供了一个很好的教程。

在Logo之后，移动到Python或Ruby。我推荐Python，因为它基于ABC，而ABC是为了教授编程而发明的。

在教授编程时，我必须赞同EHaskins关于先简单项目再复杂项目的建议。最好的学习方法是从一个明确的结果和一个可衡量的里程碑开始。它使课程集中，允许学生建立技能，然后在这些技能的基础上继续发展，并给学生一些可以向朋友炫耀的东西。不要低估工作成果的力量。

Theoretically, you can stick with Python, as Python can do almost anything. It's a good vehicle to teach object-oriented programming and (most) algorithms. You can run Python in interactive mode like a command line to get a feel for how it works, or run whole scripts at once. You can run your scripts interpreted on the fly, or compile them into binaries. There are thousands of modules to extend the functionality. You can make a graphical calculator like the one bundled with Windows, or you can make an IRC client, or anything else.

XKCD更好地描述了Python的强大功能:

You can move to C# or Java after that, though they don't offer much that Python doesn't already have. The benefit of these is that they use C-style syntax, which many (dare I say most?) languages use. You don't need to worry about memory management yet, but you can get used to having a bit more freedom and less handholding from the language interpreter. Python enforces whitespace and indenting, which is nice most of the time but not always. C# and Java let you manage your own whitespace while remaining strongly-typed.

From there, the standard is C or C++. The freedom in these languages is almost existential. You are now in charge of your own memory management. There is no garbage collection to help you. This is where you teach the really advanced algorithms (like mergesort and quicksort). This is where you learn why "segmentation fault" is a curse word. This is where you download the source code of the Linux kernel and gaze into the Abyss. Start by writing a circular buffer and a stack for string manipulation. Then work your way up.

I would recommend also watching some screencasts - they are generally created in context of a specific technology not a language, though if there's Python code displayed, that'll do :). The point is - they're created by some good programmers and watching how good programmers program is a good thing. You and your brother could do some peer programming as well, that might be an even better idea. Just don't forget to explain WHY you do something this way and not that way. I think the best way to learn programming is from good examples and try not to even see the bad ones.