How to practice programming effectively
Reading code helps, but writing it builds fluency. Start with a short lesson, reproduce the example, and change one part at a time.
Keep the feedback loop short
Run small programs often. When one fails, read the error and isolate the line that caused it. Keep a note of what you learned.
Revisit the same idea
Use a concept in several contexts. After learning functions, write one that formats text and another that calculates a value.