Lavender;
If you must practise scales, then don't begin with the C major scale. It is actually technically one of the most difficult. Most bad teachers give their students it because it is theoretically easy to learn i.e. 'all white', and most teachers feel that 'students should practise scales', without actually understanding why.
Begin with the E major and B major scales. Reason being that the crossing of the thumb always occurs after playing a black key. This gives you more 'room' to get the thumb ready for the white key. There is less chance of you making a technical error with these scales.
For example (talking about RH here btw), when playing E major scale, you'll cross the thumb under after playing G# with finger 3. Because finger 3 (the longest finger) is on a black key, you will find it easier to get your thumb ready for the A.
Please, do not start with C major scale. Too much damage is done to pianists when they start scales - usually because they begin with the C major scale.
PS Chopin taught the above method e.g. beginning with E and B major scales when the student begins practising scales.
Just be careful. There is a lot that can go drastically wrong when you're playing scales - things you won't even be aware of e.g. pushing the elbow out at the thumb crosses, things like that.
If you really must practise scales, take it easy.
If you're going to do any kind of classical technical work, get a good classical teacher before you begin practising.
As a side note - did you know that the Moscow Conservatory (probably the strictest and greatest music school in the world) piano course used to be 9 years long, and the first 3 years were devoted entirely to scales, arpeggios, and etudes? And this was with some of the best young prodigies in the world. They simply weren't allowed to play 'actual' pieces for the first few years, as they could do great damage to their technique - damage that could potentially be irreversible. I don't mean physical damage to the hand (although that is also possible), but forming a habit in the hand/mind that is impossible to break. If after a few years of study it was found that a pupil simply couldn't break a mental/physical habit, they were discarded from the school.