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Kathy Ceceri, B.A.

Educator, Writer, Maker, Artist

Inspiring learners of all ages to try new areas of exploration by building upon their own experiences and creative energy.

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Engineering

Engineering

Engineering

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Technology

Technology

Technology

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Art

Art

Art

Kathy's Bio
Contact Kathy

Meet Kathy

Kathy Ceceri is an award-winning writer and educator, and the author of more than a dozen books of hands-on STEAM activities for kids and teens. Formerly the Homeschooling Expert at About.com (now ThoughtCo), she wrote the Hands-On Learning column for Home Education magazine and taught her own two children at home from kindergarten until college. 

Kathy’s workshops and activities are designed with the non-expert in mind. They introduce basic concepts in science and technology, and give students the skills and information they need to troubleshoot their projects and build upon what they’ve learned. Additional background material and resources look at the diverse people behind the inventions and put them into context in the larger society.

Projects generally use only ordinary crafts and household materials and easy-to-find electronic components. Some require inexpensive programmable devices and free online software. Written instructions are provided to help students review what they’ve learned and encourage further discovery. 

Background

Kathy brings over 15 years of experience teaching enrichment classes to students and educators online and at schools, museums, and libraries. In addition, she has developed beginner learning material for technology companies including Adafruit Industries, and worked with the Girl Scouts of the USA to develop robotics badges and a nationwide cybersecurity challenge. 

As a journalist specializing in family life and education, Kathy has also written for print publications and online media outlets including Make magazine, Wired, and FamilyFun, Her own family’s “at-home” science blogs were featured in The New York Times and the American Chemical Society’s Chemical & Engineering News.

Kathy received her Bachelors in English Literature at McGill University in Montreal, Canada and studied at Parsons School of Design in New York. The mother of a video game programmer and a filmmaker, she lives in upstate New York within sight of the Hudson River, the Adirondacks, and the Green Mountains of Vermont, where she likes to hike, bike, and kayak. Find out more at kathyceceri.com.

Latest Courses

DateClassAge LevelClass TypeTeacherPriceAvailabilityLive Meetings
January 3, 2023 - February 14, 2023A Young People’s History of the United States - Part 3 Tuesday SectionHistory 10-14middleLiveliveAlycia Wright, M.Ed.awright$150Space AvailableopenTuesdays 3pm Eastern Time
January 10 – May 16 , 2023Biology 2 - Semester 2Science 12+middleLiveliveAlison Blancoablanco$350Space AvailableopenTuesdays 3:00-4:00 pm EST
January 12 – April 20, 2023Fundamentals of PhysicsScience 10-13middleLiveliveAlison Blancoablanco$275Class FullclosedThursdays 3:00-4:00 pm EST
January 16-March 12, 2023Middle School Writing Foundations 1: Note-Taking and Summary ELA11-14middleLiveliveDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$220Class Full (Second Session Interest Form Here)closedTuesdays at 11am EST
January 16-March 12, 2023Middle School Writing Foundations 3: Informative Writing ELA11-14middleLiveliveDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$220Class Full closedTuesdays at 1pm EST
January 16-March 12, 2023Middle School Writing Foundations 3: Informative Writing ELA11-14middleLiveliveDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$220Class FullclosedThursdays at 3pm EST
January 16-March 12, 2023Middle School Writing 3 with Sugar Changed the World (Guided)ELA11-14middleGuidedguidedDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$200Space Availableopennone
January 16-April 23, 2023High School Writing 2 with How Would You Rule? (Guided – No Live Meetings)ELA13-18highGuidedguidedDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$300Space Availableopennone
January 16 - May 31, 2023The Neuroscience of Stress with Why Zebras Don't Get UlcersScience14-18highGuidedguidedDr. Sabrina Weisssweiss$200Space Availableopennone
January 18 - May 17, 2023 Marine Science: The Biology, Chemistry, and Geology of the OceanScience 8-12elementary, middleLiveliveBlair Lee, M.S.blee$425Space AvailableopenWednesday at 12pm PST
January 18 - February 1, 2023Engineering Basics with BeaversScience 7-11elementaryLiveliveBlair Lee, M.S.blee$80Space AvailableopenWednesdays 1/18-2/1/2023 at 10 am PST
January 18 - May 10, 2023Beavers, Flight, Historical Inventions, DinosaursScience 7-11elementaryLiveliveBlair Lee, M.S.blee$285Space AvailableopenWednesdays 10 a.m. PST
January 18 - May 24, 2023Chemistry 2 Semester 2Science 12+middle, highLiveliveBlair Lee, M.S.blee$4753 spots leftopenWednesdays at 1:30 p.m. PST
January 19 - May 25, 2023Chemistry 2 Semester 2Science 12+middle, highLiveliveBlair Lee, M.S.blee$475Class Full - Second Session OpenedclosedThursdays at 11am PS
January 19 - May 18, 2023Applied Conservation BiologyScience 9-13elementary, middleLiveliveBlair Lee, M.S.blee$425Space AvailableopenThursdays at 1 pm PST
January 23 - April 7, 2023Food: Culture, Health, and JusticeInterdisciplinary13-18highGuidedguidedDr. Sabrina Weisssweiss$100Space Availableopennone
January 23 - June 30, 2023Exploring Food Systems With The Omnivore's DilemmaInterdisciplinary11-16middleGuidedguidedDr. Sabrina Weisssweiss$180Space Availableopennone
January 30-April 30, 2023High School Writing 1 with Why Humans WorkELA13-18highLiveliveDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$325Space AvailableopenThursdays 1-1:45pm Eastern
January 30-May 7, 2023High School Literature: Author Study on Kurt VonnegutELA14-18highLiveliveDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$350Space AvailableopenMondays at 3-3:45pm Eastern
February 13-April 16, 2023Middle School Writing with Think for Yourself (Fall 2022)ELA11-14middleLiveliveDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$220Space AvailableopenThursdays at 11-11:45am Eastern
February 15 - March 1, 2023Historical InventionsScience 7-11elementaryLiveliveBlair Lee, M.S.blee$80Space AvailableopenWednesday 2/15, 2/22, 3/1/2023 at 10am PST
February 21, 2023 - April 4, 2023A Young People’s History of the United States - Part 4 Tuesday SectionHistory10-14middleLiveliveAlycia Wright, M.Ed.awright$150Space AvailableopenTuesdays 3pm Eastern Time
March 20-May 14, 2023Middle School Writing Foundations 2: Narratives ELA11-14middleLiveliveDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$220Space AvailableopenTuesdays at 11am EST
March 20-May 14, 2023Middle School Writing Foundations 4: Introduction to Research Writing ELA11-14middleLiveliveDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$220Class FullclosedTuesdays at 1pm EST
March 20-May 14, 2023Middle School Writing 3 with A Dog in the Cave (Guided-No Live Meetings)ELA11-14middleGuidedguidedDr. Michelle Parrinello-Casonmparrinellocason$200Space Availableopennone
March 29 - April 12, 2023DinosaursScience 7-11elementaryLiveliveBlair Lee, M.S.blee$80Space AvailableopenWednesday 3/29, 4/5, 4/12/2023 at 10am PST
April 26 - May 10, 2023FlightScience 7-11elementaryLiveliveBlair Lee, M.S.blee$80Space AvailableopenWednesday 4/26, 5/3, 5/10 at 10am PST

Latest Courses

$195.00

More BOTS: Code-Design-Build Projects for Kids (Fall 2022)

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons
$185.00

BOTS 1: Build Simple Robots! (Fall 2022)

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons
$35.00

Intro to MakeCode, Microcontrollers, and Motors (Self-Paced)

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons
$180.00

BOTS 3: Code-Design-Build Projects for Makers, Artists, and Engineers

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons
$180.00

BOTS 2: Make and Code Robots! (Spring 2022)

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons
$165.00

BOTS 1: Build Simple Robots! (Spring 2022)

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons
$55.00

Make Your Own Buzzing Board Game (Winter 2022)

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons
$210.00

Teen Robotics with MakeCode!

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons
$50.00

Everyday Stuff STEAM Workshop Bundle

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons
BOTS and MakeCode
$180.00

BOTS 2: Make and Code Robots!

  • 0 Students
  • 0 Lessons

We offered Kathy’s DIY Buzzing Game online workshop last month and it was great! The kids had such a good time. Really creative! Lara R. Cohen, Youth Services Librarian

The kids had such a good time. Really creative!

Teacher: Kathy Ceceri

I just wanted to say thank you for teaching this class. My son enjoyed it so much and learned a lot. He is really into motors and circuits right now and this class was a great help to his robotics learning. Parent of student in Build BOTS class

My son enjoyed it so much and learned a lot.

Teacher: Kathy Ceceri

My daughter is really enjoying your class. We’ll sign up for anything that you do, as you are an excellent teacher. Mom of Build BOTS Student

Kathy is an excellent teacher

Teacher: Kathy Ceceri

Kathy's Classroom Policies

Families will receive a full refund if they withdraw before the class begins. Families who withdraw after class begins will receive a prorated refund based on the time remaining in the class. (NOTE: Refunds made more than 30 days from purchase date will be docked a 15% administrative processing fee.)

I do not offer refunds for missed classes. Students will have access to written project instructions and background material. In some cases, video summaries may be available as well.

If you purchase a class that includes a kit, the cost of the kit (materials plus shipping) will be deducted from your refund. The kit is yours to keep!

A class may be cancelled if it does not meet the minimum enrollment. If that occurs, I will let registered students know at least 48 hours before class begins and issue full refunds. If I must unexpectedly cancel an individual session, learners will have access to written instructions and background material for that session, and I will offer a live or pre-recorded make-up session if at all possible. In the unlikely event that two or more sessions of a class must be cancelled, I will offer families the option to receive prorated refunds instead of live or pre-recorded make-up sessions.
It is important to me that all students have a safe and enjoyable classroom experience. My general behavioral guidelines are as follows, and will be announced to students as needed: 
  • Please mute your microphone if there is excessive background noise. 
  • Please be kind and polite to everyone in class.
  • Please keep chat on-topic. 
  • Please avoid disruptive behavior (changing background screens, silly screen names, using filters or making faces, etc.)
  • Please wear appropriate clothing when on camera. 
  • No unwanted private messaging.
  • No sharing contact information without parental permission.
It is important to me that all students have a safe and enjoyable classroom experience. My general behavioral guidelines are as follows, and will be announced to students as needed: 
  • Please mute your microphone if there is excessive background noise. 
  • Please be kind and polite to everyone in class.
  • Please keep chat on-topic. 
  • Please avoid disruptive behavior (changing background screens, silly screen names, using filters or making faces, etc.)
  • Please wear appropriate clothing when on camera. 
  • No unwanted private messaging.
  • No sharing contact information without parental permission.
I want all learners to get the best experience they can out of the class. In general, I will try to address a specific behavior rather than remove a student from the classroom or limit their participation. Here are steps I may take to address student behavioral concerns: 
  • Disable online classroom functions (for example, turn off private chat, manually mute microphones, turn off a video feed).
  • Privately reach out to students to ask them to stop the behavior during class. 
  • Reach out to students and their families to brainstorm a solution to a behavioral issue outside of class. 
  • Require a parent/guardian to be present during live sessions in the event of repeat behavioral violations. 
  • Remove a student from the class. 
In the very rare event that a student is removed from a class for behavioral concerns, a prorated refund will be given.
It is important to me that learners feel safe and supported in the classroom. It is also important that I have the ability to document and investigate any safety concerns. I record live sessions and store them for a period of 12 months. I do not share these recorded sessions publicly or with other learners in the class (any make-up sessions will include a video summary without learner participation to protect learner privacy). I may share recordings with individuals (such as parents/guardians of involved participants) involved in the discussion of any classroom incident if necessary for a safety issue or a third-party (such as a charter school) as required by their safety protocols.
I believe respect is the foundation of a positive educational experience. I will do my best to adhere to the following policies. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. 
  • I will call learners by their preferred name and use their preferred pronouns. 
  • I will try to make sure every learner in class is heard. 
  • I will do my best to accommodate learner needs and make materials accessible. 
  • I will try to respond to questions outside of class in a timely manner. 
  • I will give feedback in a constructive way that respects the efforts learners have made.
  • I will be understanding of learner differences and individual personalities and be as flexible as possible as I strike a balance between keeping the class productive for everyone and allowing room for everyone’s individual needs. 
Have a question or concern?

Get in touch with Kathy