Rate My Professor Kelly Norris

Kelly Norris is a Lecturer in the School of Education at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.), a Graduate Certificate in Learning Difficulties (Grad Cert LD), and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), and is trained as an early childhood teacher with expertise in mathematics and learning difficulties. Throughout her career, Norris has worked extensively in classroom teaching, leadership positions, consultancy, product development, lecturing, and research roles. She currently also serves as Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) in the Greater Perth Area.

Norris's academic interests center on preventing early mathematics difficulties through effective screening and intervention strategies. In June 2024, she authored the CIS Research Report 49, 'Screening That Counts: Why Australia Needs Universal Early Numeracy Screening,' which argues for the adoption of nationally consistent, research-validated screening tools in Foundation and Year 1 classrooms. The report highlights the importance of assessing 'number sense'—encompassing number knowledge, relations, and operations—to identify at-risk students early, critiquing reliance on later assessments like NAPLAN. Drawing from international evidence, including Canada's Early Mathematical Assessment and U.S. multi-tiered support systems, Norris recommends integrating screening into school routines to enable timely interventions, improve mathematics achievement, and reduce long-term educational costs. She has contributed to 'The Learning Curve: Towards a Better Education System' (2024), edited by Steven Schwartz, alongside experts like John Sweller. Norris has presented on preventing early maths difficulties at Learning Difficulties Australia events, emphasizing practical applications for educators. Her work addresses persistent challenges in Australian mathematics education by promoting evidence-based early identification and support, informed by her experience as a practitioner and researcher.