Shannon Ali, M.A., CCC-SLP Christian Certified Teacher & Certified Speech-Language Pathologist, Kindergarten Readiness Teacher

Keys to Kindergarten Readiness: Activities for Preschoolers, Worksheets, Learning Games, Learn How to Read, Developmental Milestones, Sight Words, Positive Parenting, Christian Mom, Life Skills

Education EN ↓ 64 episodes

Hey Mama! Welcome to Keys to Kindergarten ReadinessI’m Shannon Ali. Daughter of the King, Wife, mom of 3 littles, teacher, speech-language pathologist, and kindergarten readiness expert! I remember what it felt like during the Covid lockdown in 2020, my husband was still working, and I was home by myself with our 3 year old, 1 year old, and a newborn baby girl all while still teaching school online. Needless to say, it was a crazy time, but I am thankful for God’s grace and lessons during that time. I felt like I wasn’t fulfilling my role as a mom. I didn’t know how to nurture my children’s gi...

Author

Shannon Ali, M.A., CCC-SLP Christian Certified Teacher & Certified Speech-Language Pathologist, Kindergarten Readiness Teacher

Category

Education

Latest episode

Dec 2, 2025

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Episodes

62// How to Teach Reading Nonsense Words to Your Child DIBELS Test Pt 3 02.12.2025

On today’s episode, we are going to dive into part 3 of the DIBELS test! By the end of the episode you will know the reason behind the nonsense words test, what the nonsense words test is like, and how to get your child ready to score a benchmark or above on the nonsense words test. Let’s dig in! Resources Mentioned in the Show: Get your FREE DIBELS Reading Practice Test! Click Here. Episode: Stum...

61// How to Teach Phonological Awareness Skills for DIBELS Reading Test Pt 2 26.11.2025

Hey Momma! This episode is all about teaching your child phonological awareness skills. I know you want your kiddo to do well on the DIBELS reading test, so you will want to listen to the tips in this show to help your child get this subtest down! Let's dig in! Resources Mentioned in the Show: Get your FREE DIBELS Reading Practice Test! Click Here. GET TO KNOW ME Connect: keystokindergartenreadine...

60//How to Teach Your Child Letter Names: DIBELS Reading Test Kindergarten 10.11.2025

Hey Momma! This episode is all about teaching your child letter names. I know you want your kiddo to do well on the DIBELS reading test, so you will want to listen to the tips in this show to help your child get the first subtest down! Let's dig in! Resources Mentioned in the Show: Heggerty Letter Name Free Baseline Test Get your FREE DIBELS Reading Practice Test! Click Here. GET TO KNOW ME Connec...

59// How to Teach Reducing Screentime Using Children's Bible Stories, Idols , VBS 19.08.2024

My boys seem like they are obsessed with video games, and I absolutely cannot stand it. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that we all have something we can become addicted to if we are not careful. During VBS this summer, I had the opportunity to teach all the children about this very thing. This world is full of idols and one of our jobs as moms is to teach our children about not w...

58: Which Letters Should I Teach My Child First to Learn to Read? The Fastest Way to Start Learning to Read 12.08.2024

Are you confused about which letters to teach your child first? You are not alone, Momma. If you were to go into a room of teachers and ask this question, many of them would have a different answer. I have used various teaching orders such as ABC order, s,a,t,i,p,n, and more. Honestly, all of them have worked, BUT today I am going to give you the first 5 letters to teach your child, so she can sta...

57//Start Doing These 5 Things to Prepare Your Kindergarten Child for Back-to-School 05.08.2024

I cannot believe how quickly this summer has flown by. It feels like we just got out for the break. Here in Louisiana, my kids start school this upcoming Thursday. It’s crazy early! I know your kiddo might not start until after Labor Day, but this is the perfect time to get ready for back-to-school season. If you don’t want to be that hot mess express Momma, you are going to want to tune into toda...

56//Kindergarten Test Practice Questions: DIBELS, CKLA, & iSteep 29.07.2024

You’ve just received your letter with your child’s kindergarten test date, and you have no idea what to expect. What if she doesn’t know any of the answers? What if the teacher says he is not ready for kindergarten? If you listen to today’s show, you will have all the tools you need to help your child do well on kindergarten beginning of the year testing.  Let’s Dig In! Resource Mentioned: All Abo...

55: 3 Ways to Quickly Teach Sight Words When Flashcards Don’t Work 23.07.2024

I had a grandmother reach out to me recently about how to help her granddaughter learn her tricky words for kindergarten. She said they had practiced the tricky words using several different fun activities such as magnetic letters, writing the words with different marker colors, bingo, but her granddaughter was still struggling with several of the words on the list. They were both becoming frustra...

54 How Auditing Your Time Can Help Your Child Quickly Learn How to Read 15.07.2024

Do you constantly say to yourself, ”I wish I had more time to help my child learn how to read?” My children learned to read at age 3, but our daughter didn’t have as strong of reading skills as her older brothers. During that time, I was so overwhelmed with work and life that I rarely read her any bedtime stories.  It wasn’t until I audited my time that I realized I honestly wasn’t investing enoug...

53: Making SMART Reading Goals for Your Child: A Comprehensive Guide 08.07.2024

BOOK YOUR 1:1 KINDERGARTEN READINESS COACHING CALL TODAY: Save $75 off for July ONLY! https://calendly.com/keystokindergartenreadiness/kreadinesscoachingcall Setting goals is a fundamental aspect of teaching your child to read. However, simply having goals is not enough; they must be structured in a way that makes them achievable and meaningful.  I have definitely set several generic goals in the...

52: What Does My Child Need to Know to Be Successful Starting Kindergarten? All About DIBELS Testing 01.07.2024

BOOK YOUR 1:1 KINDERGARTEN READINESS COACHING CALL TODAY: Save $75 off for July ONLY! https://calendly.com/keystokindergartenreadiness/kreadinesscoachingcall I am BACK! On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness, I give you all the details you need to know to help your child with the 4 subtests on the DIBELS. This is the reading test that many students across the nation with take.  1. Le...

51: Fun, Cheap, Easy Spring Break Activities for Kids 21.03.2024

On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness I give you my top tips to having a low-key, yet fun spring break with your kiddos. Let's Dig In! Purchase my online Kindergarten Readiness course: https://bit.ly/KMagnetPrepOnline   GET TO KNOW ME Connect: keystokindergartenreadiness@gmail.com Community: KTKR Community   Facebook Page: Keys to Kindergarten Readiness 

50: How to Prep Your Child for Gifted Testing Pt 2 19.03.2024

On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness I give you my top tips to preparing your child for the full preschool gifted test. Let's Dig In! Purchase my online Kindergarten Readiness course: https://bit.ly/KMagnetPrepOnline   GET TO KNOW ME Connect: keystokindergartenreadiness@gmail.com Community: KTKR Community   Facebook Page: Keys to Kindergarten Readiness 

49: How to Prep Your Child for Gifted Testing Pt 1 01.03.2024

On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness I give you my top tips to preparing your child for the preschool gifted screening test. Let's Dig In! Purchase my online Kindergarten Readiness course: https://bit.ly/KMagnetPrepOnline   GET TO KNOW ME Connect: keystokindergartenreadiness@gmail.com Community: KTKR Community   Facebook Page: Keys to Kindergarten Readiness 

48: How to Teach Your Child about Black History Month 28.02.2024

Purchase my online Kindergarten Readiness course: https://bit.ly/KMagnetPrepOnline   On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness I give you a brief update of where I have been the last 5 months as well as 3 ways you can teach your child about Black History Month this year. Let's Dig In! Resource Mentioned: Imagodei Academy (iogacademy.com) & Amazon.com: Heroes in Black History: True S...

47: Speech Therapy Practice to Correctly Produce Speech Sounds: Articulation /sp/ blends 13.09.2023

Purchase my online Kindergarten Readiness course: https://bit.ly/KMagnetPrepOnline   On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness practice with us as we work on speech therapy skills. Focus: articulation of /sp/ blends (This is great for preschool students!) Let's Dig In! Resource Mentioned: https://mommyspeechtherapy.com/   GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.keystokindergartenreadiness.com Connect...

46: Child Need Speech Therapy? How to Work on Articulation Skills at Home 11.09.2023

Purchase my online Kindergarten Readiness course for a smooth transition into kindergarten: https://bit.ly/KMagnetPrepOnline   On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness listen as I teach you the steps for speech therapy in your home. This is NOT a substitute for receiving professional speech therapy services. (Easy tips for preschool students!) Let's Dig In! GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.ke...

45: Kindergarten Practice Questions: Phonological Awareness Skills: Pre-Reading Skills Animals 06.09.2023

Purchase my online Kindergarten Readiness course: https://bit.ly/KMagnetPrepOnline   On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness practice with us as we work on rhyme , 1st sounds in words, final sounds in words, and syllable segmentation using animals as our theme. (This is great for preschool students!) Let's Dig In! GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.keystokindergartenreadiness.com Connect: keys...

44: Do You Wish Your Family Had a Good Routine or Schedule? How to Have Effective Family Meetings Even with Preschoolers 04.09.2023

Purchase my online Kindergarten Readiness course for a smooth transition into kindergarten: https://bit.ly/KMagnetPrepOnline   On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness listen as I teach you the steps to have an effective family meeting. Family meetings are great to increase communication in your household. Let's Dig In! GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.keystokindergartenreadiness.com Connect:...

43: Practice Questions for Kindergarten: How to Teach Rhyme (Roses are Red): Reading Skills: Live Coaching 23.08.2023

Book your private SMARRT call with me: https://bit.ly/SMARRTCALL On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness practice with us as we work on rhyme and vocabulary using the nursery rhyme "Roses are Red." (This is great for preschool students!) Let's Dig In!   GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.keystokindergartenreadiness.com Connect: keystokindergartenreadiness@gmail.com Community: KTKR Community  ...

42 How to Teach Rhyme & Vocabulary Using Nursery Rhymes 21.08.2023

Book your private SMARRT call with me: https://bit.ly/SMARRTCALL On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness listen as I teach you the steps to teach your child rhyme and vocabulary using nursery rhymes. Let's Dig In!   GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.keystokindergartenreadiness.com Connect: keystokindergartenreadiness@gmail.com Community: KTKR Community   Facebook Page: Keys to Kindergarten Re...

41: Practice Questions for Kindergarten: Letter Sounds-Beginning Sounds in Words Live Coaching 16.08.2023

Book your private SMARRT call with me: https://bit.ly/SMARRTCALL On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness practice with us as we work on identifying the beginning sounds in words. (Great for preschool students!) Let's Dig In!   GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.keystokindergartenreadiness.com Connect: keystokindergartenreadiness@gmail.com Community: KTKR Community   Facebook Page: Keys to Kind...

40: Need Tips on How to Teach Letter Sounds to Your Child? Do This 1st!(Phonics) 14.08.2023

Book your private SMARRT call with me: https://bit.ly/SMARRTCALL On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness listen as I teach you the step BEFORE teaching letter sounds to your child. Let's Dig In!   GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.keystokindergartenreadiness.com Connect: keystokindergartenreadiness@gmail.com Community: KTKR Community   Facebook Page: Keys to Kindergarten Readiness 

39: Practice Questions for Kindergarten: Auditory Blending: Reading Skills: Live Coaching 09.08.2023

Book your private SMARRT call with me: https://bit.ly/SMARRTCALL Work on it Wednesday! On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness listen as I work through live coaching with little ones to practice pre-reading skills for auditory blending. Get your child and practice with us! GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.keystokindergartenreadiness.com Connect: keystokindergartenreadiness@gmail.com Communit...

38:Stumped Wondering Why Your Child Can’t Blend Sounds to Read? 3 Levels of Blending to Help Develop Strong Readers Even at Age 3 07.08.2023

Book your private SMARRT call with me: https://bit.ly/SMARRTCALL On today's episode of Keys to Kindergarten Readiness listen as I teach you how to teach your child pre-reading skills for auditory blending. Let's Dig In!   GET TO KNOW ME Learn: www.keystokindergartenreadiness.com Connect: keystokindergartenreadiness@gmail.com Community: KTKR Community   Facebook Page: Keys to Kindergarten Readiness...

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