This is the question I hear most from parents on our first phone call.
It’s a great question. The ACT, SAT, PSAT, National Merit, scholarships, timelines. There’s a lot to sort through, and most parents are figuring it out for the first time while also running a household, managing a career, and keeping up with a busy teenager.
I’ve been answering that question for a long time, and I’ve decided to start answering it here, too.
A little about me
I’m Angie Kelley, founder of Land Run Learning. I grew up in Edmond, Oklahoma, and I’ve spent over 30 years as a math teacher, coach, and tutor. Fifteen of those years were in local high school classrooms, and plenty of afternoons were spent coaching soccer and cross country.
Coaching taught me that progress comes from three things working together: a clear plan, the right kind of practice, and a student who believes the work will pay off. My job is to help with all three. When those line up, I’ve watched students do things they weren’t sure were possible.
I believe students do their best when they’re working from who they are, not trying to prove who they are. A test score is feedback, not a verdict. It doesn’t define them.
That’s what Land Run Learning is built on. I work with students one-on-one and in small groups to prepare for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT.
Ten of the students I worked with last fall to prepare for the PSAT were recently named National Merit Semifinalists. I’m so proud of them, and I’m just as proud of the other 21 students in the group whose wins looked different: the momentum they carried into the ACT or SAT and the growing belief that they belonged among top scholars.
Why a blog?
Because parents deserve clear, honest guidance, not guesswork.
So much of what I share in strategy calls and tutoring sessions could help families who haven’t found me yet. Things like when to start preparing, how to choose between the ACT and SAT, and what actually moves a score. (Hint: it’s not just taking practice test after practice test.)
You’re the one guiding your student through this season. My goal is to give you what you need to do that well.
What you can expect
I’ll be posting on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Here’s some ideas for what’s ahead:
ACT or SAT? How to decide which test is the better fit for your student.
National Merit demystified. What it takes, why the PSAT matters more than most people realize, and when to start.
How students really improve. The research-backed practice methods I use and why they work.
Working from identity. Why students do their best when a score isn’t a verdict on who they are.
Building a smart timeline. How to plan test prep around sports, activities, and junior year.
What helps at home. Simple ways parents can support their student without adding pressure.
Every post will be practical, honest, and written with you in mind.
Let’s get started
If you have a question you’d love to see answered here, send it my way. Chances are other parents are wondering the same thing.
And if you’d like to talk through your own student’s path, I’d love to connect. You can book a free 20-minute strategy call anytime.
Every student’s path is different, and I’d love to help you find the right one for yours. I’m truly glad you’re here.
— Angie
