This is an indispensable resource for the parents of the more than 16 million school children nationwide who, each year, take standardized assessment tests of basic math and language skills. It focuses on the category of test question that students dread the most and in which they do least well: mathematics word problems. Written by a national expert in mathematics education, it takes the fear and frustration out of mathematics word problems by providing a simple, step-by-step approach that emphasizes the mechanics and grammar of problem solving and that is guaranteed to make solving all types of math word problems a breeze, even for math-phobic students.Covers all types of mathematics word problems found on standardized tests and identifies the value of each type on the tests Features dozens of examples and practice problems, with step-by-step solutions and key mathematics concepts clearly explained Includes a 50-question drill using problems drawn from actual tests, with answers provided at the back of the book