I know what you mean Thom. When I was tutoring, I'd have basic algebra and arithmatic students come in with things to work, and it took me a bit to see what they were doing--not because I didn't know how to do it, but because the basic books have every detail outlined. Things most people do in their head without thinking about are dichotimized and broken down and labelled untill it doesn't look like what you do in your head. :-)
But, most good math books will have a few examples in the front of the section that outlines the process they are using. That's assuming of course, that the teacher is using the same method. There're many ways to solve equations and add fractions, and confusion is easy.