Preparing middle school students for the mathematics portion of standardized tests without "teaching to the test" may sound challenging and implausible. Building students' confidence and competence for test taking by way of mathematics homework may also sound unrealistic. However, in this age of high-stakes testing, teachers must find ways to weave test preparation into their routine instructional practices without compromising the depth or breadth of the curriculum. In this article, the author situates the Math in Everyday Life (MIEL) assignment within the relevant literature and describes its implementation. She shares students' reflections about the assignment, provides examples of students' work as it progressed over time, and offers an analysis of the outcomes of the assignment. Finally, she discusses ways MIEL can be used to enhance classroom practice and to address middle level mathematics curriculum standards. (Contains 2 figures.)