Memorize this:
the front of the top is the top of the front.
The top of the front is the front of the top.
The side of the front is the front of the side.
This will work wonders for you:
When you apply this, you will see different lines/dotted lines showing changes of direction, or lines etc. on either the front or side. You can then count them and compare them to the actual design or line breaks on the object. It takes practice but once you understand it, they become a lot easier...It's hard to explain without actually showing you examples...if someone can post some type of picture it might be easier to visualize.