My Favorite Way to Teach Simplifying Expressions (Especially for Struggling Students)

The Struggle is Real

If your students are still combining 2x + 3x and getting 5x², you’re not alone. Like terms can feel totally abstract - especially for struggling learners or classes with mixed ability. I needed something more than a worksheet… something visual, hands-on, and low-prep.

What I Tried Instead (And Why It Worked)

That’s when I created this expression strip activity. Instead of just circling like terms, students cut apart algebraic expressions and sort the terms into categories (x terms, x² terms, y terms, constants, etc.). Then they combine them and simplify. It gave my class something to see, touch, and organize - and it clicked!

Set A & B have dotted lines to help separate terms

How I Use It

I start everyone with Set A (basic, positive terms only).
Students cut along the dotted lines, sort the terms by type, and write the simplified expression. Then we work our way through Sets B–F. I usually let students highlight the terms before cutting once we hit Set C (no dotted lines), which really supports their independence.

Sets C-F, the dotted lines are removed. I encourage students to highlight the terms!

Why It’s Worth Trying

This activity helps students who are stuck .. especially visual or kinesthetic learners. It slows down the process without dumbing it down. And once they’ve physically sorted the terms and simplified a few expressions, they’re way more confident tackling the work!