Year 7 students can gain confidence in using algebra by trying out some helpful strategies:

1. Learn the Basics: It’s important to get comfortable with the basic ideas of algebra. The National Curriculum says that students should know how to use letters and symbols to stand for numbers.

2. Practice With Word Problems: Studies show that working on word problems can boost problem-solving skills by as much as 40%. Students should practice changing word problems into algebra expressions. For example:

   • If we say a number is $x$, then “five more than this number” can be written as $x + 5$.

3. Take It Step by Step: Teach students a simple method for solving word problems:

   • Read the problem carefully.
   • Figure out what information you have and what you need to find.
   • Write down the important algebra expression or equation.
   • Solve the equation step-by-step.
   • Check your answer by putting it back into the original problem.

4. Connect to Real Life: Showing how algebra relates to everyday situations can make it easier to understand. For instance, knowing how to use an equation like $C = px + q$ to calculate total costs helps students see the value in their learning. Here, $C$ is the total cost, $p$ is the price of each item, and $q$ is any fixed costs.

5. Learn Together: Working in groups promotes conversation and problem-solving. It creates a friendly atmosphere where students can help each other. Research shows that learning from friends can improve remembering things by about 25%.