Students often make a few common mistakes when working with negative numbers. Here are some of them:

1. Getting the signs mixed up: Sometimes, students confuse when to add or subtract. For example, with the problem $-5 + 3$, they might think it’s the same as $5 + 3$. But $5 + 3$ equals $8$, while $-5 + 3$ actually equals $-2$.

2. Errors with multiplying and dividing: Students sometimes forget that when you multiply two negative numbers, it makes a positive number. For example, $-2 \times -3$ equals $6$, not $-6$.

3. Not using the number line: A number line can really help! If you think of moving to the right for addition and to the left for subtraction, it can make working with negative numbers a lot clearer.

By keeping these mistakes in mind, students can feel more confident when dealing with negative numbers!