To help eighth graders turn word problems into algebra, here are some simple strategies they can use:

1. Find the Important Information: Look for numbers, keywords, and how things connect. For example, if you see "three times a number," you can write that as $3x$, where $x$ is the number you don't know yet.

2. Learn Math Terms: Get to know words like "sum" (which means addition), "difference" (which means subtraction), "product" (which means multiplication), and "quotient" (which means division). For example, "the sum of $x$ and $5$" turns into $x + 5$.

3. Break It Into Pieces: If a problem feels complicated, try to break it down. For example, if it says, "Tom has twice as many apples as Jim, who has $x$ apples," you can write Tom's apples as $2x$.

By practicing these strategies, students can feel more sure of themselves when they write expressions based on word problems!