Teaching algebraic expression

This year i try to do something different in teaching algebraic expression. Normally i would simply draw an arrow when expanding the bracket. Ex: 2(x-5)

However some students find it confusing multiplying each term with 2. On top of that, seeing negative term will make them even more confuse.

What i did is not too fancy, but it is helpful in bringing abstract idea to a concrete form.

In this method, i helped students to identify each term by wring it on a colored paper. Then i paste it on board. All the term in the bracket then need to be multiplied by a constant. Then i simply put the arrow from the constant to each term. Then, students easily multiplied the term. Effortlessly :)

Then, i bring all the product and write the expression on board. It would be great if teacher could write the product on colored paper. Each like terms would share the same colored paper. Then, it will help the student to identify like terms to add or minus the terms.

I found it very helpful to resolve students confusion in expanding the bracket. I hope it will help others too.
Cheers :)