Multi-Step Equations

I do not remember learning multi-step equations but I have always learned math easily in school.  What I have learned in the past year is how to make it easier for students to understand. It starts with lines and arrows. A line down the middle to keep each side separate. Then lines to show how to distribute. It seems like a lot of steps but after working with students without the lines I have realized how important it is to some students the need to see these lines.  The next step that students need to learn with these equations is how to deal with negative numbers.  It is interesting to see how having negatives can throw the student completely off when trying to solve for x. I tell them to look at it and see how they can make their life's easier, would it be easier to move the 6x and have a positive 2x or would it be easier to move the 12 and have a positive 60.  Some students do not think before they move and they does make them work with negative numbers more then they would like. If that is their plan, then I just remind them not to forget the negative.