Unconditional Positive Regard is a way of communicating our support and acceptance of a person, regardless of what they say or do. It may include phrasing feedback and instructions in such a way as to assume the best of them and to reinforce that we have high hopes for them! Examples might be: ‘I remember how well you did this two lessons ago when …’ and ‘You always come into this room brilliantly – thank you for that’. This can sometimes be difficult with our learners who display the most oppositional behaviours, but it can be one way to develop relationships and share our high expectations in a respectful and positive way. For more information on the notion of Unconditional Positive Regard, you can research the works of American psychologist Carl Rogers.