The first quality that is essential in a good teacher is knowledge. If the teacher does not know the subject, then they should have no business teaching it to others. Some think they can fake it by just studying the text book ahead of time. But with that teaching methodology, the teacher simply becomes an extra filter to the information in the book. Filters do not add information, they can only restrict its flow. In which case the teacher becomes unnecessary. (,)
Second, the teacher needs to be skilled in the arts of communication. All the knowledge in the world is useless unless the teacher is able to effectively communicate that information to students. Teachers need to be able to communicate lessons in a way that student can comprehend and apply them. Different people learn in different ways. Some students learn best by seeing, some by hearing, and others by doing. So a skilled teacher will use all these methods of instruction in order to reach the greatest number of students.
Finally, and this is true in all fields not just teaching, the teacher must be passionate. If you are passionate about teaching, you will be motivated to improve your students, and through that process improve yourself and your teaching skills. If you do not care, that attitude comes through in your lesson plans, no matter how good a lecturer you are. People, even students, do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.
There are many qualities that make up a great teacher, and these are some of the