Passion for the subject and the ability to teach. Both factors, in my opinion, make a great teacher.

I find enthusiasm makes the best teachers. Especially if you know that they would bend over backwards into a sailor's knot if it meant it would help you understand what they were trying to teach you. They're also the most likely ones to really and truly listen to what you aren't understanding and provide accurate and much needed answers. Compassionate teachers can sometimes redeem themselves for being incompetent instructors, but I find the worst teachers are those that could care less about you and only care for themselves--they became a teacher for the summers off and hated it when they found out it would be real work.

Also, the younger instructors tend to try too hard to gain a 'connection' with their students and it can infringe upon their designated role as instructor and can often lead to undesirable consequences.

To me, a good teacher is someone who knows the difference between pushing his or her students and confusing them. They need to know how each student does best, or at least have a good idea of it.

They also have to knowledgeable about the subject in question, and organized enough to make a lesson plan and stick with it and not just throw random crap at their students.

On top of that, my personal preferences are for teachers that offer advice and help when needed and are willing to take all day to help you understand. On top of that though, I dislike a teacher that is always down my throat trying to make me understand. I like to learn at my own pace, and only ask the teacher when I know I can't get it by my self.

Fave teacher? High school algebra 2. She was amazing.

My AP Lit teacher is pretty unusual compared to others.
She makes us discuss literature through Socratic discussions.
Her quizzes and exams are pretty creative especially since they're very "out-of-the-box".
She's quite clear with her instructions...you can't ignore someone skipping around the classroom screaming what page number you're supposed to turn to.
Her homework is very reasonable and she gives us a one week period to do it.
She's very hands-on unless she specifies that we're on our own.
She destroys essays in a heartbeat. But, that's what you want her to do. You learn from your mistakes.
She's passionate about literature from any country. Which is what gives her an enthusiasm that cannot be rivaled.
Her willingness to help with college and scholarship applications makes students appreciate her even more.
In short, I do believe she's a great teacher because of these qualities. Not many teachers have them. Many are just working at the school because it pays. Not because they give a darn.

For me a great teacher is someone who is willing to take all the time in the world to teach you what they can.
A great teacher also knows many ways to approach one subject.

Personally, I like the friendly teachers that are nice to their students, but don't let them get out of hand. On top of that, it is important that they are passionate about what they're teaching. I've had teachers that have taught some of my least favorite subjects that actually made me enjoy, or even look forward to, going to class. I believe that is was because they were so passionate about what they were teaching that I admired them and wanted to understand what it was that fascinated them about the topic so much.

Poor teachers would be the boring, overly mean, or uncaring ones.

This is of course my own opinion, however. ^^

I think a good teacher is someone who can understand, is fair, is respectful, helpful and is willing to be a friend. Not just a teacher. My favourite teacher was in grade 7, Mr.H. He was always so energetic and never angry or grumpy. That's the kind of teacher I like. He also understood the student's frustrations and such. And he let us chew gum in class. Shh. :)

That they dont show favoritism, and can see is someone is trying but struggling and slows down and takes the time to help.

personally, the classes i liked the best in high school were the ones where the teachers actually had conversations with you. in college, every so often you get a really good professor who gives you the information and asks questions and gets you to interact with them. when you do, thats where you really learn the most. it almost gets to the point that if u actively pay attention and converse in class, you would basically get an A

I think what makes a good teacher is good communication. They should see that its not just students respect teacher just out of the blue it should be teachers respect students as well. if they respect each other then there we go.

Its good to communicate with students as well. at least try and understand from there point of view. I think that makes a good teacher, you can guess I didn't have many good teachers. There are so few like that.

YAY i am a chef too and my intstructor in the restaurant where i was learning ( after one year of school you have to be an intern in a restaurant for a year to continue your school work) was incredibly strict but he had a huge presence and his knowledge I just respected him so much and I memorized every word he said to me

but i think that the greatest teacher i have ever had is Siggi Davíðs my english teacher in 10th grade (15-16 years old) every single student listened to him without questin and he loved a good laugh (<.< and a sick sense of humour) although he was truly terrifying but everyone respected him and he was nice to his students

YOu dont have to be a great teacher or somethng, all you have to do is to do what you can. Especially to understand more about your student and observe carefully on what they need in order to enhance there skills.

I have this teacher during my first year of my college life in my English III. We do have the same culture and common on the other stuff . At first, before meeting her, I kinda under estimated her a little bit. BUt when she go to class, I am surprised. At the very first day, she started the class with a blust, with all the good english speaking, it was nose bleed. She came in class with all that big smile and positive aura with her. She always makes sure that every class we have will be fun and alive. MOre importantly, she always put on her smiles evry classes we had, that made us feel comfortable with her. I enjoy going to her class, and got excited every time I thought of going to her class. I always asked "What are the activities she planned for us to do?". NOw that I thought of those moments, I am really happy to meet a mentor such as her.

I think a good teacher is one who tries to understand and get to know each and every one of their students. They don't yell, and the NEVER give put-downs(unless they're joking around, which is OK). My favorite teacher is my pre-algebra teacher, Miss Keller. She's reeeeaaaally nice, never yells, and tries to make every lesson fun! I luff her.

I think a great teacher knows how to capture their students' attention. They shouldn't have to fight to keep control. They just have their attention from the moment they walks into the classroom. They know how to get the best work out of their student through interesting topics and truly constructive criticism. They should know how to make their students laugh and provide interesting input in a class discussion without forcing it out of them. They should be well versed in their topic beyond what the basics are so that they can answer more complicated questions and help their students to go above and beyond as well. And, I think they should understand that they are working with people, who are individual and the same at once. They aren't just there to get paid so they can go skiing with their friends that weekend or something.

That said, some of my favorite teachers have been very humorous. My Chemistry teacher in 10th grade may not have been a "Great" teacher, but he was funny and the students liked him and paid attention. He was able to relate chemistry to topics that the students were more interested in, and occasionally started off the class with something completely random and unrelated.

My first semester of college, I had a pretty cool teacher for my English class. He was really helpful to me, pushing my papers further. Most of the time, when I write papers I get back a "THis is great! A!" kinda thing whereas I KNOW I didn't put my full effort into it. He didn't let me BS anything. He always had something to say about my papers and how I could fix them. He also knew how to keep a bunch of college freshman's' attention--by relating activities to things like Zombies, the Apocalypse, dead babies, and Clue. =D

Really, though. I think the only really "Great" teacher I've had was my Tae Kwon Do Master Instructor. He was great. Everyone liked him. He didn't go around boasting to people how great he was, either. Once he gets up in the front to lead class, it usually calms down fairly quickly. But, of course, we still have fun because he understands that we're all a bunch of people that can't help having fun. >.> He knows how to motivate his students and get them to work their hardest all the time. And..well...he has the whole school's respect, and he doesn't even need to ask or demand it.

my professor lauderback

history
he is so cool normally i hate history but hi get really excited for his lectors he knows how to keep your attention.