Effective teaching involves more than just expertise in an academic field. It requires the ability to interact with people and help them understand a new way of looking at the world. Although there are many different ways to teach effectively, good instructors have several qualities in common. Here are some of the top qualities of an effective teacher:

1. Preparedness: The most effective teachers come to class each day ready to teach that days lesson. They jump right into the lesson with enthusiasm, avoid wasting instructional time, and start class on time.

2. Positive Attitude: Effective teachers have optimistic attitudes about teaching and their students. They look on the bright side of every situation, communicate with students about their progress, praise and recognize students for hard work, and help students act kindly toward one another.

3. High Expectations: Effective teachers believe every student can be successful. They hold students to the highest standards, consistently challenge their students to realize their potential, and build students’ confidence and teach them to believe in themselves.

4. Engaging: Being able to engage students with humor, creative lessons, and a strong classroom presence is an important part of what makes someone a good teacher. Effective teachers are resourceful and inventive in their teaching methods, and they use humor to break the ice in difficult situations.

5. Patience: Effective teachers are patient with students and recognize that different students learn in different ways. They are able to adjust their teaching strategies to fit both the students and the material.

6. Assessment: Effective teachers assess their teaching on a regular basis and are open to constructive criticism. They are able to adjust their teaching strategies to fit both the students and the material.

7. Flexibility: Effective teachers need to be able to work in a constantly evolving environment and adjust their teaching methods based on the age of their students, the resources available, and changing curriculum, practices, and requirements.

8. Communication Skills: Strong communication skills are a must for effective teaching. Teachers need to be able to explain complex ideas in simple ways and help students understand and use new terminology, so they can become fluent in the language of the discipline.

9. Personal Touch: Effective teachers have a way of making students feel welcome and comfortable in their classrooms. Students repeatedly mention that they feel as though they belong in classrooms taught by effective teachers.

10. Creativity: Effective teachers are creative and find inspiration from as many sources as they can. They are able to demonstrate many concepts more effectively with creative teaching methods.

11. Open-Mindedness: Effective teachers are open-minded when receiving constructive criticism and form a plan of action. They are willing to continually add tools to their toolbox a...