A good teacher can make a world of difference in a student's life, impacting everything from their classroom learning to their long-term success.

Research from the Economic Policy Institute shows that good teachers are the single most important factor that contributes to student achievement in the classroom, more important than facilities, school resources and even school leadership. So, what makes a good teacher?

1. A good teacher manages the classroom effectively

A teacher can be knowledgeable, prepared -- and even a great communicator -- but still fail simply because of an inability to deal with misbehavior in the classroom. Classroom management encompasses all the strategies a teacher deploys to organize and arrange students, learning materials, space, and use of classroom time to maximize the efficiency of teaching and learning. This helps students enjoy an organized, structured environment with an emphasis on a positive educational atmosphere that is conducive to learning.

2. Good Teachers Are Patience

Every student will have their own unique struggles. Some will have a difficult time reading. For others, math will not come easily. For others, being able to sit still during school is the struggle! Patience in a teacher is key to helping students overcome their struggles. With large classrooms and many students who are all different, patience is a must for a good teacher. And, demonstrating patience as a teacher is a great way to be a role model to students. Patience is an important characteristic for effective teachers in both practice and as a model.

3. Good Teachers Are 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. If you were to envision that teacher that you would want in your life, even now, you’re going to want someone who is very engaging in front of the classroom. A good teacher will perform for their students to keep them going... It’s not about sitting back and just lecturing, it’s about engaging in the work. What an engaging teacher looks like will vary depending on grade level and subject matter.

4. A good teacher sets high expectations

Effective teachers don't set limits on their students. They have high standards, they consistently challenge students to do their best, and they are caring professionals who teach students to believe in themselves.As an educator, you know you should always expect the best of your students and encourage them to learn to their utmost potential. But you also know doing so on a daily basis can be incredibly challenging. Fortunately, there are a number of useful ways to set high expectations without burning yourself -- or your students -- out.

5. Good Teachers Show Empathy.

mpathy is an important quality for teachers. Children and youth have big feelings and are often dealing with more than we know outside the classroom. As a teacher, it’s important to be able to empathize with what they are feeling, even if it may not seem like a big deal. Children and youth need to have their emotions validated in order to understand and process them well. This is crucial in helping them become emotionally mature. Teachers who aren’t empathetic can’t help students overcome real difficulties, trivial or severe. As a teacher it’s vital to be able to put yourself in a student’s shoes and help them feel understood. When you teach, it's important to be sensitive and thoughtful to make sure the learners feel they're in a safe environment.