In this case study, I attempted to understand the nature of a teacher's curriculum planning as she learned about the essence of her teaching context and developed learning opportunities for students based on her perceptions of the students' needs. The teacher demonstrated what I am calling "responsive planning"--the development of lessons based on her learning from day to day and week to week about the contextual nature of the course, her students, their school, and the world. This research sheds light on the importance of teacher learning and responsiveness to students' needs. Moreover, the case study points to the power of teacher autonomy and effectiveness when the focus is on meeting the needs of students, not necessarily on standardized testing. (Contains 1 note.)