How can we plan a lesson, when we want students to learn so much, and have so little time?

Responsive teachers focus lessons on a single, academic purpose. There is a huge amount to be taught and limited time in which to teach it; effective planning chooses an academic focus for the lesson. These objectives are tied to their context and activities are planned to meet them, not the other way around. Planning can focus helpfully around cognitive load, selecting intrinsic cognitive load – complicated material – carefully, minimising extraneous cognitive load – unhelpful distractions – and introducing germane cognitive load judiciously – additional difficulties which increase student retention.