Through focused observations of teaching practices in 15 classrooms representing 2,475 minutes, a number of instructional patterns were revealed. The majority of time students spend in high school requires that they listen or wait. Students are engaged in authentic reading, writing, and peer work for only a small fraction of the day. If high schools are to significantly improve student achievement, the ways in which time is used must change. Students should spend increased amounts of time engaged in peer work, reading, and writing. Only then are schools likely to see the student achievement gains that are so desperately desired. (Contains 1 table.)