What Works in the Elementary CAN Work in High School...

This year I have an opportunity to be involved in almost every phase of teaching (Pre-school through 12th). My week often includes visiting TK classrooms and Alternative classrooms, Pre-school classrooms and high school physics classrooms, 4th grade classrooms and high school Art classrooms. With these visits and interactions I also take time to reflect on the teaching dynamics that are going on. One thing I am noticing over and over again... students who are responsible for their own learning learn more. That being said I have been doing some research and came up with a book called 'the daily 5' written by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. It is based on fostering literacy in the elementary grades. Interesting thing is by using the ideas in the book students become independent learners and it works. Now instead of going into every detail and example I jump to a larger thought of ... Could this work with junior high and high school students in core and elective classes? The idea used is to break learning into 7 to 10 minute teacher centered instruction and then let the students (through various independent learning activities) work for 30 minutes, coming back together to reteach or teach other concepts. If you are interested in details read the book, I hope you do. Then think how would this work in Algebra, Health, and Chemistry. I think many quality teachers are using this idea but I think more need to use it with older students. Well????