An extended day program

The paper presents the results of a pilot project evaluation, carried out as an action investigation whose aim was to provide a better quality extended day for primary school students. The project included the training of teachers involved in extended day program, designing of special activities performed by teachers with children once a week as well as changes and equipping of premises where children stay. The aims of the program were conception and performance of activities in a less formal way than during regular instructional days, linking of learning at school and acquired knowledge to everyday experiences, and work on contents contributing to the development of child's interests and creativity. The program was accomplished in a Belgrade primary school during the 2001/2002 academic year, comprising students of 1st and 2nd grades (N=77). The effects of the program were monitored throughout the academic year (observation and teachers' reports on accomplished workshops) and at the end of the academic year (teachers and students' opinions of the program, academic achievement and creativity of students attending the extended day program compared with students not attending it). Findings about positive effects of the program on students' broadening of interests and willingness to express themselves creatively, indicate unequivocally that there is a need for developing special extended day programs. The extended day program is an opportunity for school to exert greater educational influence that has yet to be tapped. U radu se izlazu rezultati evaluacije pilot projekta koji je izveden kao akciono istrazivanje sa namerom da se produzeni boravak ucenika u osnovnoj skoli ucini kvalitetnijim. Projekat je obuhvatio trening nastavnika angazovanih u boravku, dizajniranje posebnih aktivnosti koje su nastavnici izvodili sa decom jednom nedeljno, kao i izmene i opremanje prostora u kome deca borave. Osnovni ciljevi programa bili su: koncipiranje i izvodjenje aktivnosti produzenog boravka na manje formalan nacin od redovne nastave povezivanje skolskog ucenja i znanja sa iskustvima iz svakodnevnog zivota i rad na sadrzajima koji doprinose razvoju decjih interesovanja i kreativnosti. Program je izveden u jednoj beogradskoj osnovnoj skoli u toku 2001/2002. skolske godine sa ucenicima prvog i drugog razreda, koji su pohadjali produzeni boravak (N=77). Efekti programa praceni su u toku skolske godine (posmatranje i izvestaji nastavnika o realizovanim radionicama), i na kraj