The Mind Meets Music App (M3 App) is a tool allowing early elementary students the power of using music to cultivate academic success. The M3 App was developed to create a FREE application supporting the world’s number one resource, children. It offers an additional method of learning for emerging early elementary readers, ages four through nine.
WHAT IS THE M3 APP
Dello the Dino takes students through four levels of the M3 App; each one a different game ordered by degree of difficulty. The earlier levels in the M3 App review the basics and the later levels require deeper critical thinking.
HOW TO USE THE M3 APP
The effectiveness of the M3 App in helping develop literacy skills can be further enhanced if an adult or older student provides instruction and support to the student using the M3 App as they become familiar with each level. The amount of support can then be gradually decreased as the student begins to gain mastery over each level.
LEVEL 1
In Level 1, students sort and match three pairs of rhyming words. There is no time limit, allowing students to move at their own pace as they are introduced to the concept of word families (rhyming words). Level 1 is different from any other level in the M3 App as it contains single words rather than sentences and also does not use musical elements.
LEVEL 2
Level 2 is the first game where students use musical elements in play! Quarter notes represent one-syllable words, while two eighth notes represent two-syllable words. There is no time limit and quarter notes are pre-selected.
LEVEL 3
In Level 3 students read the entire sentence and choose which set of music notes match the sentence from four pre-constructed options. Quarter notes represent one-syllable words, while two eighth notes represent two-syllable words. Level 3 has no a set time limit.
LEVEL 4
In Level 4, a sentence scrolls across the screen and the students tap either the quarter note or two eighth notes matching the number of syllables in the word as it lines up inside the green box.
EDUCATIONAL CONTENT USED IN THE M3 APP
The M3 App was created to help increase early elementary student recognition of English Language Arts (ELA) Sight Words by utilizing words from the Dolch Pre-Primer (Pre-Kindergarten) through 3rd Grade Word Lists along with the Dolch Noun List. Word decoding and phonemic awareness are also key components of the M3 App as students are exposed to and asked to match word families (rhyming words), as well as identify the number of syllables in a word by using music notes. Additionally, the M3 App integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) themes in game content, as well as varied syntax, exposing students to many different sentence structures. Other sentences include themes of positive reinforcement.
WHAT IS MIND MEETS MUSIC
Mind Meets Music is a non-profit organization utilizing a revolutionary method to enhance literacy, academic achievement, 21st century skills, and brain development through music. This unique curriculum was designed primarily for preschool through 2nd grade students. The curriculum was created by Monique Salinas Ph.D., Mind Meets Music’s Founder and Executive Director.
M3 APP CONSULTATION
Consultation regarding relevant research articles and appropriate grade-level progression of the M3 App material was provided by Linda Pickett Ph.D., and Brian Johnson Ph.D., J.D., professors at Grand Valley State University’s College of Education. Candyce Peterson MA, CCC-SLP, speech and language pathologist, advised on the grammatical and linguistic elements of the material. Daniel S. Stauffer III Ph.D., Director of Operations and Education, provided input into each level format and game premise, ensuring the M3 App is in alignment with Mind Meets Music curriculum strategies.
M3 APP DEVELOPMENT
The M3 App development was led by Mind Meets Musics Director of Projects, Jerry Wayne Newson and was coded by David Prindle of Snow Monsters Studios.