May 9, 2025 with Carla Ward and Margaret Quinn
The Power of Composition in Early Childhood with Margaret Quinn
What does it really mean when a young child picks up a marker and starts to scribble? In this episode, Carla welcomes Dr. Margaret Quinn, Associate Professor at Texas A&M University, to unpack her groundbreaking research on how children under six compose written ideas. Together, they explore the three key components of young children’s writing—transcription, connection, and discourse—and how educators can support early literacy through play and meaningful interactions. Learn how to move beyond letter formation and truly witness the power of print in early childhood education.
Margaret Quinn
Margaret is an associate professor in the department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture at Texas A&M University and an affiliated faculty member with the Texas A&M Institute for Early Childhood Development and Education. Prior to her time at A&M, she served as an assistant professor of Child and Family Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Margaret received my PhD in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Georgia State University in 2017. Prior to her doctoral studies, she served as a preschool and toddler educator in schools in Atlanta, GA and in Belfast, Northern Ireland.