Shoptalk: Lessons in Teaching from an African American Hair Salon

Shoptalk examines the development of literacy, identity, and thinking skills that takes place through cross generation conversation in an African American hair salon and how it can inform teaching in today’s diverse classrooms. By shining a spotlight on verbal discussions between the salon’s patrons and workers, the author provides a critical reassessment of the achievement gap discourse and focuses on the intellectual toolkits available to African Americans as members of thriving communiti...