Longtime classroom teacher, writer, and educational consultant Frank Thoms, a familiar downtown resident, will read from and sign his new book about teaching on Thursday, Sept. 23, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., at UMass Lowell’s Barnes and Noble Downtown Bookstore, 151 Merrimack Street. In his book, “Teaching from the Middle of the Room: Inviting Students to Learn,” Frank says he “invites his readers—teachers, administrators, parents, and interested citizens—to reexamine and reform the traditional culture of classroom teaching.” He promises it will be a lively event with lots of discussion. For more information about the book, visit www.stetsonpress.com