LEWISTON – After recess Tuesday, first-graders in Christine Bossie’s class settled down at tiny tables. They began writing about the playground in that unique, first grade block style.

Bossie went from table to table, coaching.

Across the river, Michelle Gagne’s first-graders sat down for circle time. A few students sat slumped, so Gagne said: “Criss cross apple sauce.” Recognizing the cue, students sat up straight. Sitting correctly helps students pay attention, Gagne said.

Bossie and Gagne are among nine teachers statewide nominated for Maine Teacher of the Year for 2009.

Montello Principal Deb Goding, who nominated Bossie for the statewide award, described the 35-year-old Lewiston woman as a team player with strong leadership skills. Bossie provides individual teaching, giving each child lessons that meet individual needs. She helped create “Quick Math,” a five- to seven-minute paper and pencil practice that happens at the beginning of each math class to sharpen skills. The practice has been adopted schoolwide in grades kindergarten through four.

“Her empathy for children, combined with her professional competence, equals a very appropriate, quality learning environment for even the most challenging of children,” Goding wrote in her nomination letter.

In her class Tuesday, Bossie instructed students to take out their journal, “put today’s date on the top. We need to settle down. Recess is over.” They could write about recess or science, she said.

The first-graders were learning how to sound out words, put sentences together, use periods and question marks “to make it flow,” Bossie explained.

One boy asked, “How do you spell recess?”

“How about you use the letters you hear, then I’ll go over and help you out,” Bossie said.

At another table, Bossie was overjoyed to see one student’s paper.

“Look at that handwriting? Do you remember what your handwriting used to look like? This looks awesome, because you’re taking your time. Good job!”

The first-grader smiled.

Bossie said she enjoys teaching and being with kids all day long. “It’s not an easy job. I’ve told my niece in college, ‘Don’t go into teaching because you love children.’ It’s a lot of work. Every day I’m like a mom, counselor, psychologist.”

She said she enjoys coming to school and seeing her students “who have a big smile on their face. They want to be here. You make your classroom a positive place. I just love it.”

Sherwood Heights Principal Katherine Grondin said the teacher she nominated, Gagne, 41, of Auburn, sets high expectations for students, academically and behaviorally.

“When you walk in Michelle’s room students are engaged in routines that support” students learning, Grondin wrote in her nomination letter. She meets students’ individual needs, has energy and enthusiasm for teaching, Grondin said.

In class, Gagne was about to read “Milo and the Mysterious Island” at circle time. She first explained her class “has strict rules for circle time, don’t we?”

The first-graders agreed. A few explained the rules.

One is when the teacher says “criss cross apple sauce,” students sit up straight to exhibit self-control, a student named Frances explained.

Another rule: “Wave a quiet hand,” one boy offered. Gagne only calls on students who are raising their hands without talking.

And students are not to speak while another is already giving an answer, explained first-grader Logan.

The rules are important, Gagne said, “because students do their best learning when they’re doing their best listening. When we’re doing our best listening our bodies have to be showing self control, so that everybody around them can be doing their best listening,” Gagne said. That helps prevent students from being distracted, she said.

There are many reasons why she likes teaching, Gagne said. One is “those moments when you see that a child has realized their own potential. They’re able to capitalize on that.” She continued speaking, turning to her students. “Then they’re able to make room in their brains for new learning, right Soph?”

Sophie agreed.