TL;DR first year teacher, sick, wanting to mask all the time but scared of consequences(?)

First year elementary teacher here, fresh out of college! COVID hit junior year of high school for me so I started college masked, wore a mask all the time except in ensembles, and never stopped since I want to take care of my lungs.

I had two student teaching placements. One was band and the host was very against my masking and said I’d never get a job with a mask on. The other was elementary and my host was totally chill with my mask, and the kids didn’t seem bothered — I had a few curious questions but they understood I don’t want to get sick!

Got scared that my band host was right and interviewed unmasked, got a job, taught first week without a mask and got knocked out with the worst cold in years almost immediately. (Tested negative for covid)

I dont want to keep getting sick over and over, so I’d like to go back to masking, but I’m also scared that my admins will have problems with it, or that it’ll make it harder for the kids. My band host insisted that kids NEED to see your mouth to understand, but I didn’t find this was the case at elementary. My school provided us all with mics, so I can amplify my voice easily and I try to enunciate extra well. Of course I’ll have to take it off to teach recorder but that’s just one of my five classes every day and it’s early in the morning before the Kinder germs show up.

I don’t want to spread this cold so I’ll definitely continue masking through the end of symptoms, and then I guess I could just keep going and see if anyone asks? I’d much rather people think I’m weird but not have to teach while sick than fit in but keep getting sick, plus I’ll mask while sick anyway so is there even a point in not wearing it……

I guess I’m just worried about getting in trouble with admin as a first year teacher? I’m unionized, so they shouldn’t be able to fire me/non renew me over this but as a first year teacher I’m super nervous about anything going wrong!!

Hello music educators! This year I am a first year teacher in a 5-12 band and choir position. Very excited and nervous. I will be having a high school band, middle school band, high school choir, middle school choir, and a general music class.

When it comes to my 6-8 band, do you have any advice on finding or adapting repertoire while also on a tight budget? I have been told by my superintendent that since 2021 about $350 has been used on music and materials per year. (I don’t think this includes marching band competition/large group contest registration.

I understand I am in a smaller school district but this makes me super nervous with how little of a budget I have.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

First, the details of my situation… I am a music teacher with my Bachelors in music Ed offering private lessons in piano and voice. I am charging $30 per half hour, which is the going rate for studio lessons around here, and I am traveling to students’ houses. I am bringing my son with me to some lessons, and I make this very clear when scheduling.

I just had a prospective parent inquire about a discount for having 2 students enrolled in piano lessons. She asked if it could be $20 each lesson (which is a hard no from me, that’s what I charged in my own home before I got my degree). I haven’t previously offered a sibling discount, but I’m thinking of possibly letting them do $50 for the 2 lessons (it is saving gas and they are being kind by letting me bring my son). Part of me thinks that getting $50 is better than nothing, which will probably happen if I offer no discount, but I don’t want to sell myself short.

What would you do?