We were lucky to catch up with Sauywanna Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sauywanna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
As a math instructor at the St. Louis Job Corp, I taught students 16 – 24 years old. Some of my students shared difficulties with many of the same subjects. I had to find a creative way to get them engaged more and excited about math.
One day, I was at Walmart, walking down the craft aisle. I purchased a Bead Kit and had my students make keychains for Free Fun Friday while I graded their work. Soon, the students became bored with making rabbits, cats, dogs, and cows. We began to search the internet for more exciting designs. Once we came across designs that were interesting to us, we began to make more designs.
My design was Cat in the Hat. While sitting at my desk, God spoke to me as if he was sitting at my desk and said, “Do Math from your design .”So, I got a pencil and paper and started the process. Before realizing what I had done, it was fluent with ease that I wrote and solved five different math concepts from my design. It was nothing for me to look at my keychain and begin writing and solving math expressions. From there, I created a math project and lesson teaching math strategies through the creativity of art-making keychains. Many students could connect concepts, rules, and processes using my art/math inclusion technique. They applied it to their class lectures in other classes, connecting the dots for understanding and comprehension.
My son Kaionta was dropped off at my job one day after school. He came into my classroom and witnessed all the keychains on my desk. At seven years old, Kaionta said excitedly and intriguedly, “Moma, I want to make keychains!” I explained they weren’t just keychains but math & art inclusion to learn math in a fun way. As any 7-year-old, shaking his head, “How do you do math from Cat in the Hat?”. I demonstrated on the board and had Kaionta write the colors, count them, and total the amount used. I explained to him the colors represented the numerator and the total of beads used represented the denominator. Therefore, a fraction, part over the whole, is created to compare in the keychain design.
Using long division, I showed Kaionta how the fraction is converted to a decimal. I next demonstrated how to convert a decimal to a percentage. From there, Kaionta learned how to use the ruler to measure the length and width of the longest part of the keychain and place those numbers into the formula of a rectangle. I had to perform the calculations since he did not know multiplication at that time. The last concept was geometry, and I explained the different angles and asked Kaionta how many he witnessed in my keychain. So, Kaionta, this is how you do math from the Cat in the Hat keychain!
He said, “Mom, I still want to make keychains.” I responded, ” You must learn math as you make them.” Kaionta always asked for toys in the store. I suggested he make some keychains and see if he can sell them. My students, mom, and I helped Kaionta make keychains for an upcoming event. At the 2011 Kwanza Expo, Kaionta was the youngest vendor, and he made over $200 in two days selling keychains, talking about how he was learning middle/high math at seven.
From the enthusiasm of my 7-year-old and wanting to make his own money so he could buy T-rex, Hot Wheels, Bay Blades, and many other toys, the Keychain Karnival Math STEM Program was born!
This technique, which God told me to do, was an easy way to teach my students how to interpret and identify through visual kinetics, color association, and hands-on engagement. They became more focused and less distracted and developed peer student helpers. They had a tangible item they walked away with and could tell how to perform math concepts from their keychain designs.
I used the same techniques for my son, and by the time he was in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, he was familiar with those concepts and knew how to perform the calculations. When I witnessed it being helpful to my students, other students asked to come to my class to learn this method. This helped my son understand and, therefore, knew it was necessary for other kids/students. My aunt suggested we write a Math STEM Activity book so other kids can learn in a fun, innovative way. I helped my son brainstorm on the content in 2017. We finalized the layout and the keychain designs for our first book (Math Discovery Thru Keychain Karnival), which launched in June on Juneteenth 2019.
Our approach is different because we don’t just create craft. We create designs and apply math concepts, processes, procedures, calculations, terminology, and students take a tangible with them for Show-n-Tell. What excited me the most was my son taking an interest and being open to learning math through making keychains and being able to speak on the process to people in the community at local events.
Sauywanna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Sauywanna Davis, my journey and dedication to education, particularly in blending math with creativity through Keychain Karnival, is truly commendable. My commitment to improving students’ mathematical skills and providing innovative learning experiences is evident through the vast array of programs and services Keychain Kanrival offers.
My educational background in Business Administration, Management Information Systems, Computer Resources, and Information Management, as well as Teacher Certification, reflects the diverse skill set I utilized effectively to create a unique approach to teaching math. When I transitioned from IT to Education, I demonstrated my passion for making a meaningful impact on students’ lives.
Our Keychain Karnival Math STEM Activity book and Bead starter kit is an excellent resource for homeschool and in-school learning. Integrating art, math, and hands-on learning, making math concepts more tangible and accessible to students, is a win for both the teacher and the students. We focus on fractions, decimals, percentages, measurements, and geometry through keychain designs, making innovation a way to reinforce mathematical concepts while encouraging creativity.
Expanding our program to various platforms, such as Summer Math STEM Camps, Summer Enrichment, After-School Programs, and Workshops, will allow Keychain Karnival to help more students in the community. Planning to implement a digital platform and certification training for educators globally demonstrates our commitment to reaching a wider audience and making math education more engaging and accessible.
Our family’s involvement in Keychain Karnival, particularly with my son, speaks volumes about passing down a legacy. In addition, sharing a knowledge base, creativity, and entrepreneurial skills through generations enriches our business and personal relationships.
Keychain Kanrival’s global vision to empower educators, counselors, and youth leaders with our program showcases how committed we are to making a difference beyond our immediate community, spreading innovative teaching methods, and enhancing math education on a larger scale.
It’s inspiring to see our dedication to enhancing math education through innovative methods and our efforts to make learning an enjoyable experience for students of all ages. My journey from education to entrepreneurship, coupled with my commitment to empowerment, makes me happy knowing I am helping others.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
The onset of the pandemic drastically affected our initial plans, particularly in-person vendor events that were a primary source of sales. Despite this setback, I utilized this time to learn, grow, and refine our business strategy.
Enrolling in the Square One Bootcamp entrepreneur program during the pandemic was pivotal, demonstrating my proactive approach to seeking knowledge and resources to elevate our business. My commitment to consistently exceeding the program’s requirements showcased my dedication and drive to excel. This dedication led to my recommendation for the next level of the program, where I received personalized mentoring for six months, further enhancing my skills and business structure.
Navigating through challenges such as receiving mixed feedback and facing budget constraints from potential clients or organizations didn’t deter me. Instead, I used these experiences as motivation to persist and refine my approach. My ability to adapt to setbacks and use them as fuel to keep pushing forward shows perseverance.
The mindset of not crossing anyone off our list until they become clients is a testament to my determination and perseverance. It’s a powerful reminder that persistence, consistency, and building relationships can eventually lead to success.
My willingness to revisit closed doors, the determination to establish connections, and the commitment to positively impact students’ lives through our Math STEM Program genuinely embody the spirit of an entrepreneur dedicated to their vision.
My story is a testament to the resilience required in entrepreneurship and the importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and persistence in facing challenges. Keep pushing forward, learning, and evolving, as my unwavering determination and dedication will undoubtedly pave the way for the success of Keychain Karnival and the positive impact it aims to make in the education space.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
My journey in navigating social media marketing for Keychain Karnival reflects the challenges many entrepreneurs face when managing multiple aspects of a business. My initial approach of posting consistently twice daily showcases my dedication and commitment to building an online presence. However, it’s understandable how this rigorous schedule and other responsibilities led to burnout.
I recognized the need for a more effective strategy; therefore, I sought out webinars and workshops, and observing other successful social media accounts was a proactive step for me. This quest for knowledge and improvement led to a valuable collaboration with a social media specialist, which resulted in a notable increase in our Instagram following.
Understanding the limitations of time and the multitude of responsibilities I had to handle for our business, I explored tools like Buffer to schedule posts in advance. However, even with this automation, creating content remains time-consuming, especially when balancing various roles within our business.
The realization of the necessity of delegating social media tasks to specialists or interns as the business grows shows my foresight and willingness to adapt. Working with interns or hiring for these roles could alleviate the burden and allow me to focus more on the core aspects of our business.
As a solo entrepreneur managing various aspects of Keychain Karnival, it’s evident that finding a balance between all responsibilities is crucial. Recognizing the need for support in specific areas like social media marketing is a wise move as it allows me to optimize my time and efforts, ultimately contributing to the growth and success of our business.
Break down the content creation process into three specific types – content, reel, and a video featuring yourself discussing your brand – allowing for diversity and engagement on your social media platforms.
Suggesting the creation of these three posts in one dedicated day streamlines the process and helps maintain consistency. This approach also ensures a variety of content types, which can attract different audiences and keep your feed engaging.
Utilizing a scheduling platform like Buffer to schedule these posts for consistency is a great way to maintain an active presence without daily involvement. It’s an efficient way to manage social media while balancing other responsibilities within your business.
If available, delegating the task of managing social media to a reliable and committed team member is a fantastic suggestion. This allows the responsibility to be shared and ensures consistent posting without overwhelming you, the business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keychain-karnival-llc.myshopify.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keychainkarnival/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keychain.karnival.3
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keychainkarnival6955
Image Credits
PAST Photography & FAM Estsblishment