Any suggestions on how to make math lessons meaningful and interesting to students?

Question

I'm talking about activities before starting the lesson... motivation/warm-up/anticipatory sets. I teach geometry.

Answer 1

Some teachers have a "Problem of the Day".  It is usually a review question, based on something they have studied in the past or it might be to introduce the lesson for that day.  I've seen this done in a couple of ways - the students put their answer in a journal which the teacher checks, either daily or once a week or the students try to solve the problem and the next day they do it in class together and anyone who had it correct gets an extra credit point or a piece of candy or something.  

Or there's the Jeopardy Answer of the Day and the students try to come up with the "Question" which goes with the answer.  They might be allowed to work in teams on this one and see how many questions they come up with that fit the answer.  There can be specific guidelines for the answer, too.  

Answer 2

learning the tables is a must. all those who were made to learn them tended to do well in math.

the other option is tips and tricks like vedic maths.