Write commonly used suffixes on the chalkboard or whiteboard and have students copy them along with a brief definition. Pronounce the suffixes as you write them. This technique gives the students auditory, visual and tactile connections to the suffixes, each of which help commit information to memory.
Use pictures. Create an activity where you use photographs or slides to help students remember terms. For instance, you might have a picture of a normal-sized liver next to an enlarged one, labeled with the term "hepatomegaly" with the "megaly" underlined, emphasizing that it means "large."
Divide students into small groups and give each several suffixes. Instruct each group to come up with a way to connect the term with its meaning. As an example, the term "graph" means "write," so remembering that pencils are made of graphite can help keep the term in memory. Visual cues are more effective, such as defining the suffix "opia" by transforming the initial "o" into an eyeball. Have groups present their results to the result of the class.
Tell stories. Give case narratives using terms that emphasize suffixes. A patient might have fallen down the stairs and thought she broke her tailbone because of the coccygodynia (pain in the tailbone) while the nurse working with the woman suffered from pododynia (pain in the feet). An interesting story with a memorable character will help students store and recall the terminology.
Test often. Quizzes help students see what ideas they need to study more thoroughly, and practice helps them recall definitions more easily.